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As the new year began, the Brick Industry Association (BIA) fell under the chairmanship of General Shale CEO Charles Smith, who will succeed Selma’s Henry Brick Co. President Davis Henry, who will stay on as past chair.

The association also elected New York-based Belden Tri-State Building Materials CEO Joe Rice as vice chair, Cincinatti-based Division 4 Inc. President Jim Stradley as treasurer and Pennsylvania-based Glen-Gery Corp. President Mark Ellenor as secretary.

Smith, a 28-year veteran of the Tennessee-based General Shale, a clay brick manufacturer in the U.S. and Canada and a subsidiary of Weinerberger AG, the world’s largest brick manufacturer, previously served as the company’s president and COO until he climbed to CEP in 2014.

“Charles offers a powerful blend of corporate perspective and native industry experience to help lead the clay brick industry and BIA into a new decade,” said BIA President Ray Leonhard.

Smith was on hand to guide General Shale steer its operations through a “major economic downturn” and was “instrumental in revitalizing the company’s product development,” according to a BIA press release.

“This experience and perspective will be beneficial in his role as chairman,” the press release stated.

“It is imperative for our association to gain more momentum through enhanced participation,” Smith said. “We must get our entire industry on board with the BIA and move our products to the forefront of U.S. construction. We know that we have the most proven, durable and aesthetically pleasing product available. Now we must inform the public that this is the best, most proven cladding product for residential, commercial and institutional projects.”