Cindy Menches

About Cindy Menches

My employment background is diverse – consisting of positions as a director of professional development & training, professor, researcher, construction project manager, and military officer in organizations that include labor unions, universities, construction contractors, and government agencies. My desire is to apply my numerous years of working collaboratively with executives, colleagues, staff, and students toward developing a world-class engineering and construction educational program that receives local and national accolades. I am an informal leader who respects people’s intelligence, time, experience, knowledge and principles. My long-term vision is to unlock the potential for all individuals to achieve unlimited success. These are the values I strive to achieve.

Experience

1. Director of Professional Development & Training

   Ironworker Management Progressive Action Cooperative Trust

   Jun 2014 — Present

   As the Director of Professional Development & Training for IMPACT, Dr. Cindy Menches is responsible for the design, development, delivery, and administration of education and training initiatives to support the success of union iron worker contractors, union ironworkers, and the Iron Workers International Union. She develops innovative professional development training programs, establishes interactive e-learning environments, creates curriculum to aid members in growing and improving their business, facilitates the startup of new contractors, provides education that enables ironworkers to advance their career, and measures progress towards achievement of organizational goals. Dr. Menches manages a training program that consists of nearly 40 unique courses. Among the most successful courses, the Construction Contracting Business Fundamentals Academy: Establish Your Business program was developed and is facilitated by Dr. Menches. The academy is a 5-day intensive program designed for current and future ironworking contractors who want to develop or improve their fundamental business skills. Furthermore, through IMPACT’s Ironworker Contractor University (ICU), Dr. Menches offers over 40 courses every year on topics that include business administration, project management, field supervision, leadership, communication, Lean construction, and technology, which consists of instructor-led in-person and online courses, self-paced interactive e-learning, and webcasts. The success of union ironworkers and contractors is vital to the growth of the construction industry. Consequently, IMPACT and the Ironworkers International Union are committed to helping prospective, new, and established contractors and field personnel strengthen their knowledge and skills, ensuring that iron workers continue to be gainfully employed, to grow, and to thrive. IMPACT is a labor-management, non-profit trust formed under Section 302(c)(9) of Labor-Management Relations (Taft Hartley) Act.

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

  Ph.D., Civil Engineering

  2003 — 2006

• University of Southern California

  B.S., Civil Engineering - Building Science

  1984 — 1989

• Penn State University

  M.S., Architectural Engineering

  1993 — 1995