GUIDING THE INDUSTRY ONE STEP AT A TIME
Board of Directors and Staff
Our Board of Directors consists of nine members each elected to 3-year terms. Divided into three classes, a new class is elected each year by the members of the SMA. The position of Treasurer is also a 3-year term and is not held by a current board member. The executive director is contracted by the board as an ex-officio (not elected) member of the board and serves without vote. The board elects the corporate officers annually. The directors meet regularly by teleconference and hold several face-to-face meetings each year.
SMA Board of Directors
Boyd entered the stair industry more than 35 years ago when family friends Bill Martin and Dick Hansen purchased Quick Flight Stairs in Marietta, Georgia, which was later renamed Southern Staircase. He began his career at the age of 15, loading trucks, working in the parts department, and serving as a route driver.
While attending the University of Alabama, Boyd was hired by one of Southern Staircase’s suppliers, Fitts Industries. At Fitts, he worked in the boxing and shipping departments and later in customer service. After graduating from Alabama, he was appointed Director of Sales and Marketing.
In 2003, he was promoted to Eastern Regional Sales Manager and subsequently took on the role of National Sales Manager. In 2011, he relocated to Tacoma, Washington, to manage the distribution center for the Western U.S.
In 2021, Boyd accepted the position of President of Sales and Marketing at House of Forgings, a Texas-based leader in iron, glass, stainless steel, and wood stair components. He has been actively involved with the Stairbuilders and Manufacturers Association (SMA) for over 20 years and is a dedicated professional in the stair industry.
Andrew has a background in mechanical engineering and more than 23 years of manufacturing experience, including three years focused on the stair industry as the owner of Stairbuilders in New York. Before entering the stair industry, Andrew spent 20 years in prototype development, building multidisciplinary teams of craftspeople, artisans, and engineers. He has guided teams through technological transitions, developed training programs, fostered strong community culture, and leveraged technology to futureproof workflows. Over the past three years, Andrew has applied his engineering expertise to address challenges in stair manufacturing. With an Engineering degree from Loughborough University (a top technical university in England) and decades of experience, Andrew combines practical manufacturing know-how with engineering precision. His approach merges craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to develop efficient production methods and implement technical solutions.
Conrad started working for a family owned fence, deck, and railing company at an early age, where he learned the value of customer service, physical labor, and construction, including exterior railings. His father often said, “The only job where you can start at the top is digging a post hole.” Over nearly 15 years, Conrad worked his way through the warehouse, deck and railing installation crews, and fence installation crews, eventually serving as a crew leader for the company.
In 2016, Conrad accepted a position with Walnut Creek Planing. While Walnut Creek does not build stairs, the company has provided him with the opportunity to work closely with stair components and stair builders for the past 10 years. Today, Conrad serves as a sales representative for Walnut Creek Planing and enjoys connecting with professionals throughout the stair industry and providing the materials they need to remain productive and successful.
Roy has been in the custom stair business as an owner/co-owner of Heartland Stairways, a custom stair building shop in Ohio, for over 25 years. His company joined the SMA about 10 years ago and he has come to know the importance of being a member of an organization like this. Roy understands that our members are all part of the same industry, which happens to be growing smaller and losing young craftsman. He believes we must act as a group of professionals to encourage others interested in our craft. Through support of the SMA, our members can help train and mentor other skilled tradespeople in how to succeed in this business.
Catie Wallace built her foundation in the stair and rail industry at a young age, at Loudun Stairs. She began her career while still in high school, gaining hands-on experience on the production floor before transitioning into an administrative role prior to graduation. While earning her BS from Ferrum College, Catie continued to be involved in the industry as Marketing Manager for Loudoun Stairs, where she further developed her passion for the craft and the people behind it.
After completing her degree, Catie continued with Loudoun Stairs as an Account Representative in New Home Sales and Renovations. Today, she is a stay-at-home mom who remains actively engaged and passionate about the stair and rail industry. Looking ahead, she is excited to take on a greater role in her family’s farm, continuing her lifelong connection to agriculture while staying connected to the industry that helped shape her career.
Renda was introduced to the stair industry right out of college. She joined a group of very knowledgeable and experienced coworkers who taught her all they could. After 18 years she is still learning new things in the stair world, but is also able to share what she has learned with peers. Renda believes the SMA is a tremendous resource. For an industry that is both significant to building structures but also expressively creative the SMA has managed to bind it all together while also pushing its’ members growth.
Jeff has worked in the wood products industry for over 25 years. During that time he ran their manufacturing plant in New Jersey and traveled extensively in support of sales and technical support. Currently, Jeff is located at our Newark, Ohio facility. He works with his wife, Kelly, and a number of other colleagues. His company, CP Adhesives, Inc., supplies adhesives to a number of manufacturers including numerous stair manufacturers across the country. He has been an SMA member for a couple of years now and has been involved in the marketing/membership committee as well as the SMA Annual Confernece Task Group and the MFG Day Task Group. Jeff is a strong supporter of trade associations as he knows the true value we provide for our members.
Kevin is the General Manager at Stair South in Eatonton GA and is rather new to the stair industry. He brings a vast knowledge and skill in leadership, management, and organization operations. Kevin has worked diligently to learn the stair business, develop relationships with industry peers, establish a professional and progressive workforce and facility culture, improved project tracking mechanisms, improved material management and the overall project flow from conception to completion at Stair South and will bring those skills to the SMA board. Kevin has been fortunate enough to participate in several SMA events and has been impressed with the desire of the membership to pass along knowledge, share best practices and build relationships. The SMA mission is, “building the greatest resource of knowledge and tools contributing to the success of our members and the stair industry.” Kevin feels each member is our greatest resource of knowledge and bringing these resources together through the SMA is a fundamental part of ensuring a successful future for our membership and industry.
John’s passion for woodworking came at the early age of 5. As he walked to school for the first grade, he watched carpenters build houses in his neighborhood every day and it absolutely fascinated him. When he started the second grade, he was known by all the carpenters as the kid who stopped by every day after school to “help” and ask questions. When John was a sophomore, he saw his first custom stair in Boston, MA and upon seeing that stair, he knew what his career goal was. When he graduated from high school in 1982, he started working in a carpentry shop full time and attended college part time for architecture. In 1988, John started his company as a trim carpenter installing trim and pre-made stair parts as part of the trim package for a home. Ever since he saw that stair in Boston, John has dreamed of custom designing and building stairs from start to finish and making every part to the highest level of quality and has worked tirelessly toward that goal for the last 32 years and retired in 2023. John has been involved with the SMA for many years now and looks forward to giving back by serving on the SMA Board of Directors. He looks forward to infusing his passion and knowledge of the stair industry with the SMA membership as we march forward to further the industry.
| Current Board of Directors | Position | Term Expires |
|---|---|---|
| Boyd Winkler | President | 2028 |
| Roy Hochstetler | Vice President | 2029 |
| Renda Barr | Secretary | 2027 |
| Kevin O’Brien | Treasurer | 2027 |
| Andrew Williams | Director | 2028 |
| Catie Wallace | Director | 2028 |
| Conrad Yoder | Director | 2029 |
| Jeff Pitcher | Director | 2029 |
| John Wonderly | Director | 2027 |
SMA Staff
Led the Association since November 2018, following a nine-year civilian career with the United States Air Force. As Executive Director, she oversees daily operations, manages communication with members and the public, and leads the planning and coordination of key SMA events throughout the year, including educational programs, conferences, and networking opportunities across the stair industry. Through her leadership and dedication, Terra continues to foster growth, collaboration, and excellence within the SMA community.
Ashley began building casework at the age of 14 in his dad’s backyard workshop. He has been actively involved in the construction and millwork trades for over 25 years. In 2009 during the midst of the great recession, Ashley began his work with nonprofit trade associations and an inspector, manager, technical director, and executive director. He earned and maintains his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credentials through the American Society of Association Executives.
Ashley lives in Americus, Georgia with his wife, Meg, and their two sons, Hudson and Hayes. In their spare time, they enjoy traveling, epic road trips, great food, and spending time together as a family.
