After more than 30 years of service to the stair industry and the SMA, Dave Cooper has officially retired as of May 14, 2025. Dave’s work has been a cornerstone of the association’s code efforts, and his impact on stair safety and building standards across the country is hard to overstate.
Dave has built strong relationships with code officials, represented the industry with integrity, and helped shape the way we think about safe stair design. His dedication, passion, and sense of humor will definitely be missed!
With Dave stepping away, we’re excited to announce that Ashley Goodin is taking over as the SMA’s Code Development Associate. Ashley has spent the past 18 months working closely with Dave and is well-prepared to carry the torch. From helping members understand tricky code questions to representing the SMA in technical discussions, Ashley is ready to jump in.
Got code questions or need help with standards? Ashley’s your go-to from here on out.
📧 ashley.goodin@stairways.org
We’re incredibly thankful to Dave for all he’s done for the SMA and the stair world, and we’re thrilled to have Ashley stepping into this important role.
