SMACNA Unveils Inaugural Charles Corbett Excellence in Labor Relations Award SMACNA National recognizes the achievements of a Contractor, a Chapter Executive, and Legislative Advocates of the Year during its annual conference each fall. This year, SMACNA President Tony Kocurek had the distinction of unveiling a new award—the Charles Corbett Excellence in Labor Relations Award, which recognizes exceptional achievement in furthering the strong relationship between SMACNA contractors and their SMART labor partners. President Kocurek directed the convention attendees to a video featuring Chuck Corbett’s wife of 40 years, Kay, who described the exceptional career and achievements of the man she referred to as the “Love of Her Life”. View the Charles Corbett Award Announcement at vimeo.com/866149106/ab8f1456fa Kay recounted Chuck’s fascinating career, including his military service prior to joining the sheet metal industry. Chuck served his country, rising to the rank of colonel in the United 6 » Partners in Progress » www.pinp.org
States Army. He was commander of the Disaster Relief Task Force following the devastating Guatemalan earthquake in 1976, receiving a citation from US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for his efforts. Chuck served as advisor for the Western Hemisphere to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served on the National Security Council as a chief negotiator on the Panama Canal Treaty. It was this latter service that led him to the sheet metal industry. Following the Panama Canal Treaty negotiations, Chuck was dispatched to travel the United States to garner support for the treaty. A Georgia SMACNA sheet metal contractor attended one of Chuck’s speaking engagements and told Chuck that if he had the courage to travel to the south to promote the highly controversial treaty that he should come to Atlanta following retirement from the military to represent contractors in their contract negotiations with the local sheet metal union. That is exactly what Chuck did, joining Georgia SMACNA as Chapter Executive in 1978.
