From STAFDA to Concrete, Foley to Lead CSDA
Georgia Foley, the former CEO and executive director of the Specialty Tool & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA), has been appointed to the role of executive director of the Concrete Sawing and Drilling Association as of January 1, 2026.
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| Georgia Foley |
Foley has served as STAFDA’s CEO and executive director since 1999. She will be taking over the position vacated by Joanne Kubinski in October 2025.
Founded in 1972, CSDA represents contractors, manufacturers, and industry professionals dedicated to advancing safe, efficient concrete cutting practices worldwide.
As executive director, Foley will oversee CSDA’s strategic initiatives, member programs, and industry partnerships.
"Georgia’s proven record of strategic vision, organizational growth, and industry collaboration makes her an exceptional fit to guide CSDA into its next chapter,” said Mark DeSchepper, CSDA president. “We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team.”
Foley had pursued a stake in the CSDA executive role a couple of years ago, intending on potentially having her feet in both the STAFDA and CSDA sandboxes.
With Kubinski’s departure in October, and her own anticipated departure from STAFDA, it was ideal timing for her to be able to seek the position once again.
As it happens, many of the CSDA board members she engaged with two years ago are still members of the board, making it a fairly seamless process.
“I’m honored to join CSDA and continue supporting the contractors and professionals who keep our industry innovative and safe,” Foley said.
For the past 25 years, she has overseen STAFDA in a similar capacity. Her altered role with the association was announced during the annual convention in November.
Foley’s eventual departure is part of an overall transition to having FrontLineCo, an accredited association management company headquartered in Springfield, Illinois, which also manages CSDA, take over the administration and back-office support functions of STAFDA.
It is a dynamic shift for STAFDA because outside of her own father, Morrie Halvorsen, STAFDA’s first CEO, by all other appearances, Foley was in essence the organization’s first employee.
By her own admission, her original intent was to maintain a position of leadership through STAFDA’s 50th anniversary, figuring 50 years of her family in the lead role was sufficient.
Foley’s plans were accelerated in June 2024 after she spent two days in the hospital with double pneumonia, strep throat, and borderline sepsis upon returning from a STAFDA board meeting in Nashville.
Following the medical incident, she recognized that it was time to move forward with a succession plan as a sort of perfect storm of events was playing itself out.
She will be 62 in June, 2026 marks STAFDA’s 50th anniversary, the association’s office lease expires in February, and more support staff is needed.
The STAFDA board approved the option of having the association managed by an association management company and FrontlineCo was brought forward.
Going forward, Kim Robinson, founder and president of FrontLineCo will serve as the main liaison between STAFDA leadership and FrontlineCo’s support staff, while overseeing the transfer of the back-office functions such as accounting, meeting planning, mail/office services, and other shared functions.
For her own role, Foley reduced her hours to 30 per week, while assisting in the transition and actively leading the recruitment and selection process for her successor.
To date, FrontLineCo has reportedly received at least 16 resumes. Interviews with candidates are expected to continue after the holidays.
Watch Contractor Supply for any updates on STAFDA's executive director position.
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