NAHB Research Center

Bob serves as the Director of Laboratory and Certification Services and is responsible for the product and contractor, and builder certification programs as well as various special testing projects. He also is responsible for the laboratory quality system and the company safety program. Bob joined the Research Center in 2001 as Director of Laboratory and Certification Services. Prior to coming to the Research Center Bob had 29 years of laboratory, manufacturing experience with 3M, Owens Corning, General Electric, and Black & Decker. In his previous positions he was responsible for product and process development, technical service, quality, and technical and business management. He has a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Drexel University and a Master Degree in Marine Engineering from the University of Michigan. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Maryland and Ohio and ASQ Certified Quality Auditor.

John B. Peavey joined the NAHB Research Center in August 2007. Peavey has over 13 years of experience leading and managing product development, research, testing programs, and capital expansion projects for product manufacturers. As director of Applied Technology for the NAHB Research Center, Peavey is responsible for managing the activities of the engineers working on the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program's field evaluations, overseeing the ToolBase Services information dissemination program, and developing manufacturer services that focus on the individual product development needs of Research Center clients. Prior to his work at the NAHB Research Center, Peavey managed research and development projects within the building products industry at Louisiana Pacific Corporation (LP) and CertainTeed. He has also managed product development engineering departments for two subsidiaries of Masco Corporation. Peavey started his professional career with 3M as a mechanical engineer within the facilities engineering department (focused on laboratory and plant expansion projects). Peavey holds both an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.S. in (Building Technology) Art and Design from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His academic research experience includes indoor air quality simulation, advanced thermal insulation, composite roof panel materials, and measuring airflow in buildings (using tracer gas techniques).

Bob serves as the Director of Military Housing and is responsible for contracts with Department of Defense agencies to support their housing programs and specialized studies as requested. Bob joined the Research Center in 2004. Prior to coming to the Research Center he had 25 years experience in design, construction and military service having spent 10 years on active duty as a Navy Civil Engineer Corps Officer. In his previous private sector positions Bob worked with developers and builders on military housing projects across the U.S. and for all branches of the service. Bob currently holds the rank of Commander in the Navy Reserves and is Deputy Commander of the Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center in Port Hueneme, CA. He has a Bachelor of Architecture from the Cooper Union in New York City and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Texas at El Paso. He is a registered Architect in Texas and Minnesota.

Shawn Martin has over ten years of experience in program management and product development and testing. At the NAHB Research Center, he is responsible for directing the activities of the national Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) program's field evaluation engineers, and expanding the Research Center's land management and environmental research initiatives. Martin's extensive knowledge of new product design, in conjunction with his experience with a variety of product manufacturers, complements the work of the Research Center's laboratory and certification services and market research divisions. Prior to coming to the NAHB Research Center, Martin managed multidisciplinary teams that developed products for the plumbing and spa industries at Bowles Fluidics. He also worked for Hewlett-Packard Company, managing the design of test equipment, and for the A. Stucki Company, supervising a product testing and research and development laboratory. He holds two patents. Martin also has significant experience in carpentry. Martin holds a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Grove City College.

As Director of Applied Engineering for the NAHB Research Center, Vladimir Kochkin oversees engineering research programs on structural, environmental, and energy performance of residential construction. Beginning in 2007, he will also manage the ANSI process for the development of a Green Home Building Standard. In his previous capacity as a program manager for residential structural systems at the NAHB Research Center, Kochkin focused on analytical and experimental studies on the performance of buildings in natural disasters. He also authored multiple research reports and guides for builders and product manufactures, and helped develop and implement an OSB certification program based on advanced quality management practices. Kochkin also works with product manufacturers to obtain code acceptance for innovative construction technologies. He represents NAHB at building code hearings and serves on several standards committees on structural performance of building systems including ASCE7 Seismic, NEHRP TS-7, AF&PA Wood Design Standards Committee, and ICC Ad Hoc Committee on Wall Bracing. Prior to joining the NAHB Research Center in 2000, Kochkin worked as a research assistant at the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Tech. He holds a masters degree in Timber Engineering from Virginia Tech, and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Vyatka State Technical University, Russia.

Chad Young, President, joined CDI in 1992 where he worked in virtually every phase of construction. In 1995, he was promoted to Superintendent and became a Vice President in 1998. He joined the Board of Director's in 2001. Chad is responsible for all aspects of the company. Chad holds the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) designation from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Remodelors Council in collaboration with the AARP, NAHB Research Center and NAHB Seniors Housing Council. This program provides comprehensive, practical, market-specific information about working with older and maturing adults to build or remodel their homes for aging-in-place. As a third generation builder, Chad grew up listening to his father's and grandfather's shared vision for senior housing. By creating quiet, convenient, comfortable and secure communities, they envisioned residents who would own their own homes and land, and would not be required to commit life savings or sacrifice financial security for an accessible and safe physical environment. As a result of this vision, CDI was founded in 1990. Chad is a lifelong resident of Franklin Township in Marion County.

Joseph Wiehagen brings to the Research Center training and experience in research and project engineering, project management, building energy use simulation and monitoring, renewable energy system applications, residential electrical system design and installation, residential construction and residential fire safety systems. He has experience in the design and installation of solar photovoltaic systems; he supported the product development effort to design, install, monitor, and demonstrate an innovative photovoltaic-metal roofing module integrated with the building roofing. He was project development manager and design engineer for the first solar photovoltaic assisted dc lighting system in a commercial building. His work includes energy efficient home design, new product development, and application of monitoring and data acquisition systems to evaluate building and equipment performance. He has instrumented, and monitored homes for overall energy use, hot water energy use, and renewable energy system, HVAC system, and ventilation systems performance. He has performed building energy use simulations including building monitoring to validate the simulation results. Mr. Wiehagen is a member of the American Solar Energy Societies, the Association of Energy Engineers, and the National Fire Protection Association. He has published several reports and papers relating to residential energy use and residential solar photovoltaics. He holds an MS in Energy Engineering from the University of Lowell, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Gannon University.