At the annual Drake Group Fall Meeting held in Chicago last month, Bill Courtney, CEO of ClarkDietrich Building Systems, was awarded the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The accolade honors individuals who have had long-standing career success, while making a significant impact on the building products industry.

“Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from such an outstanding partner like The Drake Group is an honor that I cherish greatly,” said Courtney. “I could not have accomplished this without the help and support of my colleagues, friends and family, all of whom have shaped my career milestones along the way.”

For more than three decades, Courtney has helped transform ClarkDietrich  once a 20-person construction products company  into the nation’s top producer of steel framing materials. His dedication and devotion to ClarkDietrich has contributed to the advancement of the entire steel framing industry.

In a 2011 magazine article for his alma mater, Austin College, Courtney provided some insight into what has fueled his career success.   

“Success, he said, comes down to two important elements: passion and progress… but Courtney believes just being passionate is not enough; it’s important to leave the world a better place. “That’s where progress comes in—for me what’s important is to improve the industry and this company, and to make things better for the people who work here.”

Today, ClarkDietrich Building Systems employs 1,400 people across 18 facilities, and has been widely-recognized as an industry innovator and pacesetter for product transparency related to cold-formed steel framing materials.

“Bill is the ideal recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award,” said Executive Director of The Drake Group LLC, Robb Rugg. “He is a true, lifelong leader and friend of the entire industry.”

The Drake Group is the nation’s leading network of pre-eminent independent gypsum specialty dealers. The company creates a nationwide network of independent locally owned and operated distributors can collectively compete more effectively with large, nationwide chains. They are the only organization that is owned and operated by the members for the sole benefit of the members.