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WiNTER EDiTiON • 2014 6 N E W S L E T T E R Past Presidents – Where are They Now? Gene Colley By Jennifer Danquist Kilgore, Director of Business Development & Marketing, Singleton Construction, LLC GOOD PARTNERS T HE D IFFERENCE B ETWEEN G OALS AND A CCOMPLISHMENTS Gene Colley, is President of Royal Seal Construction, Inc. a nationally-recognized construction company operating throughout the U.S. Colley's career in the construction industry began in 1974 with residential remodeling and construction in Kansas City, MO. He quickly advanced within the carpentry trade and in 1977 opened his own remodeling company. The company completed numerous projects for national chains throughout Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Tennessee. One of his frst jobs was remodeling Winchell's Donut shops. In 1982, Colley opened Royal Seal Construction in Lewisville, TX, specializing in new construction, commercial remodeling, and tenant fnish-out work. Colley has been a member of the Retail Contractors Association since 1994. "My frst year on the Board was the year that Tom Eckinger was president, in 2002. Tom was great. You could tell he ran a construction company because of how he kept the game pieces in play while not letting the game board fall off the table!" said Colley. "I started off working on the Marketing Committee for a couple of years and really enjoyed that part. Writing the monthly article for the newsletter was a good way to keep up my skills. Then I went through the progression of Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President, and then President." Colley served as RCA President from 2006 to 2008. He continued, "I followed Bob Benda as President. Bob had literally turned the RCA around in two years and it was my job to follow his example of leadership and progress. The resurgence of the RCA was fun to be a part of. The new, younger guys were coming on board and the old guys were moving on. I was sort of the in-between guy, not nearly as old as Bob Benda or as young and good looking as Matthew Schimenti!" Benda, CEO of Westwood Contractors, Inc. said, "It was my pleasure to work with Gene on the RCA board for a number of years. He has always been very committed to our association and cheerfully and enthusiastically accepted any task. In addition to his duties in various offcer roles on the Board, Gene actively represented RCA on the planning committee of ICSC's Centerbuild conference for many years." Benda continued, "Gene's good humor and quick smile were always a very positive infuence over his colleagues on the board and I greatly appreciate his collegiality during my tenure as well as his leadership when he followed me in the President's role. RCA has been very fortunate to have Gene as a leader over the years!" Colley said his favorite thing about the RCA is the camaraderie and trust that builds from knowing other business owners facing the same opportunities Gene & Robin, with their children and grandchildren "Craft is the body of structure. Art is the soul of structure. Optimum creativity integrates both." – James Prestini, famous woodworker. CCR_R1-R8.indd 6 2/7/14 1:01 PM