Meet SC&RA’s incoming “4 Under 40” class

In the rapidly evolving landscape that is crane, rigging and specialized transportation, next-generation leaders stand at the forefront of the transformations shaping the industry both today and into the future. Each year, SC&RA showcases a group of these individuals with its distinguished 4 Under 40 recognition – which spotlights SC&RA members under the age of 40 who are actively involved in immediately impacting their company, the industry and the Association overall through their participation on task forces, committees and events.

Mathieu Chaudanson Senior Associate, Director of Mobile Crane Engineering at Howard I. Shapiro & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C.

Mathieu Chaudanson is one of SC&RA’s recipients for 2024. He currently serves as a Senior Associate, Director of Mobile Crane Engineering at member company Howard I. Shapiro & Associates Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Lynbrook, N.Y.).

Chaudanson holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from INSA Lyon, France; a master’s degree in mechanical research; and a New York State PE License. He admits to “falling” into the crane industry somewhat by accident.

“I landed an internship with Howard I. Shapiro & Associates and really fell in love with the work,” he explained. “I get to work with big cranes every day – every kid’s dream!”

He added, “The engineering required in this field is perfect for me. I appreciate watching concepts materialize, and it’s very rewarding when the job in the field is performed just as I envisioned it in front of my computer.”

Vision being what it is, Chaudanson spearheaded the overhaul of Howard I. Shapiro & Associates’ billing system by introducing fixed fees that contributed to a 25 percent revenue increase in 2023. He’s also played an important role in expanding the company’s mobile crane engineering team from seven to nine engineers and drafters.

All the while, he maintained, “SC&RA’s impact on my professional growth has been significant. The Association’s guidance manuals are industry benchmarks, and I had the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Guide to Tower Crane Procedures. This opportunity expanded my network, allowing me to collaborate with peers and engage with stakeholders – from manufacturers to crane users.”

Utilizing the moment

Similar to Chaudanson, Tiffany Myhre, Executive Director at member company Precision Heavy Haul, Inc. (Tolleson, Ariz.), and a member of SC&RA’s Insurance and Risk Management Committee, considers it an honor to be recognized by SC&RA and the legacy such recognition represents. “I’ve seen the many talented individuals in the crane and specialized carriers’ community, and I know there are big shoes to fill,” she acknowledged.

Tiffany Myhre Executive Director at Precision Heavy Haul, Inc.

Myhre graduated from Arizona State University magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in education and followed that up a few years later with an MBA from University of Phoenix. She was inspired and motivated by her father, Mike Poppe, to join PHH – having been around the industry her whole life.

“I believe our industry is a crucial part of the economy and that every day presents new challenges that give me a sense of accomplishment once achieved,” she indicated.

To that end, in the past year, Myhre handled an incoming bid request for PHH and turned a cost-prohibitive project into a profitable one for the family business. “The project required a heavy haul transporter, and the amount of insurance coverage requested on the contract far exceeded what we believed the scope of work would require,” she pointed out. “I was able to negotiate the insurance terms and coverage as well as have that company pay for the additional premium in order to do the work. It was a successful outcome for us, and the project has introduced us to new customers – including strengthening our working relationship with the original customer.”

Passion and purpose

Charlie Reilly, Director of Operations at member company Palco Transportation, LLC (Lambertville, N.J.), considers his SC&RA 4 Under 40 recognition among the most prestigious he’s received in his career. Especially when less than a decade ago, he wasn’t even in the industry.

Charlie Reilly Director of Operations at Palco Transportation

“Eight or nine years ago, I was working in retail and really couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do,” he said. “I began working here at Palco for my uncle as a pilot car operator. And in 2020, I went back to school and got a degree in logistics and supply chain management from Portland State University.”

Reilly moved into the Palco office, plugging into some operational work, and quickly found the passion and purpose that had seemed elusive up to that point. “There’s a lot of planning and work that goes into each job we do,” he said. “It’s a great feeling when the job is completed safely, correctly and successfully. And to be recognized for my part in these types of projects is an absolute honor.”

One job that Reilly has personally contributed to at Palco is the design/build of a more streamlined process to track load movement, truck scheduling and other operational aspects of the business through specialized software. He has also worked on marketing Palco heavily in the past year, including Palco Transportation’s first-time entry into SC&RA’s prestigious 2024 Hauling Job of the Year competition.

“We’ve seen profitability grow directly from these efforts, especially in recent months through events,” he noted, “and we’ve also gained new customers and continue to build new relationships.”

Reilly also remains very active in SC&RA. A former Leadership Forum graduate, he now serves on the Permit Policy Committee, serving as its point-person volunteer for issues in the northeast states.

At the forefront

Like Reilly, Brittany Bachman, Marketing Manager at member company Boulter Industrial Contractors, Inc. (Webster, N.Y.), didn’t come up in the industry, but now makes a living promoting a company in the space.

Brittany Bachman Marketing Manager at Boulter Industrial Contractors.

“To be honest, when I started at Boulter, I remember once asking, ‘What is rigging?’” she explained. “Which, funny enough, has now turned into one of my favorite marketing campaigns.”

Bachman earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from SUNY Oswego and eventually went from working at a seven-person public affairs department at a hospital to being a one-person marketing team at Boulter.

“It was a drastic shift, which meant I had to learn fast,” she said. “I think that’s what I have enjoyed most, however – being able to immerse myself in the industry and learn about the opportunities and challenges within it.”

True to form, in July 2023, Bachman redesigned and transferred Boulter’s website to HubSpot, focusing on enhancing the customer experience. “This strategic move has already yielded impressive results, increasing our website traffic by thirty percent,” she revealed. “Additionally, we’re on track to bring in twice the number of qualified leads compared to last year, directly impacting our sales pipeline and overall profitability.”

Bachman also serves on Boulter’s Young Leaders Development Committee and the Company’s board of directors, where she actively contributes to the company’s long-term growth strategies. Relatedly, in 2019, Bachman helped Boulter host its first Lift & Move USA event. (In 2023, Boulter was recognized by SC&RA as a Lift & Move USA Workforce Ambassador.) And since 2019, she has attended INBOUND, a recognized sales and marketing conference, to gather fresh insights and strategies.

“The knowledge and ideas gained from this event are being implemented to keep our company at the forefront of the industry,” Bachman emphasized, “ensuring we continue to grow and maintain our position as a leading player for another hundred and thirty years.”