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Council of Owners and Construction Associates, Inc.

The primary purpose of COCA is to increase safety awareness; and the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Construction Industry.

Owner/User members include the major industrial and utility firms, located in Southwestern Illinois, who procure significant construction and maintenance services.

Construction Associate members include construction companies, design and engineering firms, equipment and materials suppliers, and firms which provide other services necessary to ensure safe, well-managed, high-quality, cost-effective construction projects in the Owner/Users’ facilities.

COCA is located within the Teksolv location at 100 Lanter Ct, Suite 8 Collinsville, Illinois (about 15 miles east of downtown St. Louis).

For information on becoming a member of COCA, please contact us.


COCA Board of Directors – Current Board Members for 2024

CHAIRMAN: * Prentiss Carter, Director – MISO, LUMINANT, a subsidiary of VISTRA ENERGY (Name changed from Dynegy Midwest Generation, LLC)

SECRETARY / TREASURER: Jonathon Sander, General Manager, PRAIRIE STATE GENERATING CO, LLC

AFTON CHEMICAL CORPORATION: *Todd Merseal, Engineering Project Manager, Brian Boehm, Plant Manager and Ed Cox, EHS Manager

FLEXSYS AMERICA LP a Subsidiary of EASTMAN CHEMICAL: Jeff Florian, Maintenance, Engineering, and Reliability Manager and Shelley Heigert, Sr. Project Manager

WIELAND (FORMERLY OLIN BRASS): *James H. Kabitzke Jr., Manager of Engineering, Brass Mill and *Joseph Wickenhauser – Director, Safety and Security Systems Lead

PRAIRIE STATE GENERATING CO, LLC: Thomas Foust, Maintenance Manager, Power Generation

WRB REFINING, LP (Phillips 66) *Richard Schwarz, Director Capital Projects and Ann Corcoran, Maintenance Superintendent

TEKSOLV/AASC Tamara Walker, AASC Operations Manager

*denotes past chair positions

During December 2023 Board of Director’s meeting, board members elected 2 new officer positions.  The officer positions are filled for at least two years, with a third year option.

COCA now accepting “Sponsors” for Training and Educational Programs (i.e. Quarterly Meetings & Conferences)
For more information on the “Sponsorship Guidelines and Request Form”, click on this link: Guidelines & Sponsorship Form.  You may also obtain this information and form by clicking on the link in the right side column under “Sponsorship Form”.