Meet The Ohio Chapter of ASHI Board Members

Blaine Swan

President
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

My home inspection journey began in 2002 after 15 years in the heating industry. Leadership roles soon followed, leading to a rewarding journey in this industry I love.

In 2015, upon learning we would become grandparents, my wife and I immigrated to Columbus, Ohio.

For 5 years, I served as chair of the Ohio Joint Chapter Legislative Committee. I witnessed firsthand how chapters and members can achieve challenging goals, such as structuring the licensing model and crafting the state SoPs in Ohio.

I am currently serving my 4th term as the president of The Ohio ASHI Chapter.

  • I served as the OHIO ASHI Chapter Vice-President for 2 terms.
  • I served on the ASHI National Board of Directors for 3 years.
  • I served as ASHI Vice-president for 1 year.
  • I served as President of CAHPI / ASHI Atlantic for 6 terms.
  • I served as President of CAHPI National for 4 terms.
  • I served as Vice-President of CAHPI National for 4 terms.

Jerry Salontay

Vice President

I’m a proud graduate and valedictorian of The Ohio ASHI School. Within a month of my ASHI graduation, I was asked to present a class on Electrical for a yearly ASHI seminar and have since provided many other classes. From the beginning, I’ve been a member of both Ohio ASHI chapters and national ASHI. I’ve strived to create a one-stop inspection firm, becoming licensed in Radon, Lead, Wood Destroying Insects, and as a HUD consultant. I’m certified in Mold, Water, Thermographics, Asbestos, and Commercial Inspections.

Prior to inspecting, I owned and ran a union electrical contractor for 28 years, holding State Electrical Inspectors, State Electrical Contractors, and State Fire Alarm Licenses. I was a member of the IBEW and NECA, and worked on the education committee. After graduating valedictorian from JATC’s 4-year apprenticeship, I spent 2 years at Perry Nuclear power plant on the Electrical SWAT Team, trained and NRC certified for all electrical work in the plant. I then joined Honeywell in their HVAC controls division, gaining intense work and training on computer controls of various systems until their shift to non-union work led to layoffs.

I formed a corporation with my wife, continuing HVAC and fire alarm work, and successfully completing projects in every Cuyahoga County hospital, every City of Cleveland-owned building, both stadiums, the arena, NASA, CSU, JCU, Case Kent, and countless other Federal, State, County, and smaller city projects.

We had three great sons: Jerry, an emergency stepdown nurse; Niki, a division manager for a top 5 tech company; and Sam, a physicist working on driverless cars. Currently, after many years on the Board of Directors for THE OHIO ASHI CHAPTER, I’m proudly serving as vice president of the Chapter.

Ken Harrington

Executive Director

Ken Harrington managed a Home Center Division for W.R. Grace, Atlanta, Ga from 1980-1985, was a commissioned Certified Training Instructor for Wood Destroying Insects in 1981, and Certified Dimensional Lumber Inspector by Georgia Pacific in 1982. Ken obtained the Osmose Pressure Treated Lumber Certification in 1982, as well as Certifications in Plumbing, Electrical and Roofing installation and inspection. After 35 years in Retail Management, 15 years in upper management for a Fortune 500 retail chain in Central Ohio, Ken retired from retail.

He has been inspecting homes in Central Ohio since March, 1999, joined ASHI and THE Ohio Chapter in July, 2003, and founded Kustom Home Inspection in 2003 as a multi-inspector business. He has performed over 8,000 residential and commercial inspections in Central Ohio and, although retired in 2020, is currently a licensed home inspector by the State, and is licensed for WDI. He is certified for irrigation systems, hot tubs and swimming pools, and is a certified mold specialist. 

Ken served as an Adjunct Professor at Cincinnati State Community College, Workforce Development, Sharonville, OH, teaching Home Inspector Training and has been a Certified Instructor for The ASHI School since 2009. He previously served on the ASHI National Board of Directors and as ASHI National Chair and/or member of the Chapter Relations Committee, totaling 10 years of service to ASHI National. Ken currently serves as a member of the Ohio Joint Chapter Legislative Committee and is Executive Director of THE Ohio Chapter of ASHI.

Merwyn Bowdish

Education Director

Merwyn Bowdish has been in the home inspection business for 10 years and is the owner and proprietor of Home Inspection Services of Lancaster, LLC.  Trained by the American Home Inspectors Training Institute (AHIT) and National Association of Home Inspections (NAHI) mentorship program, Merwyn has taken and passed the National Home Inspectors exam that is used by many states to license home inspectors.  Merwyn has experience in over 1,500 home inspections to date is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI).  Merwyn serves on the Board of Directors of the Ohio ASHI organization and previously served as state president of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHI).   In 2011 Merwyn obtained his license to conduct Wood Destroying Insect Inspections.  Prior to joining the home inspection business, Merwyn was the Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Lancaster H.S. and also coached football and basketball.  A graduate of Mount Union College with degree in Education, and a Masters degree in Education Administration from the University of Detroit, Merwyn has also has certifications in Career Tech education from Kent State and Ohio University.  He has worked in the home construction industry for 7 years prior to his administration work in education.  Merwyn resides in Lancaster with his wife Cindy.  Merwyn and Cindy have two children, Kendra (Ryan) and Bryan (Candice) and four grandchildren Addyson, Nikolas, Anderson and Ellis.

Skip Dodd

Treasurer

Skip Walker lives in the SF Bay Area and has performed over 3,500 paid inspections since 2003. Skip is both a CREIA Master Inspector (MCI) and an ASHI Certified Inspector (ACI). Skip is an ICC Certified Residential Combination Building Inspector and a F.I.R.E. Certified Inspector. Skip is the past education chair for the Silicon Valley ASHI/CREIA Chapter, past SV ASHI Chapter president, CREIA State Secretary, 2011 and the CREIA Region Three Director 2009- Current. He has presented a number of times at both CREIA and ASHI chapters and educational events and has represented the Home Inspection profession at both the CAR and NAR conferences. Skip has also written around 19 articles and also holds a California Real Estate Appraisal Trainee License.

Danica Allen​

Secretary

Growing up in Columbus Ohio during the 60s, David Argabright spent his summers and weekends working with his father Dace who owned a masonry company. The work was strenuous and the hours long but it was during this time David developed a love for the design, construction, and issues of all things related to houses. After obtaining a degree in Architecture from Columbus State in 1972, he again joined his father in his business. Eventually David decided to start and expand his own construction company. Again the work was changeling and the hours long but very fulfilling and his knowledge increased. It was during one of many downturns in the economy and getting wiser as well as older, he decided a change of career was needed. In 1998 David decided on pursuing his second career in home inspections.

Fortunately he was able to secure a position in a well established and respected multi inspector firm in central Ohio. During those five years he was lucky enough to work with, and learn from some of the most respected and experienced home inspectors in the area. He also became a certified member of the Ohio Chapter of A.S.H.I. In 2003 he formed “Attic to Sidewalk Inspections” and has performed over 10,000 home inspections.

He became a member of the board or the Ohio Chapter of A.S.H.I. and served in several capacities including Vice President for two terms. After taking a few years off David has returned to the board.

He is married to his wife Judith of 48 years and has a son, Joshua, and daughter, Crystal. They have given him four grandsons and one granddaughter. He is a member of the Alkire Road Church of Christ and is serving as a deacon.

Ray Kershaw

Board Member

I have been in the home inspection business since 1999. I have worked in industry

and retired after 31 Years from US Steel as a millwright, hydraulic repairman and a

mechanical planner. I also ran my own construction business doing residential and

commercial construction, first licensed in 1973.

My first interest in residential inspections led me to taking classes at mid-west home

inspection school in Leavenworth Kansas. Upon completion I started on the journey to

become a full ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) member which I completed in 2

years and passed the national home inspection test. I was also a full member of The

National Assocation of Home Inspectors until they closed their doors. Over the years I

have had the pleasure of serving on the board of both organizations.

I am currently serving on the ASHI board of directors and am licensed in the state of Ohio

as a home inspector. License # 2019005117

I live in Erie County with my wife Deborah (Sue). We have one son Mackenzie who currently

lives out of state.

I have been in the home inspection business since 1999. I have worked in industry

and retired after 31 Years from US Steel as a millwright, hydraulic repairman and a

mechanical planner. I also ran my own construction business doing residential and

commercial construction, first licensed in 1973.

My first interest in residential inspections led me to taking classes at mid-west home

inspection school in Leavenworth Kansas. Upon completion I started on the journey to

become a full ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) member which I completed in 2

years and passed the national home inspection test. I was also a full member of The

National Assocation of Home Inspectors until they closed their doors. Over the years I

have had the pleasure of serving on the board of both organizations.

I am currently serving on the ASHI board of directors and am licensed in the state of Ohio

as a home inspector. License # 2019005117

I live in Erie County with my wife Deborah (Sue). We have one son Mackenzie who currently

lives out of state.

David Argabright

Board Member

Growing up in Columbus Ohio during the 60s, David Argabright spent his summers and weekends working with his father Dace who owned a masonry company. The work was strenuous and the hours long but it was during this time David developed a love for the design, construction, and issues of all things related to houses. After obtaining a degree in Architecture from Columbus State in 1972, he again joined his father in his business. Eventually David decided to start and expand his own construction company. Again the work was changeling and the hours long but very fulfilling and his knowledge increased. It was during one of many downturns in the economy and getting wiser as well as older, he decided a change of career was needed. In 1998 David decided on pursuing his second career in home inspections.

Fortunately he was able to secure a position in a well established and respected multi inspector firm in central Ohio. During those five years he was lucky enough to work with, and learn from some of the most respected and experienced home inspectors in the area. He also became a certified member of the Ohio Chapter of A.S.H.I. In 2003 he formed “Attic to Sidewalk Inspections” and has performed over 10,000 home inspections.

He became a member of the board or the Ohio Chapter of A.S.H.I. and served in several capacities including Vice President for two terms. After taking a few years off David has returned to the board.

He is married to his wife Judith of 48 years and has a son, Joshua, and daughter, Crystal. They have given him four grandsons and one granddaughter. He is a member of the Alkire Road Church of Christ and is serving as a deacon.

Bryck Guibor

Board Member

Bryck has over 40 years of experience inspecting thousands of homes and is a licensed home inspector and general contractor. An expert in historical and older homes, Bryck’s expertise spans home inspection, building, and renovation. He is certified in both city and county code review for building and electrical codes and has taught classes for the National Park Service on historic building rehab and inspection. Bryck is a national speaker for the Indian Health Services Housing Division and has been an instructor at the National ASHI conference for over 13 years. He also teaches with Training Services Associates, offering hands-on workshops in electrical, plumbing, and home maintenance nationwide. Additionally, Bryck is a subject matter expert for the National Home Inspectors Exam, a requirement for inspectors in Arizona and many other states.

Dave Beck

Board Member

Dave started home inspection career after retiring from the Coast Guard at the rank of Commander. He served 23 years in a variety of operational / management positions and moving around the country. Frequent military moves provided the opportunity to live in over a dozen homes of all different styles, and Dave fully understands the real estate process from a seller and buyer’s perspective. Living in a variety of homes from new construction to 100-year-old structures allowed him to flex his handyman skills and appreciate the necessary upkeep required for a home to function well.  In 2014, Dave worked from a home inspector and developed a love and technical expertise for home inspections.  After a year, Dave created Lighthouse Home Inspections.  He has since added certification/ licensed in Radon Testing, Pest (Wood Destroying Insect) Inspections and Thermal Imagery.  Dave has been a member of ASHI since 2014.  He served two terms as Vice President of the North Central Ohio Chapter.  Dave is also an active member of the Joint Chapter Legislative Committee and worked on the Ohio Licensing development as part of the Ohio ASHI chapters to help make licensing a successful program.

Sean Price

Board Member

Sean Price has been performing inspections in NE Ohio and Western Pennsylvania since 1996 and is currently licensed in the State of Ohio to perform home inspections, wood destroying insect inspections, and radon testing. He is also certified through Exterior Design Institute to inspect stone veneer and EIFs siding. Sean is also certified through multiple sources for performing mold inspections and indoor air quality investigations. He has been a member of ASHI since 1999.

Educationally, Sean attended Youngstown State University where he played collegiate baseball. Later he coached a combination of both high school baseball and softball for over 20 years until he recently retired from the coaching ranks.

He has three children, two son-in-laws and two dogs with his wife Jane of 30 years and resides in Howland Township outside Warren, Ohio.

In his spare time, Sean enjoys golfing, Jeeping, pickleball, fitness and traveling.

Sean brings his nearly 28 years of experience in the inspection industry to the Ohio Chapter with goals on maintaining the chapter to be one of the best ASHI chapters in the nation.