Nicholas E. Barrack, President

Mr. Barrack is a 1971 graduate of Hogan High School, Kansas City, Missouri and a graduate of the University of Missouri-Rolla, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management. His business interests started in 1972 when he began installing and servicing alarm systems in the Rolla area while attending the university.

Special licenses and certifications include:

• Kansas City Master Electrician’s License
• National NICET Level III Fire Alarm Certification
• Oklahoma State Alarm License
• Arkansas State Alarm License
• Illinois State Alarm License

Other professional relationships:

• National Burglar & Fire Alarm, Training School Instructor
• Missouri Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, Past President
• Alarm Dealers of America, Past President
• Sigma Nu Fraternity, Housing Corp., Past President

Companies owned include:

• The Attic Lounge and Restaurant, 1976-81 (Partner)
• Central Security & Electric, Inc., 1981-2010
• Central Dispatch, Inc., 1986-Present
• Advanced Answering Exchange, 1988-2007
• CSE Construction Co., Inc., 1994-Present
• USA Tour, Inc., 1996-Present
• USA Express, Inc., 2003-Present

Community involvement and special recognition include:

• Greentree Christian Church
• Rolla Downtown Business Association
• Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce
• Route 66 Summerfest Chairman
• Phelps County Ambassadors
• Phelps for the Fort
• Edmond Ward Bishop Award, 2008 Recipient

Mr. Barrack began serving on the Rolla Board of Public Works in 2009.

Wm. Eric Showalter, Ph.D., Vice President

Dr. Showalter is originally from Michigan. He graduated from Michigan Tech in 1984 with a BS in Civil Engineering and in 1988 with an MS in Civil Engineering. In 1994 he received a Ph.D. from Purdue University, also in Civil Engineering. Before entering academia he worked as an engineer for Manistee County in Michigan, a project manager for Opus and for Harmon Contract in Minneapolis and had post-Doctoral appointment as a cost analyst at Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. In 1995 he joined the faculty of Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech. Since the Fall of 2000 he has been at Missouri University of Science and Technology in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering where he is currently an Associate Teaching Professor. His area is construction engineering; he teaches courses covering cost estimating, scheduling and contracts, and teaches senior design. In 2010 he was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to Tallinn University of Technology in Estonia where he taught and conducted research.

Licenses and Accreditations:

• Registered Professional Engineer – Minnesota
• LEED AP

University Service:

• Green Campus Committee
• Adviser to:  Solar Decathlon Team since inception in 2001,  Student Chapter of AGC since 2011,  Engineeers Without Borders since inception,  Concrete Canoe Team since 2010

Community Involvement:

• Assistant Scout Master, Troop 83-from 2004 to 2008
• Optimist Basketball coach – from 2003 to 2006

Dr. Showalter began serving on the Rolla Board of Public Works in 2012.

Joe Polizzi, Secretary

Joe Polizzi is President and CEO of Town and Country Super Market, Inc, a regional grocery store chain with multiple locations throughout south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas (including Price Chopper in Rolla, MO). Mr. Polizzi and his wife, Amber, have lived in Rolla since 2011 and have two daughters. He has coached youth soccer, basketball and softball.

Mr. Polizzi attended St. Louis University where he earned his undergraduate business administration degree in 1999, law degree in 2002 and MBA in 2008.

Prior to joining Town & Country as Vice President and General Counsel in 2011, Mr. Polizzi worked in private law practice with a primary focus on corporate and business law matters before joining UniGroup, Inc. (the parent company of United Van Lines and Mayflower Transit) as an in-house corporate attorney.

Mr. Polizzi currently serves on several other Boards, as follows: Town and Country Supermarket (Chairman), Town and Country Bank, Missouri Grocers Association (President 2023-25), Rolla Knights Soccer Club (Secretary), Phelps Health Foundation, and Harris Baking Company. He is also a past board member of Rolla Area Youth Soccer League.

Mr. Polizzi began serving on the Rolla Board of Public Works in February 2024.

Fred Stone, MBA, Vice Secretary

Fred Stone brings experience in facilities planning, operations, and infrastructure management to the Rolla Board of Public Works. As Associate Vice Chancellor for Facility Planning and Operations at Missouri S&T, Fred leads a comprehensive division responsible for the university’s design and construction management, facilities maintenance, custodial services, groundskeeping, and environmental health and safety. His leadership ensures that the campus operates efficiently and sustainably, providing a safe and inspiring environment for students, faculty, and staff.

In addition to overseeing a transformative multi-million-dollar capital construction program and campus master planning efforts, Fred’s team plays a vital role in maintaining the university’s physical infrastructure. This includes proactive maintenance strategies, sustainable landscaping practices, and custodial operations that ensure the campus remains clean, welcoming, and conducive to learning and research. His division also spearheads initiatives to promote environmental stewardship, compliance with safety regulations, and effective resource management.

Fred has over 15 years of experience in facility and project management, during which he has directed the successful completion of numerous large-scale construction initiatives. He has cultivated strong partnerships between the university, city officials, and industry leaders, including serving as a director for the Move Rolla Transportation Development District. His contributions have supported Missouri S&T’s growth and strengthened the university’s ties to the Rolla community.

Fred holds a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering and an MBA from Missouri S&T. His dedication to operational excellence and sustainable development aligns seamlessly with the mission of the Rolla Board of Public Works to deliver reliable and efficient public utilities to the community.