The following is an excerpt of the annual business meeting report by President Jack Desmond on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003.

Jack Desmond

I would like to focus on SMACNA쳌fs long-term goal of creating a competitive advantage and provide examples of how SMACNA is working on your behalf to make your firm more competitive.

First, our market expansion program with pilot programs in Florida and Phoenix, got off to a strong start. Labor-management teams analyzed our market potential in architectural, residential, HVAC, commercial, and industrial sectors, then began developing strategies to gain union sheet metal access to each area.

The results from these pilot programs hold exciting ramifications for every SMACNA member and will go a long way in delivering on SMACNA's promise of creating a competitive advantage for you.

Second, this year SMACNA produced a dynamic new product whose sole purpose is to make your firm more competitive. The "Creating the High-Performing Contracting Company" publication is a practical, hands-on guide full of business tips and advice from your fellow contractors.

This book, which by the way is free from the SMACNA Web site, www.smacna.org, can take your firm to new levels of excellence in leadership, customer relationships, business operations, financial results and much more.

And third, mark your calendar now for the week of May 2nd - that's the 2004 Sheet Metal Industry Week in Las Vegas. An incredible number of hours of planning have gone into this first labor-management educational week that will begin with the Partnership Conference and close with the Apprenticeship Contest.

Sandwiched in between these two very strong anchor events will be programs on SMACNA's technical standards, safety courses, business management workshops and specialized instruction for trustees of training, pension and health funds. These educational programs will not disappoint.

The Market Expansion Program, the High-Performing Contractor guide and Sheet Metal Industry Week are but a few of the outstanding programs SMACNA has developed to create a competitive advantage for you.

In closing, I would like to thank all of the people who gave freely of their time and knowledge this year to serve on SMACNA's task forces, committees, trusts and board of directors. You deserve a huge thank you for your dedication to our industry.