Innovating, Educating and Connecting For a Stronger Future

All our work as an association must be centered on this core mission. My mission is to continually provide our contractors and the association with value-added initiatives to strengthen their organizations, ultimately increasing profitability. 

Educating and informing our members has taken on a new sense of importance. At the center of this effort is the revamped SMACNA website. Thanks to the hard work of Susannah Forde and her team at headquarters, our association's virtual home has been updated so that the resources you need to run your business and/or chapter are easier to access than ever before. Whether you are looking for a specific technical standard, schedules and events, or labor relations information needed for collective bargaining, the new website is user-friendly and accessible for everyone within your organization. Not everyone learns best from reading; some people are visual learners and others absorb and retain information better through listening. SMACNA is now meeting this demand with podcasts, webinars and infographics. We continue to provide new and informative content. SMACNA tracks the data in this space, and we see five times the traction for podcasts and webinars compared to traditional paper formatting. 

Taking this a step further, I am working closely with Linda Jennings to take our educational offerings presented by our association to a whole new level. One of the hot topics currently being discussed is artificial intelligence and technology, which could have a favorable impact on our contractors. When we think of AI, our thoughts go in a million different directions. Luckily, our AI task force is doing the hard work of answering the questions posed by our contractors and thinking ahead toward how contractors can successfully leverage this potentially beneficial resource. This type of forward thinking continues to shape the educational offerings we provide. It maintains the goal I stated earlier: ensuring SMACNA benefits our members. 

Our relationships with our Associate Members are another way to continue enhancing that value proposition. I am proud of our work in improving our Associate Member program. These firms provide critical services that propel our companies forward in our competitive industry. But this isn't a one-sided relationship. They rely on our feedback and experience to shape their product offerings and business strategies to remain competitive in the marketplace. The fact that SMACNA members have a seat at the table in this dynamic is something we should not underrate. The trend in our industry is a more collaborative delivery method for the customer. Having great relationships with our Associate Members improves efficiency and profitability. This partnership (and, yes, it's absolutely a partnership) has taken flight. Look at the engagement of our associate members in programs such as the recently held Fab Forum. You will get a good idea of the value of building these types of relationships.

But we are not going to rest on our laurels. We always strive to do better. One of the members of the SMACNA team, Emma Danh, is looking to take our Associate Member program to the next level. I am confident we will enhance our engagement with these critical stakeholders, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

You must be engaged to extract the highest level of value from this association. We all bring different experiences and skill sets to the table. Engaging both locally and nationally can provide new relationships, opportunities and profitability. 

I'm honored to be your President. I have enjoyed all my travels and experiences, as well as meeting new friends and contractors. I will continue to listen and support you through my term. 

Tom Martin, SMACNA President