Learning, Lobbying & Lasting Connections

SMACNA’s strong relationships with labor partners also help move our industry forward. These benefits show the value of being a member. Still, ongoing education is just as important for growth, and SMACNA is making real strides in this area.

I’m excited about SMACNA’s growing online programs. These give members useful ways to build their skills and manage their businesses to meet changing customer needs. Keep an eye out for new courses and sessions. There are plenty of options, so feel free to sign up. Visit the SMACNA website to see what’s out there and register.

Online programs are flexible, but in-person SMACNA events are special. Members can network, join educational sessions and, at events like the recent Fab Forum, visit contractors who share their knowledge of fabrication and how they are really standing out. The Hill Group in Chicago hosted our latest Fab Forum. The team over at Hill showed real leadership and innovation by sharing their success strategies and engaging with their fellow members to discuss how they overcame certain challenges they faced. Fab Forum, along with other events such as the MEP Innovation Conference, offers an opportunity to learn something that will help you run your business. I can’t tell you how much I’ve taken away from these events and applied what I’ve learned at Ventcon. The new processes and best practices I’ve developed from SMACNA programming have been so beneficial.

Overall, the spirit of collaboration and engagement are great examples of what SMACNA membership can offer. And if nothing else, the friendships that can develop at these events are unbelievable and add so much to being a part of this organization. If I have a technical or business question or just want to talk, all I need to do is pick up the phone and reach out to one of my SMACNA colleagues. This is all because of the relationships built at a SMACNA event.

Innovation keeps our industry moving forward, but equipment is only one part of success. SMACNA members are affected by many factors, including developments in our nation’s capital. Politics can be challenging, frustrating and divisive, but it’s important for us to talk to lawmakers and share our views as both contractors and constituents. At SMACNA’s first Washington, D.C., Leadership Conference, we met national leaders, listened to industry voices and spoke up about our concerns. This gave us the tools we needed to succeed in meetings with our lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In meeting with my Congressional leaders, I knew I could apply what I had learned to serve as a better industry advocate. 

Both the Fab Forum and the Leadership Conference represent successful and effective SMACNA in-person programming. I want to thank our Member Development & Innovation team and our Government Affairs team for their great work, and I am looking forward to what both groups are cooking up for 2027. It goes without saying, but the SMACNA Annual Convention is our biggest event, and I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando this fall. There will be lots of chances to learn, network and connect, and we expect a great turnout. Keep an eye on your email and the SMACNA website for more details about the program. We’ll have time for association business and some fun together, too.

In the end, SMACNA belongs to you. This is your association. You choose what you get out of it and what you give back. By getting involved, you not only help your own business but also help lead our industry toward a better future.