Director’s Dialogue

50 Years

PATRICK O’BRIEN Executive Director

CSDA will soon reach a major milestone when it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. This is quite an accomplishment for the association formed in 1972 by a visionary group of contractors and manufacturers in the fledgling concrete sawing and drilling industry.

CSDA has thrived over this time for many reasons, not the least due to the many Officers, Board and staff. A major contributing factor has been the services provided and the benefits offered to member companies to help them grow. Today the 500 member companies have access to a broad array of safety and training programs that include manuals, handbooks, DVD’s and classroom/hands-on/online training courses. Many other programs have also been undertaken on behalf of members, including providing real world input to influence OSHA and the most recent silica regulations. No one company could have the impact like CSDA has had in this respect.

It is important to note that these services and programs came about not from consultant recommendations or by chance, they were all developed in specific response to contractor member input and need. This has become especially important as many of the early contractors only performed sawing and drilling services. Contractors still perform those services but have expanded their businesses, offering additional services including selective demolition, ground penetrating radar/imaging, polishing and more.

As CSDA approaches the 50 year mark it is time to start thinking the next 50 years. The industry represented by CSDA

will undoubtedly be different and be populated by a new generation that did not grow up with the industry in its early beginnings. Chances are very good that the benefits and programs that this generation needs will be different. It is incumbent on today’s leaders to look to the future to ensure that the industry will continue to thrive so that a new generation can take the industry to the next level. Part of the vision for the next 50 years also includes the leadership from the association management company, O’Brien International, that works with the CSDA Board, Officers and members to chart the course. Having worked with CSDA for nearly 40 of those 50 years, first with GE but mostly as executive director, it is time for me to pass on the torch to the next generation. Over the past year and a half, I have worked to find people to take over the reins of O’Brien International. Working with the CSDA Officers, a plan was put in place for succession with Jon and Erin to take over the association management for CSDA. They are well prepared to help lead CSDA going forward.

It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with CSDA. Together we have achieved many great things and the association is in the best shape ever. It was always my goal to make sure CSDA was prepared to enter its second 50 years of its history. I will be returning to the aviation industry that I left nearly 40 years ago. CSDA was always more than just a job for me. Many in this industry became lifelong friends, and while I am leaving direct involvement with CSDA, you will always be in my thoughts.

I wish CSDA all the best in the future. It has been quite a ride for me and I wouldn’t change a thing if I had to do it all to do again.

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