PARTNERSHIP IS VITAL

Partnership is Vital Now, More than Ever Before

A few short days after the Partners in Progress Conference concluded in February 2020, the world changed in a manner few attendees could have predicted. For many participants, the 2020 conference was the last in-person meeting they attended before COVID safety precautions, lockdowns, and travel restrictions disrupted our work and our lives in general.

While many of the pandemic-related challenges persist, important industry work goes on. A look “Behind the Scenes” on page 4 provides a glimpse of how the SMART-SMACNA Best Practices Market Expansion Taskforce (BPMETF) navigated challenges to begin working on programming and logistics for the 2022 conference immediately after the 2020 program concluded. The BPMETF has been busy nailing down industry experts for general and breakout sessions and has lined up two world-class keynote speakers to provide insight on two key components of a successful partnership—Leadership and Adapting To and Overcoming Obstacles.

All sessions at the 2022 Partners in Progress Conference will center around Building the Future Together. To thrive, leaders must recognize the importance of a solid plan and strategy in identifying emerging markets and industry trends. DeWayne Ables, president of Pioneer IQ, cautions that simply because a market is growing or an existing client has an opportunity in a new market, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a good fit for all contractors and their workers. In “Improve Your Market IQ” on page 6, Ables dicusses some of the reasons industry leaders need to plan for new markets and some of the pitfalls that occur when they do not. Be sure to attend Ables’ talk at the 2022 Partners in Progress Conference to learn how to plan, what to plan, and how contractors and local unions can work together to identify, deploy, and develop new markets for mutual benefit.

There has been no shortage of life-altering events in the 21st century. The on-going COVID-19 pandemic is one of the two most significant to date. Dial back 20 years for another— the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. In “Remembering 9/11” on page 8, representatives from SMACNA-Kansas City contractor A. Zahner and Local 2 recount their memories of that solemn day but emphasize their collective pride applying their skills on a complex project for the National September 11 Memorial Museum that sits on the site of the former World Trade Center. Readers who visit New York City are encouraged to see the memorial and admire the amazing sheet metal industry engineering and craftsmanship that honors those who lost their lives on September 11.

It is human nature to search for information and data that support our beliefs. So why would a large, successful company like Amazon challenge its company leaders to do the opposite and work to disconfirm their beliefs? In “How to Challenge Your Beliefs” on page 10, John Millan, a leadership and communications expert, explains how actively challenging our beliefs in a world where we are inundated with information can help us to sift through that information to make the best decisions.

This edition’s My Journey article on page 12 follows Nick Dopjuda’s 40-year career from sheet metal apprentice to project executive for Southland Industries. Nick explains why positive labor-management relations are so important and how his experience as a Local 105 member has helped him to bring a balanced perspective to his role as a management representative serving on SMACNA Southern California’s board of directors.

As we enter the last quarter of 2021, the latest variants of COVID-19 continue to challenge us. As a society, we find ourselves more divided than ever on important social issues. The 2022 Partners in Progress Conference has always been a “must-attend” program for contractor, chapter, and union leaders who want to increase market share and work opportunities. Coming together face-to-face as management and labor to understand each other’s concerns, build trust, and plan for our industry’s future is more important now than ever. Make sure leaders from your area are represented March 1-2 at the 2022 Partners in Progress Conference. ▪