Perspective

Join our Community and Unlock Resources for Success

By: R. Pete Gum, Executive Director

The majority of SEAA’s erector members are contractors earning under $5 million in annual revenues, which is why many of our benefits are designed to help small business owners. Over the last two years we have made strategic decisions to invest in new services that help contractor members with insurance, hiring, and training.

A priority for the next two years, set by the new board of directors, is to focus on increasing usage of the services being offered. One of those that is off to a fantastic start is SteelPros, our online learning management system. The training tool houses more than 80 training videos for ironworkers. Nearly 20% of our erector members have created their free account and logged in to access the content. The four most viewed courses are:

• Demonstration of the Proper Use of a Fall Protection System

• Properly Inspect, Don, and Store a Safety Harness

• Position and Use an Aerial Platform

• Demonstrate the Safe and Effective Use of Available Ironworking Power Tools

Every member receives one free account, but for a minimal fee, contractors can add learners or upgrade to paid content. Since January of this year, half of SteelPros users have added new learners and 72% of the registered learners have completed content modules.

New Discounts

A new resource on our website is the Member-to-Member discounts page at seaa.net/memberdiscounts. There you will find a variety of discounts vendor members are offering our contractor members.

In trade associations with corporate memberships, sometimes, the right person in your organization may not realize about a resource that could benefit them in their job. If you are the primary contact for your company, I encourage you to point your key managers from HR, operations, and safety to our website. Not sure how to begin? Give our staff a call.

Investing in Yourself

At SEAA we often focus on the benefits of networking for the purposes of advancing the goals of your company, but I recently read a couple of articles that shared a common theme. Getting involved with association activities is also great for individual professional development.

Coming to events and serving on committees are chances for personal networking. By the way SEAA has several committees with vacancies.

Your next job will likely be in the same industry. According to Forbes: “Whether you’re happy in a present job or itching to make a move, everyone benefits by establishing a network of like-minded individuals. Building a robust professional network can be one of a professional’s most valuable assets, at any career stage.”

We all tend to get in our lane, busy with our dayto-day job responsibilities. But I’ve found that building relationships with people who do the same thing you do is a chance to see other ways to solve the same problem. Forbes said: “Without that repository of knowledge, a worker can easily become isolated from, and unprepared for, new innovations and ways of working that can quickly become must-haves.”

And according to software provider Fionta, this is a chance for “finding your tribe…feeling a sense of community, and being part of something bigger.”

Join Now to Save

Building connections within our industry is essential for staying informed, innovative, and prepared for the future. If you’re not already a member, now is the perfect time to join and start reaping the benefits of being part of a community that is dedicated to your success. Don’t miss out on the chance to invest in your business and yourself—join SEAA today!

When you join in October, your first three months of membership are free. This is a great time for current members to recruit others. Be sure to use the online Trailblazer Referral Form. •