Amid constant change, SMACNA convention attendees learn to adapt and grow.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
This infamous quote by leadership author and speaker John C. Maxwell was a continuous theme heard throughout SMACNA’s annual convention, which welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees from September 11–14 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, including Bruce and Rocky Sychuk and Jeremy and Kerri Hallman representing SMACNA-BC.
According to SMACNA CEO Aaron Hilger, big changes continue to happen across the industry, from workforce challenges and selective supply chain issues to an increasing need for technology to remain competitive. The association is also working on its own processes and services, addressing things such as increasing engagement and membership, strengthening its chapters, building stronger ties with the union, and coming up with a strategic plan to determine its path forward.
“Most of us have a lot of business in the pipeline but trouble finding the labour to do the work,” said Tony Kocurek, SMACNA’s new president. “However, we have strong labour partners and an association that supports all our needs.”
“This is our moment,” explained Joseph Sellers, Jr., SMART general president. “We are poised to see the growth of our companies, growth in SMACNA, and growth in SMART. And we must do this together. We must come together and have trust in each other to grow nationally and locally.”
Here are some of the major topics covered during networking opportunities, the trade show, and numerous relevant educational sessions that help members address and adapt to constant change.
2022 Futures Study Update
Angie Simon, advisor to the board of Western Allied Mechanical, and Guy Gast, president, Iowa division, The Waldinger Corp., shared trends from the 2022 Futures Study, how they impact SMACNA contractors, and what steps they recommend for conquering these challenges.
The session examined project risks contractors can expect to face now and into the future, including retaining a skilled workforce to meet growing demand, post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, and calamitous contracts, to name a few.
First, the workforce shortage is expected to continue, highlighting risks to the industry’s work pipeline that will only be fully realized with adequate labour. Contractors who embrace diversity in their organizations won’t be impacted as much as those who don’t. To stay ahead of this, Simon and Gast suggest contractors increase recruiting, create pipeline programs like the Heavy Metal Summer Experience and internships, boost inclusion, and beef up onboarding and mentoring programs.
Supply chain and contract risks are also expected to continue, but they will be more specific to individual products and supplies and not as pervasive as they were in the recent past, Simon and Gast confirmed.
To reduce risk and increase productivity, Simon and Gast advised contractors better manage contracts to protect themselves. Additionally, learning more about their target markets, educating customers, and exceeding customer expectations will be key ways to build client loyalty. Also, using technology like building information modeling (BIM) is not optional anymore for those contractors who want a seat at the table with certain clients—the use of BIM will continue to evolve to effectively tackle complex projects and work within tighter project schedules.
“Faced with labour shortages, compressed schedules, and price constraints, contractors will be compelled to innovate and deliver more with the same or fewer resources,” Gast said.
“Change is the only constant out there,” Simon said. “Change is all around us in the industry now. Learning about new opportunities is the only way to grow your business and adapt to this change.”
Amid major industry changes that are outside of contractors’ control, such as price changes, supply chain issues, regulations, and economic challenges, learning how to adapt and better navigate these business disruptions is how contractors can thrive.
“You have to have good processes to consistently manage risk and get a feedback loop going in your business,” Mike Clancy, partner and strategy practice leader at FMI.
By recognizing and quantifying risks, you can be more prepared as a business owner, he said. “If you can see risk and put a value on it, then when it does occur, you can make a more informed business decision when you respond to it,” Clancy explained.
Read the full review of the 2022 SMANA Convention at smacna-org. ■
