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President’s Letter
What is excellence? or the weld joints are cleaned meeting in Atlanta in October, appropriately. It also means honwe had an interesting strategic est and fair treatment of our cusplanning session. Near the end, tomers. It means meeting schedwe focused on developing our ules, good communication, paying taxes, providing a safe “Big Hairy Audacious Goal” for environment for our employNOMMA. The BHAG, as it is ees, following building codes, also known, focuses on a single, Will Keeler, structural integrity, and ethical audacious, long-term goal. The Keeler Iron integrity. purpose of the goal is to align Works, is Excellence means striving to volunteer leaders and staff to president do business just a little better work together for a great cause. of NOMMA. than your competition. It means There was much discussion being outstanding, not only with about NOMMA being a vital the products we produce, but in the component for our member’s “sucmanner in which we produce them. cess.” During our brainstorming, Allyn Moseley raised an interesting question, “What exactly does being sucNOMMA promotes excellence cessful mean?” For our industry, does How does that relate to NOMMA? it just mean making a profit? Well, all I believe NOMMA represents these of us know of companies that turn out characteristics and works hard to help substandard products, or are dishonest members achieve excellence. Just readwith their customers. I would venture ing an average day’s email traffic on the to say that for many NOMMA memListServ, it is plainly clear that particibers, our organization represents much pants are interested in bettering their more than just making a profit. skills, products, and businesses. They are striving to achieve excellence. Excellence in everything I’ve enjoyed visiting NOMMA shops Our discussion then focused on during METALfab or at chapter meetthe word “excellence.” Mainly, that ings. Last May, I attended the Gulf Coast we think NOMMA and its members NOMMA meeting in Denham Springs, should represent characteristics that LA, hosted by A-1 Southern Iron Works. demonstrate industry “excellence.” I was impressed with their dedication to Webster’s dictionary defines excellence provide quality, and long lasting paint as, oh, who cares! I am sure you are finishes on the gates and fences they not interested in that. But what exactly made. In south Louisiana, steel tends to does “excellence” mean for our indusrust fast; I mean a rust-while-you-watch try? Does excellence mean producing kind of fast if the metal is not properly highly polished, shiny decorative stain- protected. They had tanks for degreasing the materials and dip tanks for less steel panels or elaborate handpainting to get every nook and cranny. forged steel rails that have been connected with mortise and tenon joinery? A1 was providing an “excellent” finish that was also affordable. Sure, but not exclusively. As for myself, I don’t believe I have We are accustomed to seeing excelachieved excellence on anything, except lent work in the Ernest Wiemann Top maybe taking a nap. However, I’d like Job Contest. It also means producing a 2-line steel pipe guard rail. How is that to think that I am always striving. possible? There are many elements that go into the goal of excellence. A simple rail can be considered excellent if it fits perfectly At our last NOMMA Board
March / April 2013 n Fabricator
Dedicated to the success of our members and industry. NOMMA O FFICERS
President Will Keeler, Keeler Iron Works, Memphis, TN Vice President/Treasurer Mark Koenke, Germantown Iron & Steel Corp. Jackson, WI President-Elect J.R. Molina, Big D Metalworks, Dallas, TX Immediate Past President James Minter, Jr., Imagine Ironworks, Brookhaven, MS
F ABRICATOR D I RECTORS
Todd Kinnikin, Eureka Forge, Pacific, MO Keith Majka, Majka Railing Co. Inc., Paterson, NJ Ray Michael, R & F Metals Inc., Clinton, MD Allyn Moseley, Heirloom Stair & Iron, Campobello, SC Tina Tennikait, Superior Fence & Orn. Iron, Cottage Hills, IL Greg Terrill, Division 5 Metalworks, Kalamazoo, MI
S U PPLI ER D I RECTORS
Gina Pietrocola, D.J.A. Imports Ltd., Bronx, NY Rick Ralston, Feeney Inc., Eugene, OR Mark Sisson, Mac Metals Inc., Kearny, NJ
NOMMA E DUCATION F OU N DATION O FFICERS
Co-Chairs Roger Carlsen, Ephraim Forge Inc., Frankfort, IL Lynn Parquette, Mueller Ornamental Iron Works Inc., Elite Architectural Metal Supply LLC, Elk Grove Village, IL Treasurer Mike Boyler, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron Inc., Bettendorf, IA
NEF T RUSTEES
Heidi Bischmann, Milwaukee, WI Carl Grainger, Grainger Metal Works, Nichols, SC Mark Koenke, Germantown Iron & Steel Corp., Jackson, WI Christopher Maitner, Christopher Metal Fabricating Grand Rapids, MI
NOMMA C HAPTERS
Chesapeake Bay Patty Koppers, President, Koppers Fabricators Inc., Forestville, MD, 301-420-6080 Florida Cathy Vequist, President, Pinpoint Solutions, Jupiter, FL, 561-801-7549 Gulf Coast Charles Perez, President, B & O Machine Welding, Brookhaven, MS, 985-630-6943 Northeast Keith Majka, President, Majka Railing Co. Inc., Paterson, NJ, 973-247-7603 Pacific Northwest Gale Schmidt, President, A2 Fabrication Inc., Milwaukie, OR, 503-771-2000 Upper Midwest Mark O’Malley, President, O’Malley Welding & Fabricating Inc., Yorkville, IL, 630-553-1604
NOMMA S TAFF
Executive Director, J. Todd Daniel, CAE Meetings & Exposition Manager; NEF Executive Director, Martha Pennington Member Care & Operations Manager, Liz Johnson Editor, Robin Sherman Sales Director, Sherry Theien
F ABRICATOR E DITORIAL A DVISORY B OARD
Terry Barrett, Pinpoint Solutions, Jupiter, FL Doug Bracken, Wiemann Metalcraft, Tulsa, OK Bill Coleman, Arc Angels, Dunedin, FL Nancy Hayden, Tesko Enterprises, Norridge, IL Chris Holt, Steel Welding, Freedom, PA Rob Rolves, Foreman Fabricators, St. Louis, MO
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