From the Executive Director

from 2020 Summer Air Media

Technology Corner

by Michelle Czosek, CAE

We’re All in This Together

First, let me say that I hope as you read this column that you and those you love are safe and healthy. For any NAFA members that are being challenged during this time please know that the NAFA Board and staff are thinking of you and looking for ways to provide the resources you need.

Every time we are on the verge of printing Air Media, I struggle with exactly what I’m going to write about so long that Terry ends up chasing me down. This column is an exception to that general rule. Right now, COVID-19 is at the forefront of people’s minds. There is no line that keeps this pandemic from easily crossing back and forth between our personal and professional lives. There is no leaving the office, which for many of us is now located at some spot in our home, and setting aside the stress of what this is doing to our family, friends, businesses and lives.

As I look at the havoc this pandemic is wreaking in our world and how vulnerable it makes me feel personally, I try to embrace the positive things I see and the light that is there. On a recent webinar, the presenter asked us to chat what our theme song for this time is and mine was easy – We’re All in This Together (yes, from High School Musical – I have two daughters). For me, that is because of the true sense of community that I’ve felt as I’ve worked with colleagues, the NAFA Board and, frankly, everyone I’ve interacted with lately. I must recognize and thank Tom Justice, NAFA President, for his guidance and time throughout this challenging period.

As an association, NAFA wants to provide resources that we hope will help as we navigate together. NAFA offered a webinar, COVID-19 and Air Filtration Frequently Asked Questions, that attracted 400 registrants and is available for ondemand viewing. There is an accompanying web page in both English and Spanish, and both are attracting a lot of visitors. We also have a COVID-19 resource page where you can find links to NAFA, ASHRAE and government pages. With help from our friends at INDA we were able to provide an Essential Business Template to our members.

In conjunction with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and the Department of Defense (DOD), NAFA surveyed distributor members to help answer some important questions regarding the HVAC filter supply chain and whether the impacts of the recent pandemic will affect the ability of specific segments of our industrial base to meet national needs. More specifically, will the increased demand for MERV-13 and higher HVAC filters exceed the availability of materials needed to meet the demands for both masks and filters? Thank you to those who participated. High level survey results are available in this issue (page 16).

For those of you interested in earning your NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) designation, we encourage you to take the exam online. The exam is also now available in Spanish and by the time you read this issue, we will have held an NCT tutorial webinar in Spanish.

One question on everyone’s mind is whether the 2020 Annual Convention scheduled for November 3-5 in Clearwater is still on track to be held in person. For now, the answer is yes, but we are monitoring the situation and will update you as new information becomes available.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or any NAFA Board member if you have questions, ideas for resources that we can provide to our community or if you just wish to talk to someone that’s experiencing the same issues and challenges you are. This is truly a time where the power of NAFA and the association community we have built shines through.

I sincerely hope to see you in person soon so that we can come together to do what we do best – network, share and learn. In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and each other. ■

Stay well,

Michelle Czosek, CAE

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