President’s Message

by Nathan Wittman CAFS, NCT

Clean air and superior Indoor Air Quality have gained increased importance and relevance during the past 12 months. NAFA is uniquely positioned as an organization of experts, with both the knowledge and the tools available through our membership, to provide solutions to problems that are at the forefront of our society. Our mission as “The Global Source for Expertise, Education & Best Practices in Air Filtration” has never been more important. Our organization continues to provide the knowledge and expertise needed during this difficult time. The over 400 NAFA Certified Air Filter Specialists (CAFS) have played a key role in guiding facilities across the United States, Canada, and globally through the process of improving filtration systems that have greatly impacted the health and safety of our customers and the public. Trained NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) service personnel have worked in difficult applications, utilizing much of the training developed and implemented through NAFA education programs, to ensure air filtration systems are operating properly, effectively, and as designed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created new challenges and demands that we will continue to overcome in 2021. I am thankful for the professionals who make up NAFA’s membership. These individuals continue to work and improve upon our published guidelines, develop new educational materials, and work tirelessly to ensure that the information and guidance we provide is relevant and current as it pertains to ever changing environment.

In 2021 NAFA will develop additional guideline recommendations for many unique applications where filtration guidance is needed to ensure clean air is the priority rather than an afterthought. NAFA is committed to move forward with our annual in person Technical Seminar, which is scheduled for May 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our Board of Directors and Convention Planning Committee have identified and prioritized the necessary protocols to ensure that our upcoming meeting provides a safe, comfortable environment to further the education of our membership. The speakers invited and educational topics covered will focus on the challenging world related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Starting in late 2020, NAFA has successfully implemented virtual training webinars on a variety of pertinent topics. Participation has been larger than initially expected, and feedback regarding the information provided and the relevance of the educational benefits has been incredibly positive. These webinars continue to expand the reach of our organization and NAFA plans to continue this educational series monthly in 2021 and beyond.

This will be an exciting year as we continue to work on improving access to more education and training opportunities. Our Certified Air Filter Specialist (CAFS) and NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) testing is available online and will continue to be offered in person at the upcoming Technical Seminar. NAFA’s marketing team has been successful in maintaining and building upon our membership and we look forward to continuing this trend throughout 2021. This year we will continue with our highly successful Clean Air Award program which recognizes commercial facilities for their diligence and dedication to maintenance practices that create superior indoor environments for occupants. Our membership includes countless filtration experts who continually support NAFA through their participation in committees, development of guidelines, and offer input on advanced educational opportunities. There are numerous avenues to be involved with our organization in many different areas and I encourage you to seek out these opportunities. Our continued commitment to the expansion of our membership base, broadening our reach as an organization, and the benefits that NAFA membership provides ensures greater organization success in the future. Thank you for your support and I look forward to a great year.

Take care and stay safe.