Why vote for me?

Now that CSI has begun restructuring into a leaner governance model, it’s time for us to begin flexing our new muscle by focusing on initiatives related to the ongoing revolution in the construction industry. As the primary gateway to resources for programs, services, and the exchange of knowledge, CSI must respond to the challenges that building information modeling, integrated project delivery, energy efficiency, and resource conservation pose for designers, constructors, and owners, as well as the entire supply chain. We must also leverage our relationships with other organizations to realize our vision of becoming the premiere integrating force for creating and sustaining the built environment.

If the Institute is the body of CSI, and the chapters are its hands and feet, then the regions are its arms and legs. My vision for CSI is that of a strong, vibrant, and progressive organization with the whole greater than the sum of its parts, and a seamless support network to develop the next generation of leadership for our organization and the entire construction industry. Channels of communication must be refined to allow leaders and members instant access to the resources and information they need to operate their chapters and their businesses. We are only as strong as our weakest link and all levels must achieve operational excellence for us to realize our full potential.

The next few years will be critical during our transition to an 18-member board. Having served on the task team that developed the governance implementation plan, I will bring that experience and knowledge to bear as a vice president. As a former leader of my city council, and several other non-profit organizations, I bring the ability to work in collaborative groups to create positive change toward a shared strategic vision. I will leverage that ability with my knowledge of CSI’s technical programs and products to move our organization and the industry forward.

I look forward to working with you to build CSI into the outstanding organization that we all know it can be, should be, and must be. I respectfully ask for your vote for Institute vice president. See you soon.

The Power of Networking

Like many CSI members, I talk about the organization with anyone who will listen. A number of these conversations have been with government officials. A few years ago, I successfully lobbied the State Architect’s Office to adopt MasterFormat 2004. I also worked with the executive director of the Ohio Architects Board to include the Construction Specifications Institute among the organizations approved to accredit continuing education programs. The following is from a CSI press release dated October 10, 2008.

“The Ohio State Architects Board now recognizes the Construction Specifications Institute's (CSI) Construction Education Network (CEN) as an approved entity for construction professionals pursuing continuing education credits. CSI CEN is a network of registered education providers offering programs to professionals in construction-related industries. It is the only continuing education program that connects the entire built community – from architects, engineers and contractors to manufacturers, facility managers and developers. No other program is as comprehensive in its scope."

The executive director of the Board was also the executive director of the Columbus Chapter of AIA for six years prior to taking her current position. During that time CSI Columbus and AIA Columbus worked very well together and we developed a very good working relationship. Since I was on both boards, I served in a quasi-liaison role between the two organizations. We held joint events and even shared mailing lists. In February 2005, CSI Columbus sponsored AIA Columbus’ newsletter in the Daily Reporter, a daily business newspaper, and I wrote four sponsorship articles to highlight current topics of interest about CSI.

I had just been elected to the executive committee, when she announced she was leaving. Before the Board adopted rules to implement legislation mandating continuing education for architects in late 2005, she called me to discuss the issue. When CSI developed and released the CEN program, the rule was in place to provide instantaneous recognition.

The value of forming relationships like this is a priceless commodity. You never know what can happen if you connect with the right person. See you soon.

Thoughts on Membership

It never fails that sometime during a membership conference, someone will get behind the podium and say, "If each one of us would just recruit one new member, we could double our size." Now, it's not that I disagree with that idea. The problem is they're preaching to the choir. The attendees are usually the most motivated folks who actually do recruitment. What we aren't reaching is the disengaged member who may not be around long himself.

I tend to think in terms of fixing the holes in the boat. Not only fixing the holes, but bolstering the structural problems, and giving it more than a fresh coat of paint. People will go to an organization that is sexy or trendy or hot. Look at the success of USGBC. But there are also problems with that kind of rapid growth. We need to keep providing better customer service.

Why can't we do both? Change to be the organization people want to belong to, and let them know about us at the same time. In my last post, I talked about networking and selling the value of maintaining professional relationships. This is a fundamental key to success.

Another key is to engage new members the moment they walk in the door. Give them a job and some buy-in and they keep coming back for more. And they might bring someone with them.

Programming is also important. Too many chapters let good programs slip away and begin doing the box lunch-type programs that cater to one segment of a diverse organization. Where are the programs for the manufacturer's representatives?

It's getting late and my thoughts are becoming more and more random, so I'd better sign off. See you soon.

Happy 2009!

Well, another year has passed. The events of the previous year are certainily weighing heavily as we look forward. I think that perhaps uncertainty is the watchword as we begin again. Organizations are budgeting conservatively and showing hesitancy in creating new initiatives.

Perhaps this is the time to be bold and do things we wouldn't normally think about in the years of fat. For instance, instead of downsizing sponsorship budgets, think about changing the way these opportunities for getting the corporate image in front of people are approached. Perhaps there will be a desire to downsize individual budgets, but the number of potential sponsors may increase since they need to make an effort to reach their customer, when they didn't before.

As for memberships, maybe now is the time to make a better case for the value of the networking opportunities that trade organizations provide. Networking with peers, especially in a diverse group like CSI, will pay dividends if the right hand is shaken on any given day.

With a new administration coming to power in difficult times, there will be an effort to bolster the economy. This time it looks like a check may not be in the mail, but a more sizeable investment in our aging infrastructure. Where better than CSI to meet the partner for your next public project. See you soon.