Growing Our Chapter: 10 Years Of Growth, So Many To Go

In January, the SMACNA Greater Chicago Board of Directors participated in our annual board retreat. This year, we brought in FMI’s team of expert consultants for a half-day presentation designed to give our association’s leadership a comprehensive snapshot of the construction industry. We touched on a variety of important topics with broad strokes, including which trends are shaping our industry, where work is contracting and expanding, ways to boost efficiencies and more. We came away energized and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead, particularly as we navigate the uncertainties that come with an election year.

February brought SMACNA Greater Chicago leaders, contractors and young professionals together with our labor partners at Local 73 and Local 265 during the Partners in Progress Conference. This event gives us a chance to collaborate with our union partners, strengthen those relationships and focus on continuing to build a successful future for everyone in our industry.

Speaking of our union partners, negotiations with Local 265 are set to take place this spring. Our hope is that both sides will come together with reasonable and realistic requests, and we anticipate a smooth process.

Finally, SMACNA Greater Chicago invites you to join in our association’s 10-year anniversary celebrations this year! Our rich history combines SMACNA Chicago and Northeastern Illinois Sheet Metal Contractors Association — a merger orchestrated by our own Executive Vice President, Tony Adolfs, in 2014. The SMACNA Greater Chicago team has rolled out a new logo to commemorate this exciting milestone and is planning a few special events and giveaways throughout the year to keep the momentum going. 

Jeff Lukitsh

President, SMACNA Greater Chicago