Management

Volunteering as a Path to Company Leadership This year, 2018, is the year of leadership for the NextGen Initiative (NGI). The number one challenge facing organizations worldwide is developing new leaders. We want business owners and managers to see the invaluable experience that can be gained through a path of …

As a business owner, I have gone through and witnessed some of the school of hard knocks. Having started a company at a young age with not much more than a hope and a dream, I learned quickly from both the good and the bad experiences. One principle I learned …

Look to New Hires for Growth and Prosperity Two years ago, we relocated from our office of many years to a much larger building down the street which had space for growth. This move was strategic as we saw opportunity in a strong economy to continue to grow our company’s …

Battleship. An American naval vessel of sufficient size which is heavily armored and equipped with the most powerful armament, used to take part in operations of significance. The term “Battleship,” and its 4 in.-thick reinforced iron sides, was used on numerous occasions throughout the two-year term of Michael (Mike) Meehan as the American Fire Sprinkler …

Abandon That Attitude and Embrace Apprenticeship Training! As business in the fire sprinkler industry picks up, more contractor companies are finding themselves with a wealth of projects to tackle. Despite the fact that this is what all contractors hope for, that kind of good fortune can also come with its …

Representatives Work on Behalf of Associate Members The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) Manufacturers/Suppliers (M/S) Council has elected its 2017-2018 members, with Mike Dooley of FlexHead Industries in Holliston, Massachusetts, voted as chairman and Chris Stason, Victaulic Company, Temecula, California; voted as vice chairman. “For the past four years, it …

Whenever we want to emphasize the significance of a particular event, we often refer to it as being “off the charts.” Usually this means that whatever we are looking at is statistically significant and produces compulsive evidence that is worthy of consideration. Most often, you think of things being off …

VSC Fire & Security Thinks “Outside the Box” to Recruit the Next Generation Many companies in the fire sprinkler industry today, and in trade industries as a whole in the United States, are facing a new problem as the demand for contractor services rises: a lack of skilled contractors entering …

Officers and Directors Lead AFSA The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) held its 2017-2018 officer elections during the September 24, 2017 Board meeting at AFSA36: Convention, Exhibition & Apprentice Competition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wayne Weisz, Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Lodi, California, was elected Chairman of the Board. Other officers elected …

Participation. The act of taking part, sharing, and reaping the benefits of being related to a larger whole. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) has been developing and offering worthwhile educational courses, training exercises, advocacy outreach, product awareness, and impactful networking programs for over 36 years. How fitting then, at …