Opportunity Knocks

By Joe Duszka, ISFA President

As we say goodbye to 2021 and look forward to the opportunities that a new year will bring, we find ourselves in a familiar setting, one with uncertainty and challenges. We are uncertain about how the current and future variants of COVID-19 will impact our lives. We are unsure how a tight labor market will affect our ability to serve our customers, and we are uncertain about how long the volatile supply chain issues will last.

The companies that face these challenges as opportunities will gain a competitive advantage over those that do not. Dr. Seuss said, “When something bad happens you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” As a matter, I choose the latter. (My rhyme game is strong!)

The one thing that we can be sure of, though, is that you are not alone in this fight. Use the current climate to strengthen your business. Through the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), a whole network of fabricators, manufacturers, and suppliers represents what it means to find success.

If there is one thing that I have learned in my more than 17 years in this business, you do not need to reinvent the wheel. Our industry is full of amazing people who are willing to share what they have learned through their experiences, and they will be just as interested to hear what you have to share in return.

Tap into the resources available to you through ISFA and leverage the knowledge and experience of your fellow members. After all, ISFA’s mission is to help members improve safety, increase quality, encourage professionalism and elevate profitability by facilitating education, standards and camaraderie.

None of us can say for sure what 2022 has in store but hopefully, you know that you have a network to lean on. Leverage your membership and be active in the conversation; it makes ISFA a better association. If you are not a member of ISFA, I invite you to join today.

I am genuinely excited about the opportunities that 2022 will bring, and I look forward to seeing you at one of the many ISFA events we have planned this year.

ISFA MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Networking & Mentoring ISFA was founded on the principle of members helping members. Now more than ever, it’s essential to stay connected and to surround yourself with a network of successful, positive influences and experiences.

• We have several in-person roundtables scheduled for 2022 at various locations across the U.S. These are great networking opportunities, typically one to two days in duration, and often include a shop tour and other educational opportunities.

• ISFA Mixers are monthly virtual meetups where members discuss current industry-relevant topics in an open and casual setting. (We generally fold a little fun in, too.)

• The ISFA Annual Conference is a fantastic event that provides educational and networking opportunities in a multi-day conference setting. Guest speakers share their insights and we celebrate the best of the best with an awards ceremony.

Education & Training

• ISFA offers customizable hands-on fabrication training for solid surface and other materials. Training is conducted in a shop setting so that participants learn proper tooling, shop layout, fabrication techniques and more. Participants earn ISFA certification by completing these courses.

• Behind the Surface podcasts and the Installing Profitability workshops are designed to elevate the industry and provide fabricators with strategies for success. If you haven’t tuned in yet, I encourage you to find this podcast on a streaming channel of your choice. Listen in and join the workshops, which are free for ISFA members.

Additional Resources

• Visit www.ISFAnow.org to access our members-only webinar library, facility tour library and ISFA’s Classification and Standards for solid surface and quartz.

• Countertops & Architectural Surfaces magazine is published quarterly with a fifth edition, an annual Buyers’ Guide released each Fall. Subscriptions are free for ISFA members.

• www.surfacesmagazine.com, the digital hub for Countertops & Architectural Surfaces magazine, provides the latest industry news and other featured articles to keep you up-to-date in between magazine issues.

• Surfacing News is ISFA’s monthly newsletter designed to help you stay updated on the latest news, events and resources relevant to the decorative surfacing industry. If you’re not receiving this informative newsletter, sign up today by visiting ISFAnow.org.