Leadership & Growth - Articles

Some of my favorite issues of CFMA Building Profits are the ones related to risk and other legal topics.

As someone who holds a law degree, I have a great deal of respect for what lawyers can do for their clients. And I realize that, for many of our members, a number of legal issues are within your purview without any formal legal education. This is just one of the many hats a lot of you wear, and I am always impressed with your range of responsibilities within your companies.

Everything these days surrounding CFMA has special significance to me, as I have recently announced that my retirement will be approximately a year from now. It’s a bit premature for me to say my goodbyes, but it’s not too early to express my gratitude to the CFMA family. By the time I leave, I will have been at CFMA for over 25% of its lifetime, so I have a unique perspective on the Association. Many things have changed, but the dedication of our staff and volunteer leadership has always been a constant.

As you read about our 2022-23 volunteer Executive team in this issue, you should understand the amount of time our Officers put into their CFMA service each year. I often joke with them that they shouldn’t let their paying job get in the way of their “second job,” serving as a CFMA Officer. I am forever grateful to this group of Officers and all of the others who have preceded them.

When you read this issue, CFMA’s 41st Annual Conference & Exhibition will have concluded. Thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteer members who made it a success. Special kudos to Jenny Spriggs, Director, Meeting Services, who puts a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into ensuring our Conference goes off without a hitch each year.

For those of you who could not make it to the Conference, a substantial amount of Conference content will be available. Almost all Conference sessions will be recorded and available in early June. Additionally, 14 sessions will be converted into CPE On Demand sessions that will be available in mid-July.

Just as flowers grow in the spring, CFMA is also growing. I am pleased to introduce Jason Barnhart as CFMA’s Director of Education. He has worked with a couple of our staff members previously at another organization, and we are confident that Jason will grow our education portfolio into an even stronger asset and increase your educational ROI. Welcome, Jason!

This is also a great time of year to grow and nurture your work-life balance and mental health, as May is Mental Health Awareness month. CFMA supports fighting the stigma, providing support, and educating members about the importance of mental health and suicide prevention. In fact, CFMA was recently recognized for its leadership in advocating for the wellbeing of workers at the Construction Working Minds Summit and received the Trade Association (National): Mental Health Visionary award. As I look back on my legacy, CFMA’s work around suicide prevention is the initiative of which I’m most proud because we took it on when it was not on anyone else’s radar. To learn more about how to address suicide prevention and mental wellness in your company, visit preventconstructionsuicide.com.