As you may recall, I wrote about building a “Global Bridge to the Future” in an editorial published at the beginning of my 2016 American Welding Society (AWS) presidency. After a year of travels and talks, interacting with many AWS members, and muchappreciated guidance from the board of directors, I feel we have come a long way toward completing that bridge. I am extremely proud to have served as AWS president over the past year. Through the hard work of AWS volunteers and staff, we have accomplished many important things in 2016, not the least of which is maintaining the strong loyalty and support of AWS’s most important asset: its members. One accomplishment very near and dear to me is launching the new five-year cycle of D1.1, Structural Welding Code — Steel, and D1.5, Bridge Welding Code, last year, with momentum of the launch carrying over nicely into 2016. It was great to see this initiative succeed, since I have spent much of my career focused on these flagship codes. Also, during 2016, we completed the acquisition of COATech, a materials finishing show in Mexico, with our FABTECH partners. We formed a special committee during the year to assist our Executive Director, Ray Shook, in the search for an AWS chief operating officer (COO) who has executive director capability, with the ultimate objective of accomplishing a smooth succession upon Shook’s retirement. I very much appreciate the work of the Search Committee Chair and VP Elect Bob Roth and the rest of the committee. I can now state that we recently completed that search, and our newly hired COO, Matt Miller, who comes to us from NACE International, will be joining the AWS staff in January 2017. Your Society continues its run of financial strength, which enables us to continue Workforce Development initiatives within the AWS Foundation, with an emphasis on scholarships for welding and many other related scholarships. I appreciate the work of Foundation Chair Bill Rice, and that of Foundation Executive Director Sam Gentry and Corporate Director of Workforce Development Monica Pfarr. The financial viability of the Society allows AWS, itself, to be the largest contributor to the Foundation. And, of course, we have continued our focus to develop and market online courses under the umbrella of AWS Learning. In general, AWS has put forth a strong, organized effort to create new programs and improve existing ones in the following areas: digital initiatives (organizational database, website functionality, online learning); marketing and sales (branding, promotion, market research, marketing/ sales initiatives); membership value (new products and services, AWS WeldLink, member engagement opportunities, welding research, translations); global expansion (new agents and in-country personnel throughout the world, new alliances and partnerships, mergers and acquisitions); and, perhaps most important, human capital (AWS volunteers and staff, welding workforce development). Allow me to acknowledge the strong efforts of a number of individuals who have helped make my presidential year a success. One group deserving mention is the organizers of the AWS Detroit Section Ladies’ Night for all their efforts. Dolly and I were most honored to be invited to the Section for this long-running annual event. I would also like to acknowledge the AWS Mobile Section and one of its most prestigious members, AWS Past President Ron Pierce. At the meeting I visited, it was hard to find anyone who was not a loyal friend, employee, or past-employee of his company. I would particularly like to mention the AWS staff and say thanks for all they do to make AWS the premier society that it is, and for all they have done for me this year. They have always been there when needed. There are numerous places I have visited this year that just happened to be areas where I have been fortunate enough to work in the past, like New Orleans, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Tulsa, Houston, San Francisco/ Oakland, Fresno, Chicago, Greensboro (N.C.), Seattle, and many more. Another of these cities is Las Vegas, which recently placed in operation the High Roller, a new observation wheel. With some 2130 tons of steel used in its construction, this ride was fabricated by ZPMC of China; American Bridge erected it in place, and I consulted with them on the welding during fabrication. I would like to thank my wife, Dolly, for traveling with me during the year. She represented AWS admirably, and she let me put the Society first for the entire year. Finally, thanks to all of you for your support, and for helping me make the most of this very memorable year. EDITORIAL 2016 – A Year of Building Bridges David L. McQuaid AWS President “Through the hard work of AWS volunteers and staff, we have accomplished many important things in 2016, not the least of which is maintaining the strong loyalty and support of AWS’s most important asset: its members.” 6 WELDING JOURNAL / DECEMBER 2016 WJ
Welding Journal | December 2016
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