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Cathodic Protection Testing Course
May 19 - 20
Fargo, ND
Cathodic Protection Testing Course
Harrisburg, PA
June 15 - 16
Cathodic Protection Testing Course, Three-Day Format
July 20 - 22
Burlington, VT
STI/SPFA Summer Meeting
July 31 - August 3
Hershey, PA
STI/SPFA Steel Water Storage Tank Seminar
Arlington, TX
September 22
STI/SPFA Fall Conference
The Woodlands, TX
October 6 - 7
Cathodic Protection Testing Course
October 19 - 20
Kansas City, MO
STI/SPFA Steel Water Storage Tank Seminar
October 21
Tampa, FL
STI/SPFA Steel Pipe Design Webinar
November 12 at your desktop
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The STI/SPFA 2011 Annual Meeting is scheduled March
26 - 29 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando, FL.
SAVE THESE DATES and plan to join us for the Annual Meeting in late-March 2011 or review and register for other education and program events here!
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STI/SPFA 2010 Annual Winter Membership Meeting
The Riviera Resort & Spa
Whether delegates flew to Palm Springs or another airport, when they pulled beneath the portico at The Riviera Resort and Spa, the response was universal. Wow!
The resort that was an iconic 1960s hot spot is now dressed in mid-century décor ─ bold colors and eye-popping patterns. There is something to feast the eye on everywhere … from the orange and white reception area and Lobby Bar, through the main red and black lobby and out to the pool area, surrounded by cabanas and dotted with clusters of comfy seating around small fire pits.
Saturday, January 30
Most Delegates and their guests arrived Friday, explored the quaint area around The Riviera and enjoyed dinner on their own before the Meeting kicked off on Saturday morning. The Affiliate Members met before the first General Session to vote for the 2009 New Product of the Year and elect a new Affiliate Committee Chair. Tony Ippoliti of The Sherwin-Williams Company was elected to serve on the STI/SPFA Board of Directors and follow Larry Dildine as Committee Chair. STI/SPFA recognized and appreciates Larry’s service to the organization and his high level of commitment to its mission and vision.
Chuck Travelstead welcomed Delegates, acknowledged Meeting Sponsors who later made presentations about their organizations and new products, and gave an opening presentation about the economy. Chuck’s remarks were followed by short, informative Affiliate Member presentations. Affiliate Sponsors highlighted their companies’ distinct offerings and introduced new products and services.
Attorney John Donovan of Fisher and Phillips made the opening presentation on Employment Law that afforded Delegates an update and overview of issues impacting the workplace.
Next, Delegates learned about the scores of wind towers they had seen in Palm Springs and the surrounding Coachella Valley. Ameron’s Ken Primavera discussed these massive Wind Farms and shared information about construction, energy usage and environmental impacts.
The STICO Mutual Meeting followed, after which the group adjourned to a luncheon hosted by STICO Mutual.
The meeting reconvened for the Safety & Health and Technical Sessions. Jerome Spear and Jim Rhudy made a presentation entitled, Assessing and Controlling Health Hazards when Welding in Confined Spaces, a condition relevant to many Members’ work environments.
STI/SPFA Engineers, Lorri Grainawi and Dana Schmidt, were joined by Technical Committee Chair, Terry Cooper, to present the Shop Fabricated Tank Section Technical Session.
Affiliate Member Sponsors that supported the 2010 Meeting and provided updates Saturday about their companies and new products are their presentations are available for download:
Saturday evening, attendees relaxed and enjoyed the Black and White Nite theme cocktail reception and dinner, a ‘visit’ by a life-sized likeness of Dean Martin and an entertaining, original skit starring STI/SPFA’s Own Rat Pack! Tex Enoch, Tony Ippoliti and Tim Weiss.
Spirits and audience participation ran high as diners voted for favorite comedic lines delivered by the Rat Pack, as judging and commentary were offered up by The STI/SPFA American Idol Panel (Tim Woofter, Colin Donovan, Marie Scimeca and Andrew Ramage) that “hosted them.”
Kudos to Colin Donovan and Marie Scimeca for their time and creativity. This fun-filled bit of entertainment will be long remembered!
Sunday, January 31
Many Delegates began their morning slowly, while others gathered for the Member Services, Safety & Health and Technical Committee Meetings.
By 12:30 p.m., Delegates and their guests were ready to enjoy the sunshine. Almost 40 golfers participated in the Annual Golf Tournament, and a hearty, but dedicated few gathered for a game of water volleyball. Another group of Delegates and guests set out to get a first-hand look at the Palm Springs Wind Farm and Thousand Palms Oasis. Everyone took home stories about the wonders of Palm Springs. Other Delegates and guests sat poolside all day, enjoying the company of others in the warm, desert afternoon.
Monday, February 1
Delegates reconvened for a general session at 8:00 a.m., a day that opened with a presentation from Greg Crawford of the Steel Recycling Institute. Crawford emphasized the importance of recycling steel to boost profitability, conserve energy and create efficiencies. In his presentation, The Path to Green Steel, you can learn the significance and impact of recycling. Alan Taxman of Merrill Lynch followed with his presentation, Recovery: Part II. He reviewed the past 18 months by answering the question, “How Did We Get Here?” and followed up with his forecast and comments in answer to the question, “Where Do We Go From Here?”
A Panel Discussion on Succession Planning moderated by Vivian Bartt provided three Delegates the opportunity to comment on their experience with succession planning. The discussion served as follow-up to a topic of great interest covered at the 2009 Summer Meeting in Napa, CA by speaker Richard Tanner.
Terry Cooper of Acterra Group, Inc., Mike Kilkenny from Taylor Forge Engineered Systems and Tim Woofter of Stanwade Metal Products gave candid examples of issues related to their organizations’ succession planning efforts. Each Delegate was at ‘a different place’ in the process, but they all affirmed Tanner’s earlier remarks. They agreed that succession planning is not a transactional process but a transformational one that requires financial counseling, wise management of family relationships and careful consideration and communication with all stakeholders.
Affilite Member Sponsors' Presentations were made on Monday by Member Delegates representing companies who supported the 2010 Meeting. The following organizations provided presentations that included updates about their company or new products.
The STI/SPFA Biannual Business Meeting gave opportunities for presentation of year-to-date Membership and Financial Reports by President, Tim Woofter, and Treasurer, Ron Houston. Terry Cooper, George Ruchti, Chip Stein and Jon Ward summarized events and activities in each of their Membership Sections. Jim Rhudy followed the Section Chairs and provided an update on the work of the Safety & Health Committee.
Andrew Gingell of ArcelorMittal/Industeel and Chuck Turack of Outokumpu Stainless gave presentations on the steel industry, trends in the marketplace and forecasts. A Market Roundtable discussion led by Jon Ward, Chair of the Pressure Vessel Section followed.
The last presentation of the Annual Meeting was given by Patrick Fiedler, President of the Fiedler Group, who devoted his presentation to case studies on Alternate Fuels and Fuels and Steel Tanks.
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