This year’s annual SMACNA conference in October brought contractors, executives, and vendors from all fifty states together for 4 days of educational sessions and networking events that explored the opportunities and challenges facing the sheet metal industry. Alan Seidman, Steve Mulholland, Lou Doro, Mark DiPasquale, Lou Ruperto, and Charlie Milich represented the Hudson Valley.

The message was clear: Contractors must stay current with trends that affect both the business and the employees behind the business in order to compete in a high-stakes environment.

The sessions ran the gamut from utilizing Artificial Intelligence tools to simplify tasks, to building successful internship programs to build a qualified workforce, to providing employees with enhancements for an improved work-life balance. With updates on government and legislative issues as well as the focus of SMACNA National, the attendees walked away with information needed to maintain and grow their businesses.

In addition, new board members were installed, and outgoing officials were honored during the Annual Business Meeting that was included in the conference.

Charlie Milich and Lou Doro

Steve Mulholland and Lou Ruperto

Dave Szymnaski, Federated Insurance, and Alan Seidman