In October, SEAA held its first Convention and Trade Show since 2019. This was the first time for back to in-person meetings for many of the 40+ exhibitors and nearly 200 attendees who came to Orlando.

In 2022, the annual meeting returns to its normal spring schedule. It will be held April 5-8, in Charleston, S.C. This is a special meeting, as it marks the 50th anniversary of the association. Three excursions and a Gala, to be held on the historic USS Yorktown, will make this a convention to remember. 

If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that nothing compares to in-person networking. Here are just a few highlights from “Escape to Orlando.” More.  

SEAA members have been working with NCCER as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to revise the current curriculum for Ironworker, Reinforcing Ironworker, and Welding.  

NCCER is always looking for additional SMEs for curriculum reviews. If you or someone in your organization qualifies as an SME in any area please contact Dan Belcher with NCCER, and Tim Eldridge, SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator. 

The American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) have selected the winners of the 2021 Steel Design Student Competition. The competition recognizes eleven exceptional projects, in two categories. It is intended to challenge undergraduate and graduate students, working individually or in teams, to explore a variety of design issues related to the use of steel in design and construction. 

Mazzella Companies and Industrial Training International (ITI) have formed a partnership that establishes Mazzella as a channel partner and minority shareholder of ITI. This relationship allows Mazzella to market and sell several ITI learning solutions directly to its customers, including instructor-led courses, online learning subscriptions, and VR simulator packages.

Mazzella has also provided ITI with a sponsorship to help fund the continued development of ITI’s VR Overhead Crane Inspector & Technician applications which will significantly enhance the development of inspectors and technicians. More. 

Simpson Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Calif., has launched a Trades Support pilot program with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. 

The day-long event included information and resources about careers in the trades, product demos, and hands-on activities using Simpson Strong-Tie connectors and fasteners along with the Quik Drive® auto-feed screw driving system. A portion of the day was dedicated to soft skills for successfully interviewing and obtaining a job in the industry. More. 

SEAA has opened the submission forms for 2022 Project of the Year, Safety Excellence, and Craft Training Excellence awards. Industry-wide publicity and peer recognition are just two of the benefits of participation. 

Project of the Year Award application deadline is January 28, 2022.

Application deadline for both Safety and Craft Training Excellence Awards is March 1, 2022. More.

SEAA members have been working with NCCER as Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to revise the current curriculum for Ironworker, Reinforcing Ironworker, and Welding. As NCCER reaches the next phase of the process, they are looking for additional SMEs to help review the curriculum. 

The review will take place on October 4-8, 2021 in Denver Colo., at the Professional Testing Office. 

NCCER needs: 

15 SMEs for Ironworker 

10 SMEs for Reinforcing Ironworker 

10 SMEs for Welding 

If you or someone in your organization qualifies as an SME in any of these areas and is available to attend these dates please contact Dan Belcher, at NCCER, and Tim Eldridge, SEAA’s Craft Training and Assessment Administrator.

Simpson Strong-Tie has donated $40,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund supporting individuals impacted by the earthquake in Haiti earthquake and wildfires in California. 

The Red Cross network has provided more than 27 tons of materials such as shelter toolkits, tarps, buckets, blankets and mosquito nets and contributed over $300,000 to support Haiti Red Cross relief efforts. In California and elsewhere, the Red Cross has opened dozens of emergency shelters for those affected by more than 90 wildfires that have been burning in the western United States since June. More.

Financial holding company Markel has announced its investment in Buckner HeavyLift, a SEAA member company and a fourth-generation crane company based in Graham, North Carolina, USA.  

“Today Buckner is in a position of strength, and our partnership with Markel adds to that. We gain additional support for our growth ambitions yet change nothing about our approach, remaining the humble, hardworking family we have always been. We are excited to continue as managers and owners of this great business knowing this is the right ‘forever’ decision for Buckner,” said Doug Williams, Buckner CEO. More.

SEAA has completed its nationwide search for a new Executive Director and is pleased to welcome Pete Gum to the position. Gum has 29 years of experience as the CEO of not-for-profit construction trade associations. 

 

“We received applications from dozens of qualified candidates across the country. The Board of Directors was extremely thorough in their search and conducted multiple rounds of panel interviews throughout the process,” said Geoff Kress, President of SEAA. “We are thrilled to have Pete as part of our organization.” More.  

Every industry is influenced in immeasurable ways by the creative thinkers and inventors who change the way work gets done. For contractors involved in steel decking, that person was Harry Haytayan, Sr. (July 19, 1929—May 13, 2021), a Professional Engineer and founder of Pneutek, Inc. The pneumatic fastening tools and methods Haytayan invented have helped make mechanical fastenings for attaching steel deck the leading process in the industry. More.

SteelDay, sponsored by AISC, is an annual event encouraging fabricators to connect with architecture, engineering, and construction professionals, students, and the public. SteelDay is September 24, 2021. Also, plan ahead for Careers in Construction Month, during October. Careers in Construction Month is a nationwide campaign spearheaded by Build Your Future (BYF) and NCCER. Get resources and learn more about SteelDay and

Careers in Construction Month.

United Rentals, Stamford, Conn., has entered into a multiyear partnership with NASCAR to be its official rental equipment partner and the official heavy power rental equipment company starting in 2022. United Rentals will supply NASCAR with access, construction and industrial equipment along with supplies and tools for facility maintenance, race preparations and support. More. 

Building Envelope Systems, Plainville, Mass., has completed a renovation to the Teknor Apex headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Building Envelope Systems handled the structural steel, miscellaneous metals, and metal panels for the project. The structural steel scope included framing for a new canopy and a new main entrance. There were approximately 5,500 square feet of the panel that wrapped all four sides of the building. More.