With our virtual summer meeting completed, the Metal Construction Association (MCA) is looking forward to METALCON, Oct. 6-8, in Tampa, Fla.
METALCON provides a perfect opportunity to gather together and reconnect
The pandemic forced us to hold our last three meetings in a virtual environment, but we’ve found silver linings. We’ve welcomed additional meeting attendees who hadn’t been able to attend in-person events in the past, and outside experts have found video-conferenced meetings to be a convenient way to share their knowledge with our members.
Virtual Upside
In fact, the lack of in-person meetings really underscores the power of MCA. Even when members couldn’t meet or travel, the association provided opportunities to network and problem solve together. Instead of industry peers connecting at MCA summer meeting social events, they discussed mutual challenges during virtual meeting events.
MCA continued to connect members in association, council and committee meetings, and through our ongoing work to address industry concerns through research and advocacy. Engagement and opportunities didn’t wane, despite the pandemic limiting face-to-face contact. We collaborated among members and with partner organizations to further amplify our voice. MCA didn’t miss a beat and that has benefited our membership.
More Than Back to Normal
But we are looking forward to the return of in-person meetings, and METALCON is our first major in-person industry event in more than a year and a half. Dedicated exclusively to the use of metal in design and construction, METALCON this year more than ever is a must-attend event. (Register at www.metalcon.com.)
METALCON is a big deal for MCA, the industry and our membership, and I have to tell you that we’re very excited about this year’s event.
PSMJ Resources, which produces METALCON, is doing an outstanding job. They have formed a new team, and we are excited to work with vice president of events Judy Geller, following the retirement of Claire Kilcoyne.
PSMJ used the downtime following the pandemic cancelation of last year’s show to come up with innovative ways to make this METALCON even more attractive to attendees and exhibitors alike. Geller put together the new METALCON Advisory Council, comprising exhibitors, contractors, architects and others, which is providing guidance and recommendations for the upcoming show.
Together, we’re approaching show planning in a new way. We’re not trying to get back to normal; we’re working to create something even better.
Experience the Show
There are many new events and features that will increase activity on the floor and improve the attendee experience. The new Architect’s Experience is a great example of these innovations, and how they benefit everyone. The program is filled with education targeting architects and contractors alike.
There is also a tour of the Salvador Dalí Museum with a keynote presentation by Yann Weymouth, FAIA, the museum’s designer and who, early in his career, served as chief of design for I.M. Pei on the Grand Louvre project in Paris.
There’s going to be a lot to see and do. The bottom line is that this is going to be an outstanding show that everyone in the industry should attend.
We recognize there will still be some trepidation about travel and attending in-person meetings. Geller and her team are working diligently to promote the show, and I am confident exhibitors and attendees will leave Tampa knowing METALCON has set a foundation for future growth and success. We at MCA are excited about its future.
Our Strategic Goals
Speaking of our future, the MCA Board of Directors is increasing its emphasis on our strategic direction. The environment we live and work in has changed so much. Supply chain challenges, how products go to market and the future of building design are a few of the quickly evolving issues facing the industry. The association is widening its view, placing greater focus on emerging and future issues that will impact our membership and the industry.
We’ve expanded our reach in addressing such issues. We continue to build partnerships across the industry, and we’re engaging a wider audience of external experts as we work to address the issues impacting your company today and tomorrow.
If you haven’t interacted with MCA in a while, you might be surprised by what you find today. MCA isn’t passive or reactive. We’re active and proactive in working collectively to leverage new opportunities and lessen the impact of emerging challenges. That’s the power of MCA.
Jeff Henry, MBA, CAE, is the executive director of the Metal Construction Association. He leads MCA’s staff in supporting industry members and elevating the use of metal in construction. For more information, go to www.metalconstruction.org.
