It feels like just yesterday we announced to everyone that our annual convention was going to be held in Maui this year. And now, here we are! I will keep this issue’s message brief so you can all get on with your time on the beautiful and sunny Hawaiian Islands. 

I first want to say thank you to everyone at the Willow Group who has been helping our association plan one of our biggest conventions to date. I also want to thank all of our sponsors and all of our attendees who took the time to join us this year and learn just exactly where our industry is heading as the association approaches its 50th anniversary. Please refer to page 12 for more information on what there is to see in Hawaii, and as well page 18 for a schedule of events for the week. 

Steve Clayman returns for another issue of “What’s Going On?” in TIAC Times, keeping our readers up to date with current TIAC initiatives. A lot can happen in a matter of months and we value Steve’s hard work and transparency on behalf of the association. Having minimum thicknesses of insulation specified in the National Building Code of Canada has been one of the most important quests Steve was tasked with when he became involved with the association as a consultant. Thanks to his hard work, dedication, and inability to take no for an answer, it seems as though he’s made important progress with Natural Resources Canada that may see this objective realized. See page 6 for the updates.

Don Procter also supplies us with a piece on vacuum insulation on page 21. The building material is currently being tested by the National Research Council for use in building walls. Should the manufacturing costs of this advanced insulation come down in price, demand for vacuum insulated panels could certainly spike and have an impact on TIAC manufacturer members.

As most of you know, during the convention we will be voting in a new board of directors and a new president. I have been very fortunate to have joined the ranks of so many knowledgeable and skilled individuals in the national mechanical insulation industry. It’s been two great, fulfilling years and I thank you all for the opportunity I have had to represent this association. I also want to thank the outgoing board of directors for their tireless work in support of the association’s  initiatives over the past two years. I must also acknowledge all of those volunteers who have helped along the way. We’ve all made a great team. I’ve enjoyed contributing and learning as TIAC president, and I am pleased that I will remain active on the board of directors as Director of the Maritimes.

As always, the TIAC board of directors welcomes input from our readers. Please get in touch with the editors if you have a story idea or a comment regarding the magazine. The editorial team can be reached at editor@tiactimes.com or 877.755.2762.

See you on the beach! 

Sincerely,

Michael MacDonald

TIAC President