Page 8 - IEC Insights Jul-Aug19

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Managing Technology

By Gary Golka

very company has to deal contractors gave away billions of dollars
with the impact of technology in business opportunity to firms that did
on our business and on our not exist in the 1980’s, but have since
industry. The products we grown to capture that market and are
Einstall are becoming more now systems contractors. Some of these
technologically complex and require firms have become members and we hope I feel that information is the key to dealing
more training, education, and attention to to provide enough value to have even with technology; I would encourage you
detail in order to deliver a quality product more join IEC. Some of our long-standing to use your membership in IEC to help you
to our customer. Often, the technology electrical contractor members took as you move forward. The articles in this
involved in a project is either new to the the steps necessary to stay in both the issue should give you things to ponder.
industry or new to our installation teams, electrical and the systems world simply You may feel you are too busy to even
or it is the next generation of something because they saw the opportunities. try to be involved, but please consider
we are familiar with, but there have been The electrical and systems market is getting more value from your investment
changes made that require different becoming one again, and all of us need as a member of IEC. You will have no
materials or installation methods. to see it as an opportunity for the future. better place to find out what might work
for you, what might not work for you,
Another impact from new technologies Wherever your company is on the and what is working for others than at
is in how we do field work and in how challenge of embracing new technologies the venues IEC provides: the National
we manage information for field and for products or operations; the technology Convention and the Business Summit; at
business operations. Adopting the latest cycle of seeing a need, innovation, the networking groups within IEC at your
software or layout system for the field emergence, adoption, generating Chapter, on a National Committee, in an
can be expensive to buy, expensive efficiencies, and managing it in the established IEC Forum; or by banding
and painful to implement, and often day-to-day business will always be together at a skills or job fair event
does not turn out the way we were with us. Since the time period from with fellow contractors and industry
promised at the sale, or the way we one beginning to the next beginning of partners. Technology and ever more
envisioned it at our staff meeting. technology that just has to be embraced frequent change is here to stay, are you?
seems to be shortening, it behooves us
As far as our industry goes, several years to build a company or try to adapt our See you in St. Louis!
ago many of the companies that make up current teams to be able to accept and
the commercial electrical market segment utilize technology on our terms. Product
decided to forego the part of building evaluation, purchase decisions, marketing Gary is the President of Golka Electric, Inc.,
wiring that provided low voltage systems both inside and outside the firm, adoption, a family-owned electrical contracting firm
located in Mesa, Arizona. Gary has twice
because they wanted to concentrate on implementation, and refinement are all served as President of IECA of Arizona. As
what they were familiar with in power things that will benefit from groups with an advocate for electrical education and
systems and because they didn’t want planning, openness, collaboration, and training, Gary has served as a Director
to have stay abreast with the incessant communication inside the company. of the Mountain Southwest Region, and
changes required to keep up with the Those companies that are resistant to new as a member and Chairman of the IEC
emerging technologies of voice, data, technologies will end up paying the same National A&T Committee. He was elected
video, fire alarm, security systems and costs in lost opportunity, loss of younger to the IEC National Executive Committee
building automation. Collectively, electrical key employees, and loss of reputation. in 2016 and now serves as President.

6 Insights Magazine | July/August 2019 | www.ieci.org