Page 8 - IEC Insights Jan-Feb2019

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

The New Year Brings

New Opportunities

By Gary Golka

elcome to 2019, a new finite amount of resources, just like in
year, and hopefully a the electrical contracting industry.
happy and prosperous
one, at your business Over and above the obvious values is the As we all focus on identifying the
Wand at IEC. It is truly people you meet and get to know through emerging leaders that can help a company
an honor and a privilege to be elected IEC. I state this as part of a request and grow, help an industry grow, provide
by my peers to serve our Association a reminder to you: If you want to get the a new level of management if you are
in another capacity; that of National absolute most out of your membership, go looking to the horizon; please take the
President. Having served on the National meet the people that are in IEC around the time and the opportunity to identify those
A&T Committee as a member and country. In my experience, IEC members budding young generous “characters”
chairman, as a Regional Director, and on are among the most professional in their that exist in your organization and
the Executive Committee for the past few fields, the most industrious in their area, nurture them along for your business
years, I hope I understand the mission and and the most interested in learning about and for IEC. If they are “characters”
role that IEC needs to play in the vibrant, their business, their employees, their already, help them to be generous with
thriving construction economy we have futures, their industry and its codes and their abilities and time; and if they are
today. I feel truly blessed to have been standards. They are, without a doubt, the generous, encourage them to blossom
a part of IEC National for many years, most generous people on the planet. I into full-fledged “characters.” It will
for many reasons. I hope that if you are have belonged to many organizations and help your business, it will help IEC, and
reading this, it is because you have found associations over the years, and not only it will help the industry of which we are
value in IEC for you and your business. are IEC folks the most generous with their all a part. IEC National meetings will
This organization can provide value not experiences both good and bad, advice, provide a separate and focused track of
found elsewhere. I firmly believe that IEC and time; they are also part of the greatest education and opportunities for these
is the place for you and I to grow our single group of “characters” assembled leaders going forward, and we hope to
businesses or chapters the right way. in one organization. Every single person see your emerging “character” attend.
that is a part of the Association at the
There are the obvious values that IEC National level has a uniqueness to them, Finally, on behalf of the Association,
brings to you: the contractor education, whether it is in their market niche, their I would extend many thanks to Lloyd
the amazing apprenticeship program faith, the story behind their blossoming as Quinney, our Immediate Past President.
for training employees new to electrical an electrical contractor, their support of an He has served our Association and the
construction, the opportunity to see alma mater or another club, their unique Foundation well the past year, not only
new products and interact with the perspective on electrical contracting, as President, but also as one of those
manufacturing and distribution segments or just their personality as they share most generous “characters” that continue
of our industry, the opportunity to themselves with the Association. to fill our membership rolls at IEC.
network with peers at national events or That combination of truly generous
at a deeper level in an IEC Forum. These “characters” is what I have found to be the
are well worth the cost of membership top reason for me to be involved with IEC. Gary is the President of Golka Electric, Inc.,
and are mostly available from IEC through a family-owned electrical contracting firm
your local chapter. Our chapters do an If you are reading this issue of Insights, located in Mesa, Arizona. Gary has twice
amazing job of delivering these values then you are probably attracted to, served as President of IECA of Arizona. As
to contractors and their employees, married to, or are a generous “character” an advocate for electrical education and
and every chapter has a unique mix of yourself, and IEC and its national meetings training, Gary has served as a Director
programs, offerings, functions, parties, are a great place for you to get that of the Mountain Southwest Region, and
fundraisers to deliver. The directors of extra value from your membership. as a member and Chairman of the IEC
those chapters are all business-minded And the other “characters” you meet National A&T Committee. He was elected
in their own right, trying to do as much will change you and your business. to the IEC National Executive Committee
as they can for their customers with a in 2016 and now serves as President.

6 Insights Magazine | January/February 2019 | www.ieci.org