b"THE OFFICIAL NFBA MAGAZINEA MESSAGE FROMJOE SHIMPNFBA PRESIDENTI ts hard to believe that we are approaching the fall season, and I hope you all had a wonderful summer. As an industry, summer is PRESIDENT'S MESSAGEoften when many of us are at our busiest professionally, and there is a balance to be struck between family vacations and moving things along whether on site or in the office. Ive found that at times Im very successful at balancing, and there are times that is not the case! In many cases, its not only your personal time, but also how to influence positivity and time planning amongst the team around you. Hopefully, you mastered those requirements and are enjoying smooth operations!As an association, the NFBA focuses a considerable amount of time on planning for the next few upcoming Expos and events. Much of what needs decided and coordinated cant wait until a few weeks out, it must be determined now to make sure all the pieces and parts are in place by the time Expo opens. We consider options for educational sessions, choose the keynote speaker, and ensure that the host city and convention center are prepared for our needs! Our other committees are focused on many different projects and priorities during this time as well. They are active all year round and we have in-person meetings in both June and late September. It is during these times that the entire board comes together to work and decide what direction the NFBA should focus on next. I invite all NFBA members interested, to participate more fully in the NFBA, through committee work, serving on the board, or simply with donation to further an industry need or cause that is important to you! Be sure to follow the new Building of the Year award updates. While the application questions and scoring rubric have been updated, the fundamental basis to judge submissions has not changed. The goal in the revamp was to fine tune the scoring and provide more concise categories. The judges will have less ambiguity in the criteria, and we can ensure that the best candidate earns the best score! Please take the time to submit your best work and fill out the application in detail with as many high-quality photos to ensure your project is judged for how awesome it truly is!Lastly, I think we have all experienced some disruption and uncertainty over the past year leading into the presidential election and adjusting to new administration policies. The amount of change, especially tariffs and trade deals, were at an unprecedented pace, putting industry and economic leaders in a situation where they had to be very nimble and flexible. While the changes are not all settled down, we have begun to see more stability in consumers and the overall economic markets. To assist with future planning and business decisions, the NFBA will continue to monitor the updates and expected outcomes to keep you informed.Joe ShimpNFBA PresidentConestoga Buildings6 / FRAME BUILDER - VOL6 4"