NFRC recently held its annual Fall Membership Meeting in Chicago where we commemorated 35 years as an organization and recognized the member organizations and volunteers who have played a significant role in the fulfillment of our mission. It was amazing to see how many active volunteers have served NFRC for decades, some since our founding in 1989. It truly was a celebration of these “legends” and our collective success. In today’s world, long-term commitments to any organization are rare. Serving for nearly four decades is unheard of.
In the 19 years I have been with the organization, I have witnessed the tireless contributions of these industry leaders, without whom NFRC ratings would not exist today. I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with many who have served on our board of directors, bringing with them deep knowledge of our technical programs and broad industry perspectives to help in the strategic governance of the organization. Such long-term service has brought continuity and confidence to NFRC, helping us live up to the promise of fair, accurate, and credible ratings.
Throughout the fall meeting, there were many opportunities to reflect on the past and look toward the future. What stood out for me at this meeting was the number of announced retirements. It seems that at least 10% of our more prominent voices and experts have either retired within the last year or announced their intentions to retire in the next. Given the longevity of service among our volunteers, I suspect this will be a trend for the next few years.
Does this loss of experience and institutional knowledge mean we are heading for an abrupt transition from engaged, confident, and knowledgeable leaders to a period in which rebuilding and reeducation efforts are needed?
This is a potential dilemma for the entire industry, not just NFRC. The influential voices at NFRC’s meetings are also recognized and relied upon in other organizations in the fenestration industry and beyond.
We all need to be looking for, planning for, and preparing the next new voices. While many consider job succession, I worry that insufficient planning is taking place to prepare the next generation of leaders who will help drive the industry outside their employers’ walls.
At NFRC’s meetings – from task groups up to the board of directors – we rely on the consensus process that needs thoughtful representation from everyone who may be affected by outcomes. This includes manufacturers, the labs, inspection agencies, as well as those who rely on the outcome of those decisions, such as the many liaisons with the public (architects, government agencies, builders, utilities, and so many more). The consensus process for an accredited standards organization is very different than the work most people do in their day jobs. It takes a while for newcomers to become comfortable in their participation, not just understanding how things work, but developing the confidence to speak out, particularly if presenting opposing viewpoints. We need to consider how we mentor the next generation of professionals before our seasoned experts leave us.
There is also a need to set up continuity in relationships between organizations – within the fenestration industry, and with allied organizations, government agencies, and beyond. As I mentioned, representatives for these groups have been attending NFRC’s meetings for at least as long as I have and that means both sides of these relationships are at risk of retiring near the same time, risking not just the loss of contacts, but the loss of understanding of why these relationships mattered in the first place. Without us proactively bringing new people into these relationships, they are at risk of dying, stalling, being set back several steps, or moving in the wrong direction.
At NFRC, we need those who are nearing the end of their careers to identify and mentor the people who replace them as their organizations’ representative in our work. Whether reviewing ballots and discussing their merits or encouraging participation at the task group level where NFRC’s consensus process often begins, early engagement will help transfer knowledge and foster confidence in the emerging leaders.
NFRC’s Spring Committee Meeting will be virtual, and attendance will be free, so we encourage the next generation to attend so they gain familiarity with the processes through observation.
Whether we call it mentoring, coaching, or training, we all have something we can share to benefit the careers, industries, and causes we care about. We’ll continue to look for ways to encourage more voices within NFRC and I am committed to broaden and deepen our relationships with industry groups, government agencies and others across the building community. I hope you’ll join me in that effort.