The Scroll

2012-03-05T07:57:00.000-08:00

2012 Ernest Wiemann Top Job Winners

Note that categories C, G, H, K, and P did not open because they did not meet the minimum entry requirement.

1 = Gold | 2 = Silver | 3 = Bronze

View on Flickr | View on YouTube

A. Gates, Driveway - Nonforged

1 Ornamental Gate & Fence A-3

2 Emerald Ironworks Inc. A-2

3 Art's Work Unlimited A-4

B. Gates, Driveway – Forged

1 Custom Iron by Josh C-8

2 Eureka Forge C-2

3 Metal Head Inc. C-4

D. Interior Railings - Nonferrous, Nonforged

1 Big D Metalworks D-4

2 Wiemann Metalcraft D-1

3 Art's Work Unlimited D-6

E. Interior Railings - Ferrous, Forged

1 Vasquez Custom Metals Inc. E-5

2 Disenos Ornamental Iron E-4

3 Royal Iron Creations E-7

F. Exterior Railings & Fences - Nonforged

1 Wiemann Metalcraft F-1

2 Hess Ornamental Iron LLC F-5

3 Iron Decor F-3

I. Furniture & Accessory Fabrication - Forged

1 Vasquez Custom Metals Inc. I-8

2 Wonderland Products Inc. I-4

3 Heirloom Stair & Iron Inc. I-1

J. Gates/Doors - Nonforged

1 Custom Iron by Josh J-4

2 Big D Metalworks J-10

3 Wiemann Metalcraft J-5

L. Stairs Complete - Commercial

1 Anvil Craft Corp. L-2

2 Johnston Products L-4

3 DeAngelis Iron Work Inc. L-5

M. Stairs Complete - Residential

1 Big D Metalworks M-1

2 Germantown Iron & Steel Corp. M-8

3 M. Cohen & Sons Inc. M-4

N. Structures

1 Germantown Iron & Steel Corp. N-7

2 C.T. and S. Metalworks N-4

3 Royal Iron Creations N-6

O. Unusual Ornamental Fabrication

1 Disenos Ornamental Iron O-1

2 M. Cohen & Sons Inc. O-2

3 Artisan Metal Works Ltd. O-4

Q. Art/Sculpture

1 Johnston Products Q-5

2 Crystal Metalworks Q-4

3 Germantown Iron & Steel Corp. Q-2

Mitch Heitler Award for Excellence

Chosen from among the gold winners by the Mitch Heitler Committee.

Big D Metalworks M-1

Copper in Architecture Award for Ornamental Applications

Presented by the Copper Development Association. The award recognizes jobs that make outstanding use of copper or copper alloys.

Wiemann Metalcraft D-1

Big D Metalworks D-4 & J-10

Wiemann Metalcraft J-5

NOMMA 2012-13 Board Slate

2012-01-30T14:02:00.001-08:00

DATE:             January 30, 2012

TO:                  NOMMA Members

FROM:             Nominating Committee

RE:             Announcement of NOMMA Board of Directors Slate for 2012-13

The Nominating Committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Bruce Boyler, is pleased to announce the following slate of officers and directors to be presented during the upcoming membership business meeting for 2012-13. Their office takes effect following the swearing in ceremony at the awards banquet on Saturday, March 3, 2012.

President — Will Keeler, Keeler Iron Works, Memphis, TN*
President-Elect — JR Molina, Big D Metalworks, Dallas, TX
Vice-President/Treasurer — Mark Koenke, Germantown Iron & Steel Corp, Jackson, WI
Fabricator Director (3-yr. term) — Tina Tennikait, Superior Fence & Orn. Iron, Cottage Hills, IL
Fabricator Director (3-yr. term) — Allyn Moseley, Heirloom Stair & Iron, Campobello, SC
Fabricator Director (1-yr. term) — Ray Michael, R & F Metals Inc., Clinton, MD
Supplier Director (3-yr. term) — Mark Sisson, Mac Metals Inc., Kearny, NJ

All current Fabricator and Nationwide Supplier members are entitled to one vote per company on items presented to the membership. Voting takes place during the Opening Session of METALfab 2012, Wednesday, February 29, 2012, at 1 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel at Universal, Orlando, FL.

Current board members continuing for 2012-2013:
Fabricator Director — Greg Terrill, Division 5 Metalworks, Kalamazoo, MI
Fabricator Director — Keith Majka, Majka Railing Co. Inc., Paterson, NJ
Fabricator Director — Todd Kinnikin, Eureka Forge, Pacific, MO
Supplier Director — Rick Ralston, Feeney Inc., Eugene OR
Supplier Director — Gina Pietrocola, D.J.A. Imports Ltd., Bronx, NY
Immediate Past President — James Minter, Imagine Ironworks, Brookhaven, MS

A special “thank you” goes to the following retiring board members for their years of outstanding service:

Bruce Boyler, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron Inc., Bettendorf, IA is rotating off the board after six years of service.
Mark O’Malley, O’Malley Welding & Fabricating Inc., Yorkville, IL, is rotating off after four years of service.
Wayne Haas, Cleveland Steel Tool Co., Cleveland, OH, is rotating off after six years of service.

*As president-elect the president automatically advances to president.

Daniel Receives CAE

2012-01-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

CONTACT: NOMMA, 888-516-8585

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TODD DANIEL EARNS CERTIFIED ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE CREDENTIAL

Washington, DC, 1/27/12 - ASAE has announced that Todd Daniel, Executive Director of the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association has earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE®) credential.

The CAE is the highest professional credential in the association industry. Less than five percent of all association professionals have earned the CAE. To be designated as a Certified Association Executive, an applicant must have a minimum of three years experience in nonprofit organization management, complete a minimum of 100 hours of specialized professional development, pass a stringent examination in association management, and pledge to uphold a code of ethics.

To maintain the certification, individuals must undertake ongoing professional development and activities in association and nonprofit management. 3,900 association professionals currently hold the CAE credential. The CAE program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

ASAE is a membership organization of more than 21,000 association executives and industry partners representing 10,000 organizations. Its members manage leading trade associations, individual membership societies and voluntary organizations across the United States and in nearly 50 countries around the world. With support of the ASAE Foundation, a separate nonprofit entity, ASAE is the premier source of learning, knowledge and future-oriented research for the association and nonprofit profession, and provides resources, education, ideas and advocacy to enhance the power and performance of the association and nonprofit community. For more information about ASAE, visit www.asaecenter.org.

2011-12-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

Dear NOMMA Member,

Thanks for your membership! Please note that your membership expired on December 31. My hope is that you will remain a part of the NOMMA family.

During 2011 we made great accomplishments, and we have even bigger plans for 2012. Thanks to your membership:

• Our Technical Affairs team continues to stay active with the International Code Council (ICC). We currently have representatives on the ICC's Code Technology Committee Climbable Guard Study Group.

• Our Technical Affairs team also remains a part of the Vehicular Gate Ad Hoc Coalition, which is working on their latest project — a gate operator systems designer certification program.

• Our online video streaming has been a hit, and we've just passed the 1,000 view mark. Both NOMMA and NEF will continue to add education videos, tutorials, webinars, and podcasts to our online content library.

For 2012, our plans include:

• Participation in the ICC spring board meeting in Dallas in May.

• Continued education outreach through webinars, phone conferences, NEF workshops, and online resources.

• The launching of the Pacific Northwest Chapter, which will become our sixth chapter.

• In conjunction with the Northeast Chapter we plan to provide an education module for New York-New Jersey area architects in April. The hope is that this pilot program will become a nationwide model.

Both the NOMMA Education Foundation (NEF) and NOMMA have other programs in store as well.

Please consider renewing today. Note that we are now offering a four-payment installment plan. If you have any questions, always feel free to call me.

Again, thank you very much for your membership support.

Sincerely,

Todd Daniel
NOMMA Executive Director

The Incredible Power of the Elevator Speech

2011-11-28T06:33:00.000-08:00

Director's Note: Dave regularly contributes to Fabricator magazine. I thought this column is a great "must read" for all NOMMA's leadership.

By Dave Kahle

“Why should someone spend time with you?” That was the question I asked the six sales people who were the subjects of an intense week-long training session.
The response? Blank stares. Some uncomfortable fidgeting. Nothing anywhere close to a coherent, persuasive response.
That experience made me realize the need for what I call a “value-added proposition,” and what many people refer to as an “elevator speech.” It is a well-thought-out, meticulously prepared, and memorized set of ideas that ultimately answer the question above. It should exist in several different versions:
1. There should be a one-page (250 words or so) description of
* who you are
* what you do
* why your customers and prospects should care.
2. That should be reduced to a 30 word version that should be memorized by everyone who has contact with the customer.
3. Finally, that should be further reduced to a four-to-eight word version that can accompany every communication, from web site advertising to face-to-face interactions.
Why this is important
“Five minutes or it’s free.” That was the banner hanging over the fast food restaurant near my house. I noticed it as I drove past one day. Interesting. In a mini-environment of intense competition (there must be a dozen fast-food options within a mile of this road) they chose to focus on one aspect of their offering – speed – and turn it into a “value-added proposition.” In a world of other options for the customer, they chose to take their strength, turn it into a benefit for the customer, and boil that down to say to the customer, “Buy it from us. We’ll guarantee quick service. “
It had its desired impact. I noticed the banner, and decided to stop in for breakfast. The waitress took my order, noted the time on the order pad, and handed me a stop watch! I took up the challenge, clicked it on, and waited to see if they would perform. The order arrived within five minutes. I noticed the waitress look at her watch and note the delivery time on the order pad.
Let’s consider what we can learn from this experience. First, the value-added proposition consolidates some of the strengths of the organization, and turns them into benefits for the customer base. Then, it translates those benefits into a “proposition” which challenges the customer to become involved. It reaches out into the world and says “Consider me. Here’s why.” It serves, then, as a proactive way to interest and attract potential customers.
Just as importantly, it helps refine who you are as an organization. You will become who you tell people that you are. For example, I suspect that the restaurant did not have a quantity of stop watches in their inventory prior to deciding to toss “Five minutes or it’s free” into the world. I suspect that the order forms were modified to accommodate the claim, that the wait staff was trained in the processes to implement it, that some items came off the menu and others were added, and that there were some cooks who don’t work there any more because of their inability to be who the restaurant said they were.
Once you say that you provide “outstanding customer service,” or “the highest quality products” for example, you have to back that up. You must become who you say you are, and actually do what you claim you do.
The value-added proposition, then, brings with it tremendous power to focus your image to your customer base and, at the same time, organize your internal operations to deliver what you say you will.
From the point of view of the sales force, the value-added proposition gives them a focal point -- a place to hang their claim for uniqueness. But it also gives them a wedge into the doors of the prospect, and an appropriate topic of conversation with every contact.
That’s why the 30-word version should be memorized and practiced until it can be delivered accurately, fluently and persuasively.
How to do it
The creation of a value-added proposition can be much more significant than it may look at first glance. Once you understand the power of this set of words to attract customers, equip sales people, and shape operations, you will realize that this can be a “bet the business on this” strategic initiative.
Get it wrong, and your organization’s very survival may be in jeopardy. Get it right, and it can provide fuel for your growth for the foreseeable future.
So, it ought to be treated as a major strategic initiative in your organization, and given the allotment of resources that accompany such efforts.
Gather your best people for a brainstorming session. Capture the output, and bring it to a more analytical group to refine. Put it in the hands of your best communicators to create the three versions mentioned above.
Then, test it before you commit to it. Put it in the hands of some sales people and gather their comments. Float it by some of your customers whose honest opinion you expect. Run it through the search engine optimization folks.
Refine it until you are ready to live with it.
Then, publish the short version in every conceivable place. On business cards, letterhead, voice mail messages, web sites, email signatures, etc.
Bring the sales people in, require they memorize the 30-word version, and train them in persuasively presenting it. Lots of role-play and practice here. Do the same with anyone who has regular customer contact.
Finally, publish the one-page version. Make it into a hard copy leave-behind for the sales force. Publish it on your web site. Hand it to every vendor.
Distribute it to everyone who has an interest.
Then, watch as it begins to flow into every aspect of your business, stimulating and shaping your growth.

********************************************************************************************
If you are interested in digging deeper into this subject, you may want to purchase, “How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime.”
If you are a subscriber to The Sales Resource Center ™ , consider Cluster CL-72: How to market your small business on-line, Cluster CL-46; Four part elevator speech, and Pod-47: How to make a more effective first call.

About the Author
Dave Kahle has trained tens of thousands of distributor and B2B sales people and sales managers to be more effective in the 21st Century economy. He’s authorednine books, and presented in 47 states and seven countries. Sign up for his weekly Ezine . For a limited time, you can purchase his latest book, How to Sell Anything to Anyone Anytime, and receive $534 in FREE bonuses.

Find the hidden takeaways

2011-11-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

By Todd Daniel, NOMMA Executive Director

In this new economy, I keep hearing the expression “gaining an edge.” The idea is to have one more “plus” in your arsenal to win a job. Can you make yourself a little more efficient to get your bids down a few dollars? Is there one more “value added” service you can offer your customer? Do you have just a little more knowledge than someone else? Can you woo your client with your superior product knowledge? Do you know how to negotiate and upsell to get the best price for your product?

I know just the place where you can obtain the “edge.” It’s called your industry trade association. Imagine tapping into a 53-year-old bastion of information with an online knowledgebase,
14 hours of FREE online education
videos, education conferences, and
opportunities for networking. If you take advantage of the printed and electronic resources of NOMMA, I assure you that you will obtain your edge.

But better yet, the real power comes from what you learn at education sessions and workshops.

And then there is the most powerful information source of all — your hundreds of fellow professionals around the country. You can tap into this resource through our annual METALfab conference, NEF events, and electronically via our ListServ,
webinars, and phone conferences.

All combined, I call this
“NOMMA Power,” and it’s this power that gives you the edge.

A ‘NOMMA Power’ charge

The mystery of NOMMA Power
is that you never know when you’ll
receive it. A METALfab class instructor could give you a single tip that could save you hundreds of dollars. Or, a vendor at the trade show might show you one new product or give you a single idea that could save thousands.

But the best NOMMA Power is when you make professional contacts around the country. Need a job installed in another state? Call a NOMMA brother or sister.

And as your colleagues get to know you, they’ll send you referrals, or they may even subcontract a project to you, or the two of you may even partner on a job. Now, this is true POWER.

Get plugged in

The more you are involved with your trade association, the more
opportunities you have for gaining a “takeaway.” We are all extremely busy, but if you can get away for a Saturday chapter meeting or a NEF class, you are again exposing yourself to new people, and new ideas!

And best of all, if you attend the
national conference you are in the heart of a thriving organism full of ideas and energy. METALfab is like the core of the sun — bright and powerful.

My personal experience

I am a member of a society of association executives. When meetings are held, I often think of a dozen reasons why I can’t attend, but I make myself go. I always wonder when and where I will find my next “takeaway.” Will it be from a keynote speaker, a class presenter, or the person sitting next me? Sometimes I will share, and sometimes I will receive, but always I will gain.

At my last meeting, I didn’t think I was going to get my “takeaway,” but then, surprise, I ran into a colleague in the parking lot and we had a great conversation. Those takeaways are hiding at every corner, and I guarantee that if you join and get involved in NOMMA, you will find them.

Center for Metal Arts Schedule

2011-09-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

We are always glad to publicize the events of our members!

Center for Metal Arts Program Lineup

For the Fall-Winter sessions 2011-12, we have a mix of advanced workshops for those of you who have been asking, along with the introductory courses in Basic Blacksmithing and Copper Fold Forming. If there is a class you would like to see posted, you can leave a comment on our Center for Metal Arts Facebook page, or hit reply and tell us what classes you would like to see.

Fall-Winter sessions 2011-12

Saturday October 15: Basics of Blacksmithing. Your own anvil work station and tooling, including an authentic Hofi cast hammer. Center for Metal Arts blacksmith Jon Ledford will guide you through the basic skills of working hot iron at the forge, with time for you to try your hand with each technique. If you have never held a hammer before—or if you just want more practice on the anvil, this is a great class for you. You will leave with your practice pieces to show for a day at the forge. 10 AM to 4 PM. $120 includes all materials.

Saturday November 12: Copper Fold Forming with Darren Fisher. Just in time to make something fun for the holidays with fine arts metalsmith Darren Fisher. Fold forming is a mash-up of origami and forging—the way you fold, and the way you hammer, and the way you open the folded piece determines what you get. Learn some of the basic folds, and take your pieces home. 10 AM to 4 PM. $120 includes all materials.

Saturday December 10: Fundamentals of Forging with Vivian Beer. Vivian is back for a day at the forge! Spend a day with this engaging instructor—Vivian has much more to teach than you could get in a full semester with her, so claim an anvil station for yourself and grab a full day’s worth of instruction! Expect lots of good technical knowledge, and plenty of hands-on time at your own anvil, in a fully-tooled classroom studio. We supply the forge, your own anvil work station, tooling, an authentic Hofi hammer, and plenty of stock to forge. You bring the intention to have a lot of fun at the anvil. 10 AM to 4 PM. $120 includes all materials.

Saturday February 25: Forging the Nonferrous Metals with Darren Fisher. (Snow date 3/4) In this class you will learn techniques for forging silicon bronze, brass, copper, and aluminum. Students who are interested in forging sterling silver are welcome to bring their own supplies for some specific instruction on working this material. Working processes such as annealing, work hardening, and tool prep are covered and treated as the basics. This class will center on jewelry scale forging, but can also touch on smaller architectural pieces like knobs and handles. Darren will demonstrate several simple classical forms for the students to work on, in order for them to get a feel of how the metal moves, and also walk away with several pieces that can be easily turned into finished jewelry. Techniques will center on using only a few simple hammers and one forming stake, so this class is useful for students with limited studios

Saturday March 17: Patinas for the Small Studio with Darren Fisher. (Snow date 3/31) This class will focus on the patination of copper based alloys. Copper brass and bronze are the most responsive metals and achieve extreme variations in texture and color. Most of the patinas will utilize color via chemical reaction rather than paints and stains. There will also be some demonstrations of texture to help develop patinas further. If time permits, we can also dive into some simple patinas in silver and steel. Safety (respirators, if necessary) and proper chemical handling will be discussed. We will focus on easily obtainable solutions.

More classes are in the works, including the annual return of Fred Crist and of course Charles Lewton-Brain.

Call (845) 651-7550 or email register@centerformetalarts.com to register, and we will soon have the classes posted for online registration on the Upcoming Seminars page.

Rhoda and Ed Mack

Chapters Offer Great Line-up

2009-10-01T14:03:00.001-07:00

Obviously by now you know that this board is not taking their roles in this association lightly. In fact, I believe we are all acting and responding as we would within our own business. Some have asked, “What’s the cost?” The answer is sleepless nights and anxious days. Will the reality of our decisions plague us? Then I realized, we didn’t compromise our principles, we didn’t do the wrong thing. We have made tough, necessary changes recently, none of which were easy or taken lightly. That being said, I don’t believe we would be where we are today, financially and membership-wise, if it wasn’t for the strong leadership we have had from the past boards, presidents, staff, and especially Barbara Cook.
Let me continue by thanking the membership for their support. NOMMA is undergoing some remodeling and I have heard many encouraging words from our association patrons.
In good times and in bad, change is constant. In our current economy, we could use an injection of positivity and in the July/August edition of Fabricator we announced, METALfab 2010 in Tulsa, and it promises to be a great educational opportunity. Comprehensive seminars, shop tours and the largest ornamental iron expo known to man, well at least this man. But, let me ask, “Why wait until March 2010?” NOMMA’s chapters are offering some great educational opportunities this fall, such as:
n The Upper Midwest Chapter is planning an event Saturday, October 3rd (10:00 a.m. - 2 p.m.) at American Fabricator Supply in Elgin, IL.
n The Gulf Coast NOMMA Network is set for Saturday, October 17th at Wheeler’s Ornamental Metals in Dothan, AL, hosted by Henry and Vickie Wheeler, with an emphasis on forging.
n The Northeast Chapter is hosting a one-day CAD seminar September 24, 2009 in Saddlebrook, N.J. The class will cover the basics of 2D drawing and editing commands, and will show how to increase sales and streamline production using CAD. The instructor is Dave Filippi of FabCad Inc., who is an AutoDesk authorized developer. Each participant will receive a free, 30-day trial of the software.
n The next Florida Chapter meeting will be at Royal Iron Creations in West Palm Beach, FL on Saturday, November 14.
Your Board of Directors will be meeting this October in Tulsa. Soon after, you will see the minutes of that meeting posted to the NOMMA website. This Board of Directors wants this association to be transparent, getting you the information as fast as we can.
As I have written in my previous letters and would like you to remember, NOMMA is committed to our partnership and has a vested interest in the profitability of your shops.
I look forward to your continued comments. Your NOMMA board is listening.

New "Online Community" System for Members

2009-08-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

We are excited to announce a major new benefit for all NOMMA members, called "NOMMA Online Community." The new system will consolidate all of our existing online services into one area, and members will be able to access all of the benefits using a single user name and password. PLUS, we are rolling out many new services. In effect, we are greatly expanding and improving the Member's Only area, which will have an entirely new look. The following is a summary of the new features:

Integrated Forums and ListServs - The ListServs and Forums will now become one. You can use the ListServ just like you always have, or you can access it through the forums. In addition to the two ListServs we already have — General and Technical Affairs — we will also be adding Special Interest Groups (SIGS), with the first one focusing on AutoCAD.
Knowledge Repository - Formerly known as "Knowledgebase," this area will become the heart of the new system. Forum and ListServ discussions will immediately become part of the repository.

File Library will hold dozens of technical document, including all past issues of TechNotes and Fab Journal, old Fabricator articles, and many other technical documents.
Media Library will provide videos and pictures. In addition to getting ALL past Top Job entries online, we'd also like to include webinars and education videos.
A powerful search engine will provide instant acess to everything in the repository.

Online Communities - Each NOMMA chapter, committee, and task force will its own sub-area. Each specialized community can bundle the services it needs and display them in its own private "room." For instance, a chapter could set up its own blog, survey, and file sharing area.
Member Profiles - Get to know your NOMMA brothers and sisters around the country. Each member will be able to create his or her own profile, complete with picture and bio. You'll even get your own, personal blog -- use this blog for telling about a job experience or for sharing a technique you learned. In effect, all the information you share becomes a part of the greater Knowledge Repository. Also in your profile, you'll be able to post pictures and link to your online Flickr or Picassa account.
Calendar - At a glance, you'll see all upcoming NOMMA events, chapter meetings, and conference dates for related organizations.
Surveys & Polls - A built-in system for surveys and polls will allow NOMMA, the board, and magazine staff to have regular feedback from members, in regards to interests, trends, requested benefits, etc... We'll also some fun polls on various fabrication topics.
Issue Tracker - This is where NOMMA members will discuss issues related to building codes, and federal regulatory and legislative issues. If you'd like to see a building code change or have a comment on an existing NOMMA position or code proposal, post it on this module.
Wiki - Each chapter, committee, and task force will get its own wiki, which can be used for collaborative planning. Use the wiki for an action plan, upcoming meeting outline, etc... The wiki stores all past versions, and access and privacy can be controlled.

Work on the system has already begun, and plans are to have the formal unveiling in mid-September.

Exciting Changes Ahead

2009-07-01T05:42:00.000-07:00

President's Letter

By Bob Foust III

Abraham Lincoln once said something to this effect: “I’ll halt to a point of view just until someone shows me the value of another point of view.”

During our week in Long Beach and just about every day since, your NOMMA staff and Board have spoken with exhibitors, past presidents, new and long-time fabricator members — and the one overwhelming “point of view” is that we must not eliminate our yearly convention and trade show.

We understand that — more than ever — value is of great importance. That’s why I am pleased to announce that METALfab 2010 will be held in Tulsa, OK, for the first time in NOMMA history.
Well, you asked for it, and now you have it. Multi-tier education! Hands-on training! Plenty of shop tours! As soon as the details are finalized, you will begin to see what’s in store for METALfab 2010.

Recently, I spent two days in Tulsa, and was amazed and surprised — amazed at what Tulsa has to offer, and surprised to see that this mid-sized metropolis has a vibrant small town feel with big entertainment and many attractions. (Don’t let this get back to Kansas City, but the barbecue was excellent!) Why have we never been to Tulsa before?

Doug Bracken and I visited with shop tour candidates and met with potential new exhibitors, and the reaction to what NOMMA is bringing to Tulsa next March was thrilling.

Making METALfab 2010 more educational — with more products to view — and more affordable for everyone is at the heart of this plan. These improvements reflect our commitment to turning that philosophy into meaningful benefits for you and your shop.

We were confronted with information that suggested there is a better path forward. We are at the beginning of a blueprint for an ambitious agenda, not just for 2009 and not just for future METALfabs, but also for the future of NOMMA.

Now, let me give you a quick Strategic Plan update. In late June, your NOMMA Board will meet in Atlanta for our board and strategic planning meeting. This is a critical time in the strategic plan process and that is why your immediate past president, Terry Barrett, will continue leading the strategic planning charge. Terry and the board will remain focused during the next few months on executing this plan and paving the way towards an updated NOMMA.

In my previous letter, I asked for your help. Many of you have called to give ideas, all of them good. And that made me think how special this really is. I am getting advice from people in my industry, most of whom have been doing this a lot longer than I, and have experienced all of the same pains. This is a real resource that, for the most part, is untapped. As you come to decide your own level of NOMMA involvement, let me just repeat something Breck Nelson (Kelley Ornamental) said: “Once you get involved with NOMMA, you will get much more back than you could ever give.”

NOMMA is vested in changing the future of your shops, and this is where it becomes easy for your Board and staff to become very committed and extremely focused on our partnership.

In closing, for a little over two years, we have been hearing politicians using the word “change,” to the point that it has become tiresome with less meaning. Unfortunately, I must spout that same word, but please understand that we think the ability to change is critical to leadership. We can change. In the coming months, you will begin to see changes. Your NOMMA board is listening.

Transition Management Consulting To Assume Day-To-Day Operations of NOMMA

2009-06-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

NOMMA PRESS RELEASE

June 26, 2009
RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

Contact Information
John L. Fiegel, CAE
Interim Executive Director
888-516-8585, ext. 105
Email: john@nomma.org

MCDONOUGH, GA — The National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association’s Board of Directors has decided to replace its long-serving executive director, Barbara Cook, with an interim executive director, John Fiegel from Transition Management Consulting Inc., to run the day-to-day operations as it searches for a new leader for the 51-year-old organization.
The NOMMA Board thanks Barbara Cook for her many years of service, and we wish her well on her future endeavors.

NOMMA, headquartered in McDonough, Ga., was formed in 1958 to serve the ornamental and miscellaneous metals industry. NOMMA’s members produce a wide range of ornamental and miscellaneous metalwork, ranging from railings to driveway gates, and from sculpture to light structural steel. NOMMA provides a variety of educational services to the industry, including an annual trade show and convention, glossy trade magazine, continuing education classes, technical bulletins, and more.

NOMMA Website Hack

2009-05-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last week the NOMMA website was hacked. On Sunday, Google listed us as a potential "malicious site." When visiting the NOMMA site, you may receive some type of warning message. Apparently, someone or someTHING hacked into our site and made our site an intermediary for distributing Trojan horses, according to the report we received from Google.

Our web developer immediately took time out from her vacation to investigate the problem. Our hosting service also checked our site for any potential malware. To date, all checks have come up clean.

At this time we are checking the source code and links for any type of trouble. Once we have completed this second examination we will request "reconsideration" from Google.

While I do not BELIEVE there is anything harmful on the NOMMA website, I urge everyone to use extra caution. If you are redirected to an unknown website or asked to download an unknown program, do not proceed with either action.

Hopefully, we will have the "clean" status of our site restored in a few days.

Sincerely,

Todd Daniel, NOMMA Communications Manager

Brown, Kozik, and Heitler Award Winners

2009-05-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

NOMMA is pleased to issue the following press announcements:

JACK KLAHM RECEIVES CLIFFORD H. BROWN AWARD FOR
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO INDUSTRY EDUCATION

MCDONOUGH, GA. — Jack Klahm of Klahm & Sons Inc., Ocala, FL, has received the Clifford H. Brown Award, which was presented by the NOMMA Education Foundation. The award was given during NOMMA's 51st annual convention in Long Beach, CA on April 25.

Mr. Klahm was given the award for his outstanding contributions to NOMMA’s education program. He is a regular presenter at NOMMA conventions and has given numerous technique demos. He has also appeared in NOMMA education videos. At home, he is active with NOMMA’s Florida Chapter and has hosted meetings at his shop.

NOMMA, headquartered in McDonough, GA, is the trade association of the ornamental and miscellaneous metals industry. The association has nearly 1,000 members in the United States and in 12 foreign countries.

Klahm & Sons Inc., located at 2151 NE Jacksonville Rd., Ocala, has been a NOMMA member since 1978. To reach the firm directly, call (352) 622-6565.

DOUGLAS BRACKEN RECEIVES FRANK A. KOZIK AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER SERVICE

MCDONOUGH, GA. — Douglas Bracken of Ernest Wiemann Iron Works, Tulsa, OK, has received the Frank A. Kozik Award for outstanding volunteer service to the ornamental and miscellaneous metals industry. The award was presented by the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association during their 51st annual convention in Long Beach, CA, April 21–25.

Mr. Bracken was recognized for his selfless volunteerism and for his willingness to always help others. Presenting the award was Breck Nelson, NOMMA's 2007 president.

During his years of service, Mr. Bracken served as president-elect, vice president/treasurer and is a former fabricator director. He is past chair of the Technical Committee and a current member of the Fabricator magazine Advisory Council. He has also led several education classes at past NOMMA conventions. His firm produces high-end ornamental metalwork and is the most awarded company in the industry.

In receiving the award, Mr. Bracken said that when volunteering you "always get far more back than what you give." He added that during these challenging times, "there's never been a better reason for us to pull together as an industry."

NOMMA, headquartered in McDonough, GA, is the trade association of the ornamental and miscellaneous, metals industry. The association has nearly 1,000 members in the United States and in 12 foreign countries.

Ernest Wiemann Iron Works, located at 2620 East 11th St., Tulsa, has been a NOMMA member since 1971. To reach the firm directly, call (918) 592-1700.

Eureka Forge Wins Industry's Highest Award
For Metal Craftsmanship

McDonough, GA. — Eureka Forge has received the Mitch Heitler Award for Excellence, which is the industry's highest award for craftsmanship. Eureka also won the award in 2006 and 2007.

The international competition is sponsored by the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA), and is open to nearly 1,000 members in the U.S. and 12 foreign countries. The award was presented during NOMMA's 51st convention in Long Beach, CA, April 21–25.

Eureka Forge received NOMMA’s coveted Mitch Heitler Award for Excellence for an entry submitted in the "Interior Railings - Forged" category. The same entry won a Gold award in the Ernest Wiemann Top Job Contest.

The winning entry is for a hand-forged railing that features 142 leaves crafted from Damascus steel. The unique leaf design was created by forge welding alternate layers of high nickel and high carbon steel. During the subsequent forging process, the billets were manipulated so that the layers resemble the variegated leaves of the Hosta plants growing on the property. The project consumed over 1 ton of material, and approximate labor time was 1,700 hours.

The NOMMA awards program is an annual event held in conjunction with the association’s convention. Entrants submit photographs and a description of their work. This material is publicly displayed without identifying the entrant, and NOMMA member firms vote for the “Top Job” in each category. The Mitch Heitler award, which is given once annually, is selected among the gold winners.

NOMMA, with headquarters in McDonough, GA, is the trade association for the ornamental and miscellaneous metals industry. NOMMA members produce railings, driveway gates, fences, furniture, sculpture, doors, grills, and many other fabricated metal products.

Eureka Forge joined NOMMA in 2001, and is active in the association's Upper Midwest Chapter. To reach the firm directly, call (636) 271-3200 or visit their website at: www.eurekaforge.com.

New NOMMA Officers

2009-04-28T13:28:00.000-07:00

The new NOMMA Board of Directors was installed on April 25 during the last night of METALfab in Long Beach, CA. A welcome goes to our one newcomer to the Board — Ray Michael. A special thanks goes to Breck Nelson, who has rotated off the Board after seven years of outstanding service.

2009-2010 NOMMA Board of Directors

Officers
President - Bob Foust, III, Bob’s Ornamental Iron Studio, Kansas City, KS
President-Elect – Bruce Boyler, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron Inc., Bettendorf, IA
Vice-President/Treasurer – James Minter, Imagine Ironworks, Brookhaven, MS
Immediate Past President – Terry Barrett, Royal Iron Creations, West Palm Beach, FL

Directors
Fabricator Director – Frank Finelli, Finelli Architectural Ironwork, Solon, OH
Fabricator Director – Mark O’Malley, O’Malley Welding & Fabricating, Yorkville, IL
Fabricator Director – Ray Michael, R & F Metals Inc., Clinton, MD
Fabricator Director – J.R. Molina, Big D Metalworks, Dallas, TX
Fabricator Director – Will Keeler, Keeler Iron Works, Memphis, TN
Fabricator Director - Greg Terrill, Division 5 Metalworks, Kalamazoo, MI
Supplier Director – Cathee Speaks, King Architectural Metals, Dallas, TX
Supplier Director – Gina Pietrocola, D.J.A. Imports, Ltd., Bronx, NY
Supplier Director – Wayne Haas, Cleveland Steel Tool Co., Cleveland, OH

2009 Top Job Winners

2009-04-26T05:54:00.000-07:00

A congratulations goes to the 2009 Top Job winners:

2009 Ernest Wiemann Top Job Winners

A. Gates, Driveway
1 Aladdin Door & Gate Co. A1
2 A.Y.’s Designs in Iron A4
3 Kelley Ornamental Iron LLC A14

B. Gates, Driveway - Forged
1 Wrought Iron Art Ltd. B5
2 Mission Iron Shop B2
3 Allen Iron Works & Supply Inc. B3

C. Interior Railings - Ferrous
1 Royal Iron Creations C6
2 Big Blu Hammer Mfg. C14
3 Gulf Coast Metal Works Inc. C8

D. Interior Railings - Nonferrous
1 DeAngelis Iron Work Inc. D5
2 M. Cohen & Sons Inc. D4
3 Allen Architectural Metals Inc. D7

E. Interior Railings - Forged
1 Eureka Forge E11
2 Wrought Iron Art Ltd. E8
3 Big Blu Hammer Mfg. E17

F. Exterior Railings & Fences
1 Darling's Blacksmithing F6
2 Colonial Iron Works Inc. F4
3 Fine Architectural Metalsmiths F1

G. Exterior Railings & Fences - Forged
1 Upsurge Fabrication Inc. G4
2 Metcalfe Roush Forge & Design G6
3 Klahm & Sons Inc. G2

H. Furniture & Accessory Fabrication
1 Magnum Companies Inc. H10
2 Fine Architectural Metalsmiths H9
3 Bob's Ornamental Iron Studio H8

I. Furniture & Accessory Fabrication - Forged
1 Wrought Iron Art Ltd. I7
2 Steel Welding I19
3 Virginia Architectural Metals I1

J. Gates/Doors
1 Wiemann Ironworks J2
2 Art's Work Unlimited J4
3 Copper Iron Designs Inc. J10

K. Gates/Doors - Forged
1 Royal Iron Creations K5
2 Upsurge Fabrication Inc. K11
3 Metcalfe Roush Forge & Design K10

L. Stairs Complete
1 Big D Metalworks L5
2 Daniel Metals Inc. L 4
3 StairCrafters Inc. L12

N. Unusual Ornamental Fabrication
1 Art's Work Unlimited N1
2 Wrought Iron Art Ltd. N10
3 Daniel Metals Inc. N5

O. Restoration
1 Allen Architectural Metals Inc. O3
2 Builders Ironworks Inc. O5
3 Flaherty Iron Works Inc. O6

P. Art/Sculpture
1 Artisan Metal Works Ltd. P2
2 Precision Custom Metals Inc. P4
3 Big Blu Hammer Mfg. P6

Mitch Heitler Award for Excellence
Eureka Forge E11

METALfab 2009 - Day 5

2009-04-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Saturday started out with a shop tour. We visited Upsurge Fabrication Inc. in Huntington Beach, CA. Our hosts were extremely gracious and gave us a first-class experience at their shop. The spotless shop featured snacks and drinks, music, a TV display, static displays, mini work station demos, and guest vendors. There were even a couple of antique motorcycles on display, which attracted a lot of interest.

In the evening, the grand finale of the week began — the annual METALfab Awards Banquet. During this time officers were installed, the Frank A. Kozik Award was presented, and the Top Job presentation took place.

Bob Foust III of Bob's Ornamental Iron Studio was installed as NOMMA's 41st president. In his speech, Bob pledged to continue improving NOMMA in all areas. "NOMMA was started decades ago by people much greater than me," he said. "I want to keep the faith given to us by the past presidents and boards."

As a child, Bob said he came to know NOMMA as a place of family vacations. In NOMMA's earlier years, it was common for fabricators to bring their families and make the NOMMA convention their vacation.

"NOMMA is and will continue to be an essential part of my business," he said, "And I want to help NOMMA become an essential part of your business as well."

Bob said that the board had embarked had held several "intense and exhausting meetings" to form NOMMA's new strategic plan. He said that the membership will soon become the recipients of this labor, and that everyone's help was needed to make the plan succeed. "In every association people get the governing they deserve," is a quote that Bob shared.

After an intermission, the Frank A. Kozik Award Volunteer Service Award was presented to Doug Bracken of Wiemann Ironworks. The award is given to members who share an outstanding spirit of volunteerism. Doug was given the award not only for his many years of service to NOMMA, but also for his willingness to always help others. A long-time board member, Doug has held several positions with NOMMA, including president and Technical Committee Chair. He has attended code hearings and is a tireless promoter and advocate for the industry.

In receiving the award, Doug said that when volunteering you "always get far more back than what you give." He added that during these challenging times, "there's never been a better reason for us to pull together as an industry."

Following the presentation of the Kozik award, Top Job Chair Mark Koenke took the stage to lead the awards presentation. Mark told the audience that this was a big year for the contest, with 69 companies submitting 184 entries. Gold, silver, and bronze awards were presented to winners in 15 categories. The grand finale of the night was the presentation of the Mitch Heitler Award for Excellence, which went to Eureka Forge. The winning entry was a hand-forged railing that featured Damascus steel leaves.

METALfab 2009 - Day 4

2009-04-24T08:17:00.004-07:00

Friday was taken up by education and the completion of the trade show. In the afternoon, there were two big features — the Top Job Jamboree and the Video Shop Tours. During the jamboree all Top Job entries are flashed on a screen, and entrants have the opportunity to describe their work. At the video shop tours, attendees enjoy a video presentation of selected shops. The video tours have become an extremely popular event at METALfab conventions.

In the evening, everyone had the chance to wind down at the theme dinner and auction. The theme for this year was "dress as your favorite Hollywood star." If you thought you were seeing doubles, you weren't -- we had two Audrey Hepburns and two Hugh Hefner. In addition, we had a John Belushi and Brad Pitt, among others.

The theme dinner featured a great band that played everything from jazz to classic rock. The music was interspersed with the auction, which raised $11,945 for the NOMMA Education Foundation (NEF). All proceeds from the auction go toward NEF's education and research projects. A thanks to all the members and industry suppliers who donated items, particularly considering the difficult economic climate.

Members of the Upper Midwest Chapter wore
their "Field of Dreams" jerseys.

METALfab 2009 - Day 3

2009-04-23T08:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday featured a day of education and the trade show. The morning started out with two excellent classes — scheduling and building codes. Other sessions for the day included CAD, ListServ use, driveway gates, and using technology to increase efficiency.

The Trade Show featured an extra bonus -- education sessions on the trade show floor. There was a class titled "NOMMA Online" and a program on copper repoussé.

METALfab 09 - Day 2

2009-04-22T21:12:00.000-07:00

Cynthia Paul leads a session.

It's our second day of METALfab here in Long Beach, CA, and we are having a blast. The day started with a breakfast and our annual membership meeting. Included in the morning festivities was a keynote speech by Cynthia Paul of FMI Corp. A powerful and dynamic speaker, Cynthia talked about the things we needed to hear, and she helped reinforce the basics of winning and keeping customers. A few of her quotes from today include:

"Honesty means if the customer is not smart enough to ask, you tell them anyway."

"Customer services should always be 100%. Think of things that delight you as a customer."

"Don't try to protect your company. There's nothing worse than a frustrated customer."

"Go back and win some of your lost customers."

Afterwards, Cynthia led a series of several education sessions. At the same time, other classes included "Duties of a Lead Person," "E-Myth," and "Who Moved My Cheese," which focused on dealing with and accepting change.

At 4 p.m. the METALfab trade show opened, and attendees were treated to a wide range of exhibits that include gate operator equipment, heavy machinery, ornamental components, quick-setting cement, pre-fabricated doors, and much, much more.

The following are a few snapshots from the day:

METALfab - Day 1

2009-04-21T21:12:00.001-07:00

The action begins! Tonight marks the first day of METALfab 2009, which is being held in beautiful Long Beach, CA. When we arrived yesterday we caught the tail-end of a record-setting heat wave, but now things are cooling down.

Attendees started arriving this morning and by the time of our 6 p.m. Welcome Reception we had a large crowd. It was great seeing many regulars as well as many first-time attendees.

For the NOMMA Board of Directors, today has been a long day. NOMMA's leaders held a Board meeting this morning, and then reconvened after lunch for an afternoon strategic planning session. A lot of work was accomplished during both meetings. Our leadership and staff are really working hard to keep NOMMA moving forward, even during these challenging economic times.

Tomorrow the real fun begins with the morning breakfast, business meeting, keynote speech, education classes, and the grand opening of the trade show. Stay tuned!

2009 Nominating Slate

2009-04-16T09:18:00.001-07:00

The Nominating Committee is charged with presenting a slate of officers and directors to the membership each year during the business meeting. On behalf of the committee, chaired by Immediate Past President Breck Nelson, we are pleased to announce the following for 2009-2010:

Current President-Elect, Bob Foust, III, Bob’s Ornamental Iron Studio, Kansas City, KS, automatically assumes the office of President, as provided in the Bylaws.

President-Elect – Bruce Boyler, Boyler’s Ornamental Iron Inc., Bettendorf, IA
Vice-President/Treasurer – James Minter, Imagine Ironworks, Brookhaven, MS
Fabricator Director – Frank Finelli, Finelli Architectural Ironwork, Solon, OH
Fabricator Director – Mark O’Malley, O’Malley Welding & Fabricating, Yorkville, IL
Fabricator Director – Ray Michael, R & F Metals Inc., Clinton, MD
Supplier Director – Wayne Haas, Cleveland Steel Tool Co., Cleveland, OH

Continuing on the board for next year:
Immediate Past President – Terry Barrett, Royal Iron Creations, West Palm Beach, FL
Fabricator Director – J.R. Molina, Big D Metalworks, Dallas, TX
Fabricator Director – Will Keeler, Keeler Iron Works, Memphis, TN
Fabricator Director - Greg Terrill, Division 5 Metalworks, Kalamazoo, MI
Supplier Director – Cathee Speaks, King Architectural Metals, Dallas, TX
Supplier Director – Gina Pietrocola, D.J.A. Imports, Ltd., Bronx, NY

Rotating off the Board this year after serving on the board for seven years:
Immediate Past President Breck Nelson, Kelley Ornamental Iron, LLC., Peroria, IL

Congratulations to the Scholarship Winners

2009-04-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Wagner Companies and the NOMMA Education Foundation are proud to announce the recipients of The Wagner Companies METALfab 2009 Grant.

Steve Stanley – Stanco Inc., Salem Oregon

Faran Van Zandt – Point of View Design, Eads, TN
Wade Ranck – Eagle Machine & Welding Inc., Newark, OH
James Moseley – Heirloom Stair & Iron, Campobello, SC

Because of the generosity of The Wagner Companies these members will be able to attend METALfab 2009 and participate in a valuable learning experience.

A thanks to the Wagner Companies for making this grant possible!

Welcome to NOMMA!

2009-04-03T08:21:00.001-07:00

This is the blog of the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA). We're glad you found us!

NOMMA is dedicated to promoting ornamental and miscellaneous metalwork and providing a positive and productive business environment for our members.

We are an industry trade association made up of nearly 1,000 members around the U.S. and in 15 foreign countries. We host the industry's annual convention and trade show and publish Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metal Fabricator, a high-end, glossy magazine.

Our members produce railings, driveway gates, stair system, and hundreds of other ornamental and miscellaneous metal projects. If you can put it on paper, our members can build it.