Happy New Year to you all.

It is always an honor for SPIDA to be included in the January issue of Snips magazine.  Everything is “new” at this point. This time brings new-year resolutions, new goals, new budgets and for some new beginnings. This month at the SPIDA meeting, which will be held Jan. 21 in Chicago in conjunction with AHR Expo, the Spiral Duct Manufacturers Association will welcome a new president for the next two years. I asked him to share this column with me so that you could get to know John Newland of Hercules Industries. Here are his comments.

It seems as if it was just yesterday when Robin so graciously asked me to be her vice president in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, back in 2015. I don’t think I’ll be alone in saying that she has done a fantastic job in her position as president, and SPIDA has become a better organization because of her. Her leadership style has encouraged members to be more active, and her acceptance of new ideas and suggestions has pushed SPIDA to have more members than it has had in the past.

For me, I become more excited for the SPIDA meetings as the years pass as the discussion groups have become more engaging and the speakers continue to bring strong value both from a professional and personal standpoint. So what’s next? Robin has set the bar pretty high, but the good news is that I am taking over the position after being able to learn so much about the right ways to run an organization. Quite frankly, my job should be easy as long as I do half the things that Robin has done over the last couple years.

Hercules Industries has been a member of SPIDA for many years, in which I’ve personally been active since I started working with the company in 2008. Hercules was founded by my grandfather in 1962, and I’m proud to say that I’m part of the third generation of the Newland family who still owns and runs the business. I continue to find strong value through our involvement in SPIDA. I’ve had the privilege to learn from so many smart and innovative people involved in the organization, and I plan on continuing this trend for many years to come. My goal is for the members to be able to enhance their companies as well as themselves through continued research projects, information sharing, and invigorating and thought provoking speakers. I am looking forward to deepening my relationship with all the members, and I am excited to work with you all to help grow SPIDA. Thank you in advance for your support, and cheers to a prosperous 2018.

My intention of asking John to share in the column was not to give him opportunity to brag on me, but for you to see his enthusiasm and vision for SPIDA going forward. John will bring a lot of energy and great leadership to SPIDA in the next two years.

In a time that we hear of very few people, political parties or even companies working well together, SPIDA is an exception. I would take up too much space in this insert to list the accomplishments of SPIDA in the last two years. But I can tell you without hesitation that the board of directors, the committees, and the membership in general have stepped up like never before to allow SPIDA to accomplish more than it has in many years past.

If you are unfamiliar with SPIDA, let me encourage you to read the information provided here by our members. Better yet, attend our lunch meeting Jan. 21. You can see and hear firsthand what all is going on with SPIDA, as well as what our goals are for 2018. We have a phenomenal speaker that will motivate you, and it’s a lunch meeting. You’ve got to eat somewhere, so why not eat with us?  Visit www.SPIDA.org for information. 

To all our members, thank you for allowing me to serve you in this role the last two years. It has been an honor, and your support and kind words have only increased my respect for this organization, and each of you as true professionals.