Dear fellow members and friends of ASA –
Fall is definitely in the air as I write this letter for the month of September. Autumn officially begins on the 22nd, and although we may not want to think about it, the end of 2024 is definitely not that far ahead.
Has 2024 been good for you? Have you accomplished most of what you set out this year? Did you have enough time to take care of all of those important things in your life that matter the most? We may not want to admit it, but as our lives get busier and busier, and as we tend to add more and more on to our already full plates, we find ourselves running out of time just to catch our breath and count our blessings. I hope you are able to do just that, more often than not.
With all of that said, this month’s Contractor’s Compass focuses on forecasting the year ahead.
Unfortunately most of us do not have the 100% working crystal ball. And maybe it might not be a good thing if we did possess such a thing. While the election is still a few weeks away, we can see some trends developing. Some for the better and some not necessarily that good. Some worthwhile actions we can take are just good preparations for what may lie ahead, no matter what the results of the election may be. Most of the articles this month do just that. Now is the time to start looking ahead toward the end of this year and even further forward to 2025. What are you doing well? What needs some revision? How are you going to change things? It’s always good to start looking at tomorrow as you tidy things up for today.
The month of September is Suicide Awareness Month. This is a topic that is not easy to talk about, but nonetheless, one that is of great importance. I am sure that many of us have had someone close to us that we have lost to suicide or that has attempted suicide. Construction workers are four times more likely to die by suicide, than the national average, according to the CDC. This is very frightening for sure and we must do whatever it takes to help prevent this. Talk to your workers and make sure that they are aware that there are many places that they can reach out to, if they ever feel the need to do so. Our ASA FASA Cares site has links to resources for help. By dialing 988 (The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) you can seek help for yourself, a friend, a colleague, a spouse or other family member. Please make sure that those folks around you are well aware of the help and intervention that is available to them. Most importantly make sure you convey to those you know, that you care about them and that they ARE important to you.
On a more cheerful note, another two-fer in the Always Something Awesome annals. Two of our
beloved Executive Directors – Deb Scifo and Angie Wentz – are saying their farewells as they head in new directions. But true to form, both have left us in capable hands with their new replacements. We wish both Angie and Deb the best of luck, and we thank them for the great job they did, serving their respective chapters.
Our ASA Think Tank met in Seattle, Washington on September 18th in Seattle was a dynamic conversation between subcontractors, suppliers and chapter leaders from around the country. There was robust discussion around A.I. in Construction, the state of the economy, Pay if Paid Clauses, contracts, and resources available to ASA Members, and more. Coming out of Think Tank, ASA offers new educational opportunities and resources where necessary to meet the changing needs of its members in the industry.
As always please reach out to me with any questions, comments, concerns, ideas or just to say “hello”. I will always do my best to get back to you. And to coin a phrase from Lester Holt of NBC News, “Take care of yourself and each other”.
Thank you,
Ray Moya
President, ASA – 2024-25
