Marko Duffy Wraps Up NAMF-NE Presidency

 

Marko Duffy, President of Marathon Manufacturing Services in Massachusetts, completed his term as president of the NAMF's New England branch with a report to his members that highlighted the group's achievements, as well as a plea for other to get and stay involved.

 

Duffy's last column for the NAMF-NE newsletter:

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It’s not what you know.   It’s who you know. 

 

If you’re a job shop metal finisher in New England you are in a battle of wits on a daily basis.   There are challenges every day around regulatory issues, personnel and HR situations, operational details and of course, the multiple challenges presented by your customers and their customers to continue to push the envelope technically.  How could you possibly know everything?  You just can’t.

 

What you can do however is address the “who you know” part of the equation and that is where the National Association of Metal Finisher’s New England Chapter can help.   Here, who you know can give you the kind of help you need.   Whether it is technical, regulatory, operational or employee related, there is somebody here who has a piece of the puzzle you need to solve every day.

 

As a member of the local chapter, you can attend meetings, get updates from the national office, be part of a world wide movement and perhaps most important, meet and sit with people who are going through many of the same things you are.  Through conversations and connections with other members and suppliers, you may get ideas, suggestions and solutions to at least a portion of the myriad of opportunities, questions and crises that come up each and every day.

 

The New England Chapter of the NAMF has had a busy year and there’s no doubt that participants got their moneys worth early and often, sometimes from the podium, maybe from a supplier table top exhibit or maybe over coffee after dinner.  There were many opportunities to get that piece of the puzzle you maybe didn’t even know you needed.

 

In the last year we held several meetings that brought regulatory issues to our membership and offered continuing education opportunities for licensed professionals.  We held our annual Supplier’s Night and brought 20 suppliers together with 100 metal finishers and gave out over $2000 is scholarships to college bound children of employees of our member companies.  As an association we participated in the NE Surface Finishing Regional and many of our members attended, exhibited and presented before the 140 we had gathered.   We also developed a web site, www.namf-ne.org that helps bring news, information and a calendar of events to our members and friends. 

 

As the new Past President of NAMF-NEC I enjoyed my time and hope that the organization and membership felt that the local association continued to uphold a long tradition of progress and service to our members and the industry in general.   It was this tradition that most inspired me to be a part of this group, to be a part of a long history of great members, companies and professionals who gave their time and talent to our industry and our region.   Having attended NAMF-NEC meetings since the early 1980’s, it means a lot to me to be a part of this and having followed in the footsteps of so many I held and hold in high regard. 

 

And the tradition continues and perhaps it has never been deeper than with Eric Jacklin, president and owner of FM Callahan moving into the chapter president role.   FM Callahan is the countries oldest continuously owned metal finishing shop and Eric is proud of the history and tradition his company and family have created.   I am as excited about the next 2 years as I was stepping into the role 2 years ago.  I wish Eric the best of luck and am confident he will do a great job. 

 

And I would be remiss without thanking the Board of Directors and of course Loretta Capalbo Executive Secretary.  The passion and energy of the board as well as their deep knowledge of our industry and region is unparalleled and of course, Loretta takes this passion and energy, keeps it on track and gets it out there for our members and friends to have and use.   Thank you Loretta!

 

So yes.  In the end it is about “who” you know…  And how you get to know them.   The NAMF-NEC is a great place to find the “Who What When Where Why and How” of being a metal finisher in New England.  You cannot know it all but you know what?  I know someone who knows what I need to know.  And they’ll be at our next meeting in September and I’ll find them.   Hope to see you there because it just might be you I need to talk to!