Spring is in the air here in Princeton, NJ, and while others may be planting their gardens or even finding new love, it can only mean one thing for CFMA HQ: It’s time to prepare for CFMA’s 2020 Annual Conference & Exhibition from May 30-June 3 in Washington, D.C. After graduating from the Columbus School of Law at The Catholic University of America, I spent the next 30 years working in the Washington, D.C. area. Most of those years were spent working for construction industry associations, including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). The experiences I had and the connections I made have helped CFMA better collaborate with others in the construction industry.
Washington, D.C. is a transient city, especially as presidential administrations change; therefore, those of us who have lived there for more than 25 years are considered natives. So, allow me to be your tour guide. The neighborhood where CFMA’s Annual Conference will take place is one of the prettiest and safest in the city. It is within walking distance of the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and it is a block from a Metro subway station that connects you to any place in Washington, D.C. And, of course, I must mention that some of the best museums in the world are part of the Smithsonian Museum collection, and they’re all free of charge. In Washington, D.C., this is what we call putting taxpayer dollars to work, so take advantage of this when visiting. The city is also home to a multitude of restaurants with cuisines from Ethiopian to Indian to Yemeni to Cuban.
I may be a bit biased, but of all the conferences I attend, I believe CFMA’s Conference combines education, networking, and fun better than any other. I am particularly proud of our philanthropic efforts over the past seven years that have raised more than $125,000 for charity.
This year, all of the proceeds from the fun run and golf tournament will go directly to the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP), which CFMA started four years ago and continues to support financially as well as in leadership roles. If you are not able to attend the Conference or don’t plan on participating in the fun run, you can still support the CIASP by visiting www.preventconstructionsuicide.com.
To learn more about the Conference, the schedule of events, and the session details, see page 11 and visit www.conference.cfma.org.
As we begin a new fiscal year, I would like to thank CFMA’s Outgoing Chairman, Michelle Eastman, who has worked tirelessly during this past year to move CFMA forward in a positive, new direction. It has been my honor and pleasure to work with Michelle.
Now it’s time to welcome CFMA’s Incoming Chairman Kevin Booth. Kevin brings a different style but an equally committed perspective to the role as Chairman. Please join me in welcoming Kevin, who looks forward to working with all of CFMA’s stakeholders over the next year.
And, I look forward to seeing you in my hometown of Washington, D.C.!
Copyright © 2020 by the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). All rights reserved. This article first appeared in March/April 2020 CFMA Building Profits magazine.