January 2022 | Vol. 27 No. 1

NEMA members have the opportunity to drive change in how the electrical grid-to-plug operates and adapts.

We are emerging from a once-in-a-century pandemic and could face other Black Swan events, including the global shortage in semiconductors that will constrain the country in the near term. Now, a once-in-a-generation opportunity lies before us, which is to accelerate the American electrical manufacturing industry.

The weather-induced power outages in Colorado, Kentucky, Texas, and Louisiana remind us how electricity is central to our very way of life. It is time to invest in making the grid as resilient as the people who use it. We must do so with sustainability in mind, and I want to share an approach that I believe our industry supports.

First, we must help our customers be more efficient with their energy use. Using the power of digitization and data, we can make the invisible visible and garner the insights required to make informed decisions about energy consumption. Second, we must pave the way for adopting a more electric world that is generated by more renewable sources. Renewable electricity is the most efficient form of energy and is the best decarbonization vector. And finally, driving your respective value chains to achieve greener outcomes is critically important. No single company can truly decarbonize by itself so partnering with your suppliers and bringing them along in this journey is critical.

In his reflections about his tenure with us, former NEMA President Kevin Cosgriff said that the pace of change in our industry is swift. I think the past 20 plus months alone have proven that as we’ve all had to pivot to protect the livelihood of our respective businesses. With the clock continuing to tick, I believe the approach I’ve outlined to achieve a more sustainable future is well within our grasp. NEMA  manufacturers represent the progress we can all make today to be more sustainable, and it will be our legacy that will benefit future generations to come.

It has been one of my greatest honors serving as your chair. A year ago, I said I’d welcome the opportunity to serve NEMA and our member companies and continue the work that was started before me and do what I could to advance our efforts further.

My sincere appreciation goes to the board and membership for your confidence in giving me the privilege of chairing NEMA and the board of governors for another year. I am fortunate to offer my service to this great association with the help and support of our board, staff, and the many members who lend their efforts to advance our cause. 

I also look forward to President and CEO Debra Phillips’ leadership as we approach our 100th anniversary as a trade association. I am confident that her experience and perspective will further the success of NEMA to lead us into the next century.  ei