EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE


and available even if you don’t belong to the association. Thank you to those who are listening to our podcasts and participating in our webinars. I appreciate your patience as we learn to be better presenters and hosts. We have all had to learn to grow and adapt during the past two years. Who would have ever thought a radiator man/welder would be doing podcasts and webinars?


We recently published a story in The Cooling Journal about young people in our industry. These kids started working in their parent’s businesses at a pretty young age and have aspirations to work with their hands. This story was a result of a picture posted on social media of a shop owner’s son unbolting a truck radiator.


Speaking of social media, our Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook followers have been steadily increasing. These platforms are worldwide and allow us to reach businesses across the globe. We currently have members in the UK, France, Africa, China, Australia, Mexico, Latin America, the Caribbean, and South America. Social media makes it possible to interact with our members and other radiator businesses on a global level. Please take the time to post pictures of big, ugly, and or unique jobs on any of our social media platforms.


What our industry and association have learned over the last couple of years is that we are not in control, no matter how much we think we are. Even though there are experts who claim a pandemic has been talked about for years, this was still not part of the thought process for millions of businesses. We also learned that just in time inventory for manufacturing does not work well in a global economy where parts from all over


the world are relied upon to manufacture or assemble a final product here in the United States. So many manufacturing lines have been hampered by the lack of availability of materials necessary for the production of heat exchangers. Thirdly, there is a major advantage to owning a radiator business and DPF Cleaning and supply business during a pandemic. For the service facilities who have the capabilities to fabricate radiators/ cooling system components and those companies who have the ability to buy stock, the service business has turned out to be very lucrative during the pandemic. As OE manufacturers for trucks, heavy equipment and power generators have had severe supply chain interruptions, cooling system service companies have been able to fill that void. Companies who wouldn’t otherwise do business with a particular service facility are now welcoming new customers whose needs they can meet.


I feel fortunate that my family has not been severely impacted by illness or death as a result of COVID-19, but I know there are many association members who have endured the pain of severe illness and even the sorrow of loss. My family and I pray for all who have suffered, and we pray for a brighter future in 2022.


My wife Sandy and I are very grateful for a great staff that works with us to build a better association. Linda Nguyen Skoglund and Mary Margaret Miller work with us everyday to make your membership experience better tomorrow than it was yesterday. We are thankful for the opportunity to work with the people we shared a common thread with for 36 years when we owned our radiator and DPF business. We are thankful and grateful for the leadership that is provided by the board of directors of NARSA/ IDEA. The directors who volunteer their time and ideas for the betterment of our


November/December 2021 | THE COOLING JOURNAL | 31


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