Becoming CSC president has me following in some very large footsteps courtesy of past presidents Wyatt Eckert and Greg Hofsted. Both set an excellent example for me and the entire executive team.

As echoed by many of my predecessors, my term as president went by too fast. The last 12 months have, in some ways, felt like 12 weeks. That said, it is remarkable to remember where we were just one year ago and how much our lives have fundamentally changed for the foreseeable future.

It may be tempting to think memberships are no longer relevant because social media and e-learning are dominating our attention. However, a CSC membership is worth your time, effort, and hard-earned dollars for many reasons.

I would like to start with virtually the same opening line as my December address, and in times like this, it needs to be repeated: Congratulations, you made it!

Are we really looking at the end of 2020?! While there have been times when we have thought, “Thank goodness this year is coming to an end,” we have also wondered, “Where did the year go!?”

As we move into turkey season (Thanksgiving), it is worth a pause to thank our association office. It is thanks to the tireless efforts of Nick Franjic, Clafton A. Fiola, and Brad Noble that we continue to be an industry-leading association. I can think of no better cheerleaders for CSC than this trio.

In an attempt to get ahead of my presidential messages, I laid out an entire year’s worth of topics, ideas, notes, content, schedules, and even titles! COVID-19 upended my plans. The title for this message feels remarkably irrelevant now.

What is engagement as it relates to CSC? Broadly speaking, ‘engagement’ refers to the actions taken by members to further the organization’s reputation and interests.

In an age of no blueprints, we sure could use one to help us though this global pandemic! It would be an understatement to say the past few months have upended the way we all work. As directly related to CSC, the theme of engagement in my previous message will need an overhaul in the age of COVID-19.

It is a sincere honour to address the membership of CSC as president, and through this publication! While attending the CSC Building Expo in Toronto in February, I was asked by a number of people what my first message was going to be and did I have a theme or focus for my term. I did not have a decisive answer, but I have given it much thought since then.