Newsletter | December 2017
President's Message
Hello SFNE Members,

 As my term comes to an end, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as your president for the last two years. As a member of the SFNE leadership team, and as a long-term member of the association, I am confidant SFNE will continue to provide members with a forum for advocacy, networking and learning.

As we move into the future, it will be more important than ever for SFNE to focus its energy, efforts and resources on what helps structural steel and miscellaneous metal fabricators in New England prosper.

In the face of mounting challenges from Canadian fabricated structural steel in New England, it has been necessary to find the best ways to increase market share for local steel fabricators.

In order to reach our goals, SFNE will continue to partner with the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). The March 8, 2018 meeting will feature the Early Involvement & Marketing Workshop. This program is designed to provide effective business development and early involvement education to make steel the material of choice!

SFNE was pleased to learn that AISC has chosen Boston as one of 12 cities in the US to place a Structural Steel Specialist. The specialists have been tasked with the goal of fostering relationships between engineers, architects, and other decision-makers to encourage the use of structural steel on projects.

Moving into 2018, the SFNE Board acknowledges that our association must also do its part to bring more skilled workers into the industry and provide professional development for fabricators.  

Early next year, the Board will evaluate SFNE's current mission and goals, and will develop an action plan designed to better meet the needs of our members. To ensure our success and development, we encourage you to share your input. If you have any suggestions on how SFNE can increase the value of your membership investment, please send an email to Cathy Flaherty . She will share your ideas with the Board as we work on the association’s long and short-term goals.

As the immediate past president I will continue to serve on the Board, and I am looking forward to working with all of you.

Best Regards,

Rens Hayes
Rens Welding & Fabricating Inc. 
Welcome New Board Officers!
Brett Miller
Building Envelope Systems
SFNE President

Brett began his career in the steel industry with in 2002, where he was a steel fabricator and misc iron installer for the Steel Shop. From 2007 to 2011, Brett estimated and sold structural steel, misc iron, and metal panel exterior envelope systems for Metro West Steel. He helped develop rainscreen exterior envelope products for a major rainscreen producer, Dri-Design. Brett left Metro West Steel and started Building Envelope Systems in the fall of 2011, with a focus on small structural steel and misc metals. Building Envelope systems has grown to a 32 team members operation with 35,000 sq. ft of manufacturing space with automated equipment. The BES team consists of a fully dedicated structural fabrication team, misc iron team, misc iron installation team, and metal panel installation team. 
Rick Coughlin
Quinn Brothers of Essex, Inc.
SFNE Vice President

Rick grew up in the steel business, where he worked in the shop and field throughout high school. After graduation, he attended U-Mass Boston and received an accounting degree. Rick has been working on the office side of the business for 15 years. Rick is very passionate about the opportunity to work with family. 

He currently works with his Father Richie Coughlin, who is a Local 7 foreman and one of the owners of Quinn Brothers John, Jay, and Joe Coughlin.

When Rick is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife, Colleen, and children Mason and Teagan.
David Cronin, Jr.,
D. Cronin's Welding Service, Inc.

Kris Kraft,
Summit Metal Fabricators

Colleen Wiesbrock,
Infra-Metals
To Our Newly Retired Board Members....

Scott Coulombe,
Genesis Industrial

Mike Feder,
Infra-Metals
SFNE 2018 Board of Directors
Brett Miller
SFNE President
Building Envelope Systems
20 High Street
Plainville, MA 02762
Phone: (508) 381-0429

Rick Coughlin
SFNE Vice President
Quinn Brothers of Essex, Inc.
239 Western Ave.
Essex, MA 01929
Phone: (978) 768-6929

Darin Gillies
SFNE Secretary
Reliance Steel, Inc.
94 South Oak Circle
Colchester, VT 05446
Phone: (802) 655-4810

Pete Fusini
SFNE Treasurer
Berkshire Bridge & Iron
140 E Housatonic Street, PO Box 254
Dalton, MA 01227
Phone: (413) 684-3182

Rens Hayes
SFNE Immediate Past President
Rens Welding & Fabricating
988 Crane Ave.
South Taunton, MA 02780
Phone: (508) 828-1702

Stephen Capone
Capone Iron Corporation
20 Turcotte Memorial Drive
Rowley, MA 01969
Phone: (978) 948-8000
Lori Chasse
S.L. Chasse Steel
8 Christine Drive
Hudson, NH 03051
Phone: (603) 886-3436

David Cronin, Jr.
D. Cronin's Welding Service
70 State Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
Phone: (978) 664-4488

Kris Kraft
Summit Metal Fabricators
144A Main Street, PO Box 1280
Plaistow, NH 03865
Phone: (603) 328-2211

James McBrady
James A. McBrady, Inc.
P.O. Box 8239
Portland, ME 04104-8239
Phone: (207) 883-4176

David Orlando
Berlin Steel Construction
5 Industrial Park West
Oxford, MA 01540
Phone: (508) 987-7924

John Roy
Connecticut Galvanizing
239 Commerce Street
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Phone: (860) 659-4330

Colleen Wiesbrock
Infra-Metals Corporation
55 Pent Highway
Wallingford, CT 06492
Phone: (800) 243-4410
Abenaqui Carriers
38 B South Road
North Hampton, NH 03862
Phone: (603) 379-8834
Rick Thomas
SFNE Spring Seminar and Dinner Meeting
AISC’s Early Involvement & Marketing Workshop and Keynote Dinner Presentation
March 8, 2018
Location TBA
Over the last 10 years, many things have changed in the construction world:
  • Increased competition from concrete and wood
  • Increased emphasis on cost when margins are already tight
  • Greater aversion to risk
  • Online business relationships
  • New generation of decision makers

AISC has developed a program for the structural steel industry to address these changes. Through effective business development and early involvement education and training, we can make steel the material of choice!
BRING YOUR KEY STAFF to learn how you can best position your company to get a seat at the table as a valuable contributor in the decision making process.
  • Gene Martin, P.E., LEED AP, Project Specialist, American Institute of Steel Construction
  • John Cross, PE, Vice President, American Institute of Steel Construction
  • Angela Richie, Construction Lawyer, Stites & Harbison PLLC
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
AISC’s Early Involvement & Marketing Workshop

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Networking Reception

6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Dinner
AISC Keynote Presentation

More information and registration forms coming soon!
2018 NASCC: The Steel Conference
NASCC: The Steel Conference is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry, bringing together structural engineers, steel fabricators, erectors and detailers.
The Steel Conference offers more than 130 sessions on topics ranging from “Practical Advice for Reviewing Software Generated Connection Designs” to “Lateral Torsional Buckling and its Influence on the Strength of Beams” to “Keeping OSHA out of your Bank Account.” In addition to practical seminars on the latest design concepts, construction techniques and cutting-edge research, the conference also offers an extensive trade show, featuring products ranging from structural design software to machinery for cutting steel beams, as well as plentiful networking opportunities. And one low registration fee gains you access to all of the technical sessions, the keynote address, the T.R. Higgins Lecture and the exhibition hall.

Click here for more information.
SeaMASS Upcoming Events
Professional Liability Mock Mediation

Thursday, January 18, 2018
Registration is from 7:30-8:00 a.m. 

Don't miss this opportunity to witness a compelling "mock mediation" that will realistically portray a hypothetical yet practical mediation case!

Changes to the MA State Building Code 8th to 9th Edition

Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Registration is from 7:30-8:00 a.m. 

This half-day seminar is your opportunity to learn from three seasoned professionals who will share their particular expertise regarding important changes in the Building Codes, including Massachusetts Amendments.

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