From the Desk of the CEO/Executive Director

David Clements
Posted by David Clements March 16, 2012 Editorial March/April 2012

IAEI launches its 84th year with much anticipation and excitement as we launch several new projects as well as fulfilling the organization’s mission statement recently approved by the Board of Directors. I encourage the sections, chapters and divisions to include the new mission statement in their IAEI correspondence and to display it on their websites. It’s important that as an organization we deliver a message to the electrical industry as to who we are and what we do. Having a strong mission statement increases our brand recognition and explains to the public the important role we play in public safety.

Mission Statement

IAEI, as the keystone of the electrical industry, is a membership driven, non-profit association promoting electrical safety throughout the industry by providing premier education, certification of inspectors, advocacy, partnerships and expert leadership in Electrical Codes and Standards development.

Partnering with Others

IAEI always welcomes the opportunity to partner with other organizations. In 2011, IAEI was invited by SolarTech to participate in a grant application funded by Department of Energy and aimed at reducing deployment times and costs for solar PV installations. The project calls for a scalable national platform to develop model codes, standards, rules and processes with a goal to remove non-hardware and process-related cost barriers through their program called Solar 3.0 – A National Platform for Process Innovation to Deliver PV.

We were successful, and IAEI has been working with the Solar 3.0 Team consisting of: Underwriters Laboratories (UL), UL Knowledge Services, Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), the VoteSolar Initiative, Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), SRA/International, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), East Bay Green Corridor (EBGC), Solar Sonoma County (SSC), along with industry partners SunPower, Mainstream Energy, Burnham Energy, OnGrid Solar, SolarNexus, and the Sierra Club.

Pilot Membership Drive

Thanks to the ad-hoc membership committee chaired by Tim McClintock, we look forward to building the strength of the organization through new and returning members. Plans are currently underway for a membership drive campaign. The committee in concert with six IAEI chapters has agreed to participate in a pilot membership drive. We are looking forward to the roll-out of this campaign and to measuring our successes. Membership starts at the grass roots, so I encourage you to seek out a potential new member, tell them about what IAEI can do for them and sign them up today.

Capital Improvement Campaign

Under the leadership of IAEI’s immediate past-president Chuck Mello, the Capital Campaign to improve the IO headquarters and to increase technological capabilities got into swing in 2011. Thanks to the many supporters who have contributed to the fund, to date we have raised $270K, a good start toward our goal of $2 million. Information and a list of our donors can be found on our website at www.iaei.org. Please contribute to this important campaign.

Long Range Planning

The Long Range Planning committee, chaired by Steve Douglas, has received board approval on seven important goals that will help move our association forward. The next step for the committee and staff is to develop objectives for each of the seven goals.

  • Facilities and Infrastructure. To provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in a timely manner to enable the performance of the IAEI Strategic Plan.
  • Partnerships. To identify and develop strategic partnerships with other industry leaders that will enable IAEI to influence issues that will advance IAEI’s mission.
  • Membership. To create a sustaining structure for IAEI to build and retain membership.
  • Education and Training. To expand educational and training program offerings within the industry while keeping up with current technology.
  • Roles and Responsibilities. To educate board and committee representatives on roles and responsibilities at all levels within the association.
  • Marketing. To promote and market the association.
  • Financial. Ensure financial stability of the association and that financial resources are available to implement the strategic plan.

IACET, Authorized Provider

International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has once again awarded IAEI the prestigious authorized provider status. IACET authorized providers are the only organizations approved to offer IACET continuing education units (CEUs). The recognition period extends for five years, and includes all programs offered or created during that time.

IAEI is proud of our education programs which trains thousands of electrical inspectors, electricians, building officials, engineers, and professionals each year in important technical skills so that our members, customers, and clients stay on the cutting edge of standards and new technology. Our renewed partnership with IACET is a demonstration of our commitment to lifelong learning and high standards for all of our programs, and we are very pleased to continue our relationship with such a prestigious organization as well as with an elite group of organizations that offer excellent continuing education and training programs.

IAEI has many topics available for seminar/event training:

  • IAEI NEC Analysis of Changes
  • Soares Grounding and Bonding
  • One- and Two-Family Dwelling Electrical Systems
  • Many other topics descriptions on www.iaei.org

In order to maintain authorized provider status, IAEI completed a rigorous renewal application process, including a review by an IACET site visitor, and successfully demonstrated adherence to the ANSI/IACET 1-2011 Standard addressing the design, development, administration, and evaluation of its programs. IAEI has pledged its continued compliance with the standard, and will again be authorized to use the IACET name and authorized provider logo on promotional course material. In addition, IAEI is linked to the IACET web site and is recognized as offering the highest quality continuing education and training programs.

We have a busy and exciting year ahead of us. I know that with the dedication and commitment of our members, board of directors, and staff we will fulfill our mission.

David Clements
David Clements
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David Clements is CEO/Executive Director of IAEI. He has been an active IAEI member at the local, section and national levels for more than twenty-five years. He served as international board member from 1995 until 2007 when he served as our 2007 international president. In 2010, he retired after twenty-nine years with Nova Scotia Power, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, as their chief electrical inspector. During his tenure as chief electrical inspector, he was a voting member on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Technical Committee on the Canadian Electrical Code, Part I, a member of the Regulatory Authority Committee and member of the Canadian Advisory Committee on Electrical Safety. He has served on NFPA Smart Grid Steering Committee, Electrical Infrastructure Training Program and is presently a member of the UL Electrical Council.