In 2013, the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers (NAAMM) celebrated its 75thAnniversary. For 75 years, NAAMM’s main focus has been to develop technical information on metal products for building construction, promote the use of NAAMM technical resources, NAAMM member firms and their products, and provide a forum for members to learn from each other.
NAAMM is a unique group comprised of six divisions that represent a wide variety of architectural metal products for building construction. The divisions are: Architectural Metal Products (miscellaneous ornamental metal products for building construction, metal stairs, railing systems and flagpoles), Detention Equipment Manufacturers Association, Expanded Metal Lath Association, Expanded Metal Manufacturers Association, Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association (hollow metal doors and frames) and Metal Bar Grating division.
NAAMM meets twice a year and this spring, at NAAMM’s Annual Meeting in San Antonio, Texas NAAMM members had the opportunity to reminisce about their achievements in the industry and friendships made over the years. David Lentsch3, of Twin City Wire, was the Master of Ceremonies and shared stories about NAAMM. David’s father, the late Eugene Lentsch, joined NAAMM over 50 years ago.
James A. Stapleton, of Habersham Metal Products, has been a member of NAAMM since 1972 and currently serves on the HMMA Executive Committee, HMMA Technical Committee, NAAMM Board of Directors and chairs the HMMA Joint Test Committee. Mr. Stapleton has always been an active member of the association because he believes that participation in NAAMM is a great way to give back to the industries and professions that we all serve. Stapleton shared once at an HMMA Technical Committee dinner, “One of my professors at Georgia Tech (circa 1967) occasionally emphasized this to his classes. Being a recent immigrant from central Europe, he said during one of our classes, ‘One day you will be professionals … and as such, you must give back to your profession. You must do voluntary research. You must write in the trade journals. You must give back also because you have a wonderful country here …’ (Note the professor’s word ‘must’ instead of
‘should’) Many of us took his words to heart as we moved forward in our careers. My hat’s off to all of those in NAAMM who make the meetings; go to the expense and effort to participate; and in general ‘give back’ to our industries. Every Fall and Spring, conference accommodations are arranged by our hard working staff, and meeting rooms are filled with members who have the desire give back and make a difference. Organizations like NAAMM are a great conduit for the advancement of society and technology, so time and effort spent by their members are definitely worthwhile.
Also, the networking through NAAMM opens up many opportunities for member companies to grow into new technologies and expand into new markets that might otherwise be out of their reach or overlooked. My company has greatly benefited from these dynamics. We are very appreciative of these opportunities that are a result of our involvement in NAAMM, and we look forward to more of the same in the future.”
In addition through his many years of involvement Stapleton has developed lifelong friendships. He has often commented, “Janis
[Stapleton’s wife] and I have been very fortunate to have met and become great friends with several NAAMM members and their families from all over the country and world. These folks are not only dedicated NAAMM members, but are also great people who are passionate, caring and are great fun to be with. We stay in close touch with many of them and their families, and we are continually thankful for those friendships.”
NAAMM’s next meeting will be April 25-27, 2014 at the Hilton Marco Island Resort & Spa in Marco Island, Florida. For more information on NAAMM and its members, go to https://www.naamm.org.
Since 1938, NAAMM has represented a wide variety of architectural metal products for building construction. The divisions are: Architectural Metal Products (AMP), Detention Equipment Manufacturers Association (DEMA), Expanded Metal Lath Association (EMLA), Expanded Metal Manufacturers Association (EMMA), Hollow Metal Manufacturers Association (HMMA), and Metal Bar Grating (MBG).
