10/29/2018
A wonderful sunset greeted guests during the opening reception on board the USS Midway Museum located in beautiful San Diego Bay. As guests mixed and mingled on the flight deck, a trio of flag-waving skydivers swooped in and stole the show with the SMACNA flag being carried in by the lead SEAL team paratrooper. After the amazing display above deck, guests moved to the hanger deck one level below to enjoy food, libations, and great entertainment including movies, flight simulators, and docent-guided tours of the USS Midway. All of this, while catching up with old friends and making new ones.
On Monday, SMACNA President Jack Knox opened the convention by recognizing contractors and chapter executives for their outstanding service on behalf of SMACNA. Convention attendees then enjoyed a presentation by Navy Seal Commander Rorke Denver, the keynote speaker that included tales of battles and firsthand advice on what it takes to be a leader on and off the battlefield. The cry of “Hooyah” still echoes in our memories.
On Wednesday, President Knox turned the responsibilities and duties of the president over to Nathan Dills who became the 2018-2019 President. President Dills explained his interest in exploring what technology can do for the industry. “We must continue to monitor our competitors and we must be ready to embrace whatever new technology comes our way,” he said.
The convention ended on a high note with pop singer Andy Grammer’s memorable hits such as “Honey I’m Good” and “Keep Your Head Up.”
To share in all the wonderful memories, you can view and download images from the 75th Annual Convention photo archive by going to SMACNA’s Flickr account.
SMACNA invites everyone to mark their calendars for the 2019 Annual Convention, Oct. 20-23 in Austin, Texas, where SMACNA will celebrate the culmination of its 75th anniversary year.