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03/01/2006
Chairman’s Message
This will be my final entry under the Chairman’s Message heading. By the time you read this a new Chairman of the Board will have been named and I will have officially retired from the Board. The past eleven years have been very rewarding for me. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Association and industry in this capacity.
NATE came onto the scene in 1995 when the cellular industry was just starting to get its legs, but before PCS and HDTV got their start. At that time there was considerable growth occurring in new tower construction and even more yet to come. But it was also a time of uncertainty. We were a unique and often overlooked industry and to a large extent this was hurting us with federal regulators and with our customers.
There are many things that NATE has done to make a positive impact since its inception eleven years ago, but the one that comes to the forefront in my mind is safety. As I contemplated the Association’s achievements the other day I thought of two things NATE has done that have probably made the biggest impact for the good of the industry.
Culture of Safety
When NATE began, much of the industry was still using tree-trimmer belts, friction hoists and operating without formal regard for safety. Safety in the field often came down to common sense, good judgment and past experience. If any of these were lacking, problems occurred. Comprehensive written safety programs were few and far between and OSHA was somebody you tried your best to avoid.
I believe that NATE, through its mission and campaign of awareness, raised the bar on safety in the industry through education, safety material promulgation and efforts with federal and state regulators. Over the course of time a culture of safety in the tower industry has been the result.
Because of the movement that NATE started, soon vendors responded by adapting new products such as full body harnesses designed specifically for tower climbers. Hydraulic hoist manufactures began designing and building products just for our industry; customers began to look at us differently and seemed more aware of our needs; and even the tower manufactures took note of the climbers and new standards have since been set for the way towers are built with the climber in mind.
Best Tower Companies in the Industry
The second thing that comes to mind that would not have occurred without NATE is the coming together of the best tower companies in the industry. Tower company owners tended to be fiercely independent before NATE and would rather fight than join each other in common goals. The concept of bringing this group together was unheard of and there was even considerable concern voiced by the original organizers if it would be safe to hold that first meeting in Dallas. But reason prevailed and even the fiercely independent quickly determined that by coming together mutual benefit could be achieved. This unified voice of many independents working together for common goals has been one of NATE’s greatest successes.
There are of course many other successes -- too many to mention in this brief article. Suffice it to say that in my view NATE has done remarkably well given its significant challenges and obstacles. I feel I have played only a small part in a movement that was destined to happen, but it’s been fun being involved.
In departing, I would like to offer my thanks to each of you reading this article for your support of me and of NATE over the years. I will stay involved in the coming years; but I look forward to the leadership of a new chairman steering NATE into the future. It’s hard to thank everybody that comes to mind by name but I’ll mention a few.
Bill Carlson of Tower Systems in Watertown, South Dakota -- thank you for calling that first meeting and seeing that NATE became a reality.
Kevin Hayden of Hayden Tower Services in Topeka, Kansas -- thank you for your visionary leadership as NATE’s first Chairman of the Board during those critical first years.
Don Doty of Doty-Moore Tower in Cedar Hill, Texas -- thank you for championing our causes before OSHA and many other regulatory bodies and seeing that NATE’s voice was heard and our interests represented.
Terry Sharp of Grant Tower in Grant, Michigan -- thank you for your diligence, consistency and broad perspective as one of the original and one of the longest standing Board Members.
Patrick Howey, NATE Executive Director -- thank you for stepping in at a critical time and showing remarkable leadership and focus.
NATE Administrative Staff -- thank you for throwing yourself into the organization and making it more than just a job but making us part of your family.
Board of Directors and Committees -- thank you for giving large amounts of your time and resources with little reward but the self satisfaction in a job well done.
Vendor members -- thank you for seeing the benefit in being a part of NATE and designing the products and services we purchase with our needs in mind.
Voting members -- thank you for believing in NATE and helping it to grow and flourish.
It has been my honor to serve as NATE’s Chairman.
Very sincerely yours,
Craig M. Snyder
Past Chairman
Craig Snyder is the President and Founder of Sioux Falls Tower & Communications of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Craig Snyder
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