Strength Through Community and Collaboration

In the last issue, I reflected on the importance of agility in today’s business environment. The events of the first months of 2025 — from rapid regulatory changes to shifting legislative & executive office priorities — have only reinforced that need. Yet as I’ve traveled and met with VMA members this year, another essential truth has become clear: community, collaboration, and strong networks are equally vital to long-term success.

At VMA, we strive to convene the right people, lead critical conversations and deliver the insights and resources our members need to thrive. Our goal is to help companies manage today’s challenges and ensure they are prepared to seize tomorrow’s opportunities. While that may seem lofty, I believe that our members, together, can solve larger, more complex challenges than any one company could tackle alone, and that VMA can be a true strategic partner in that journey.

We saw this firsthand at the recent Energy Summit held alongside our Valve Forum. Every attendee left with a renewed sense of the magnitude of energy demand in the years ahead. While many of us know this instinctively, the data and insights shared by our speakers underscored the urgency — and the opportunity. Valves are essential at every stage of the energy landscape: production, storage and distribution. Convening discussions around these shifts ensures our members are positioned to meet the evolving needs of the market.

Another example of collective impact is VMA’s advocacy work around potential PFAS bans. By partnering with larger coalitions, we’ve helped educate policymakers on the critical role of fluoropolymers in industrial applications. In April, New Mexico passed broad PFAS legislation — but with important carveouts for key sectors and an exemption for fluoropolymers. It’s a significant win and a model we hope other states will follow.

Additionally, several VMA Board of Directors’ members recently traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with congressional offices, advocating for tax reforms, trade consistency and a PFAS definition excluding fluoropolymers. Doing this together, we demonstrate that these issues affect the entire industry, not just select companies or sectors. Educating policymakers about the valve industry's essential role across energy, oil and gas, water, food, construction, chemicals and more is central to VMA’s mission.

Finally, we continue to help members navigate trade and tariff issues, providing regular updates, analyses, and webinars to help companies understand evolving policies and their implications. By providing accessible and expert information on the trade policy, it provides more time for employees to understand and craft responses to the tariffs in a way that makes the most sense for their business and company.

By working together, we are raising the profile of the industrial valve industry, strengthening our business environment and providing foresight on emerging trends. This enables our members to focus on what they do best: innovating, serving customers and building resilient businesses.

I encourage you to be part of this journey. Stay engaged with VMA’s programs and share your insights with us. Whether by attending events, joining committees, or reaching out to me, your involvement strengthens our community. Together, we will navigate the road ahead and ensure a vibrant, innovative future for the valve industry. 

Please connect with me to learn more!