Columns

Milwaukee SPE President: Pete Kambouris 2009/2010

March 2010
I am sure somewhere in the past I or some other Presidents have written about similar experiences.

As we push for potential SPE members and Board members, I am constantly being asked what value there is in joining the SPE. We have discussed “value” as we see it as SPE board members various times in this newsletter, in national’s website and at the podium of our own technical meetings.

Here is value as seen through my eyes.
I have been a member of SPE since 2002. Prior to even becoming a member of SPE, I was asked to sit on the Board as an AD HOC member. I was rather reluctant to do so, but I felt this could be a good sales move on my part. After a year of AD HOC I started feeling a bit more comfortable in my role as the “young” guy on the Board and moved into the House position. This is a great position because it enables you to meet every meeting attendee and get to know who they are and what they do. After the end of that year I had the great fortune of not paying attention at a meeting and being nominated for the Presidents seat! Oh man, now what? How was I going to pull this off? I’ve never ran a meeting. I’ve never had to stand up in a crowded room full of industry peers and run a technical meeting. How was a 25 year old green sales man going to fit in with Board members who for the most part have been in the industry for as long as I’ve been alive?

Well, I realized it was probably the easiest thing I have ever done. And I give all the credit to the people who sat and are currently sitting on the board. Before I turn this into a brown nosing column, let me explain.

By joining SPE and the Board, I have been exposed to an organization which consists of members with a plethora of knowledge. I have plenty of examples of how this knowledge has benefitted me, but I will give two for the interest of saving space. First, because of my involvement on the Board, I was able to deliver a resin to a molder in Greece that he had a hard time tracking down. He saved a customer and gained an order because of my help.

Second, while in Juarez Mexico on an on-site texture repair I was asked by the molder why a certain defect kept showing up on the injection molded part. I am not a molder nor do I have a large amount of knowledge in the field. But I knew of a board member who did and I promptly snuck out of the building and called him. My customer was extremely pleased with me for pointing him in the right direction. I now have a customer who relies on me and trusts that I will help him out wherever I can.

Value doesn’t always have to be a cutting edge presentation from a guest speaker. Value is in the friendships and acquaintances made while working alongside other SPE members. Has my 8 years with SPE and on the Board been worth my yearly dues, YES. I not only educated myself in my industry, but I also formed strong bonds with many of my fellow SPE members. For a young professional in our industry, the SPE is the single greatest resource at your disposal. It may take a while to come to this realization, but in the end you look back and say it was well worth the investment.

Pete Kambouris
SPE Milwaukee Chapter President
pkambouris@wi-engraving.com