Happy 30th, FSSA!

It's always interesting to find that important organizations we kind of take for granted today haven't always been around. Such is the case of the Fire Suppression Systems Association, a nonprofit trade group founded 30 years ago. Its annual four-day forum is coming up in about a month—sounds like it will be a valuable educational event. Here's more from a Jan. 23 FSSA news release:

Baltimore, MD. - The Fire Suppression Systems Association (FSSA) today announced it will host its 2012 Annual Forum February 25 - 28, 2012 in Rancho Mirage, CA. The 2012 Annual Forum marks FSSA's 30th Anniversary as a fire suppression industry leader.

Founded in 1982, FSSA has spent the last 30 years becoming leading experts in the field of high level fire protection. The not-for-profit organization is made up of manufacturers, suppliers, and designer-installers working together to share ideas and strategies for the benefit of the fire suppression systems industry and employing existing and new technologies to safeguard people, high-value assets and the environment.

The 2012 Annual Forum will bring together designers, installers, manufacturers and suppliers of fire protection services for technical and educational sessions including discussions on topics such as fire protection challenges in data centers, maximizing productivity on the road and liability issues. The Forum will also feature keynote speaker Alan Beaulieu, as well as forums providing valuable industry updates and news.

Alan Beaulieu is one of the country's most informed economists, consulting with companies throughout the U.S. and internationally on how to predict, plan and increase profits based on business cycle trends. Beaulieu is president of the Institute for Trend Research, as well as a Senior Economic Advisor to the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and the Chief Economist for Heating Air-conditioning & Refrigeration Distributors International.

“We are thrilled to be celebrating thirty years in the industry and especially happy it comes at a time when we can celebrate with colleagues at our Annual Forum,” said Larry Grodsky, FSSA President. “FSSA has spent the last thirty years building on strategies and creating new technologies for fire protection. What better time to honor those accomplishments than at a conference where we can come together and share ideas, best practices and new trends in the industry.”

The 2012 Annual Forum will also feature a teaser of FSSA's newly redesigned website which will be launched later this spring. For more information on the 2012 Annual Forum or to register, visit: www.fssa.net.