Paul Parker, executive director of SMACNA of Long Island Inc., was recognized as the Chapter Executive Legislative Advocate of the Year at the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association’s (SMACNA) annual legislative awards dinner on April 3.

“Paul was a key player in persuading the New York State Legislature to declare Nov. 10 as the first New York State Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Day,” explained John Ilten, chairman of SMACNA’s Legislative Committee. “Working with his contractor members and other New York chapters, Paul guided the IAQ Day events as they became vehicles enabling the New York chapters to publicize indoor air quality issues statewide and heighten the public’s awareness for the issue.”

According to Ilten, Parker has coordinated numerous statewide activities emphasizing the roles that construction and maintenance of buildings play in achieving indoor air quality.

Prior to the IAQ Day promotion, Parker and his contractors held a legislative strategy session with representatives from SMACNA chapters statewide, the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association (SMWIA) state organization, the lobbyist of the New York state American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), SMACNA’s national legislative director, SMWIA’s national legislative director and the International Training Institute.

As a result of those efforts, SMWIA-NYS agreed to adopt New York IAQ Day as part of its legislative agenda and to request the New York State AFL-CIO to adopt the proposal for its legislative agenda, which it subsequently did.

To qualify for Chapter Executive Legislative Advocate of the Year, candidates must actively lead in both political and legislative chapter affairs, maintain effective contacts with local, state and national leaders, and motivate members to act on behalf of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Political Action Committee and SMACNA through fund raising and financial support.

For more information, call SMACNA at 703/803-2980.

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