Once again, I find myself amazed at the way these schools bring our industry together, and at the responses from all that are involved.
The Operator Installer School this year had 60 attendees, working in 8 teams throughout the week. The enthusiasm that you see when watching these teams working together to attack their projects throughout the week is inspiring! Strangers on Sunday night, these teams build a comradery that lasts well after the school completes.
The Gate System Designer school, a 2-day program running Mon – Tues of the week, also was a big success. The students worked through their design projects and each had meaningful, positive comments at their graduation dinner on Tuesday.
The AFA University program, as a whole, is something that cannot accurately be described or defined. It brings together people from all parts of our industry, and develops into an incredible learning environment. People working together, study groups in the hotel lobby at night, everyone encouraging others to push themselves. Attendees from around the country, from companies large and small, join together into a larger community. The professionalism that the instructors and students shared was easy to see. One comment I overheard at graduation from a student was, “I came here with a job, I’m leaving with a Profession”!
Every year I come away proud to be part of this event, and thinking of ways to make it even better next year!