WWEMA Window: Learning From The Best

By Brian L Harrell, Financial Controller, Hydro International

There are many aspects of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) that make it an attractive association that businesses in the water industry should want to join.  The association has over 100 years of experience, profound knowledge on everything water, direct lines of communication to the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and many other federal and state organizations, networking with some of the biggest companies in the industry, and so much more.  But there are some aspects about WWEMA that don’t get much publicity that I believe add tremendous value.  One of these is the Finance & Contracts Administration Council.

Once a year, WWEMA puts together a two-day seminar in Indianapolis on the “hot topics” of the moment.  As with the Washington Forum and the Annual Meeting, the content of this seminar is unsurpassed.  Quality speakers who are experts in their field are invited to share their knowledge and insights.  Oftentimes, WWEMA members will participate in the program, offering first-hand experience on dealing with such important matters as contracts negotiations, risk management, bonding, insurance, international trade, etc.  I believe these meetings are essential for our industry’s controllers and accounting/finance managers, risk managers, credit managers, contract administrators, and sales personnel.  The knowledge gained is well worth the time and investment.

Each year’s program is based on input from the members on what needs and concerns they face in their daily operations.  This year’s meeting theme was “The Buck Stops Here!  Managing Contracts; Protecting The Bottom Line.”  Topics included:  Uniform Commercial Code – A Risky Proposition; The ABC’s of T&C’s; Start-up, Acceptance and Warranty; Anticorruption and Bribery – Getting Into The Acts; International Contracts: Top Ten Issues; and Addressing Common Insurance Principles.  Our guest speakers were:  Mark Cradley – Partner, Litigation, Barnes & Thornburg; Jim Brown – General Counsel, Degremont Technologies North America; Mike Sollar – Business Development Director, Bowen Engineering; Charles Surasky – Partner, Smith Currie & Hancock LLP; Jason Barclay & Larry Mackey – Partners, White Collar Criminal Practice Group, Barnes & Thornburg; John Ellison – Partner, Reed Smith; Mike Kaplan – Financial Director, Severn Trent Water Purification; and Steve Rothenberg – Contracts Leader, Parkson Corporation.

Last year’s meeting theme was “Managing Risk – Challenges Facing the Water & Wastewater Equipment Industry.”  Topics included:  ConcensusDocs; Contract Management Practices; Management of Risk; Credit and Export Risk; and EJCDC – The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.  Our main speakers included:  Jim Brown – General Council, Degremont Technologies North America; Susan Button – Contracts Manager, ITT Water and Wastewater; David Hershey – Risk Manager, Lexa International; and Marcia Reuben – Director of Contracts and Risk Management, Severn Trent Services.  Uniquely enough, WWEMA was invited to voice its opinions, objections, and suggestions when the EJCDC decided to rewrite its family of procurement contract documents.  After almost a two-year process, we were able to make many new improvements to the document that worked in the favor of manufacturers.

WWEMA is an association that cares about all aspects of its members’ operations.  If there is a need, WWEMA strives to fill it.  The Finance & Contracts Administration Council is a perfect example of that.  Between meetings, council members draw upon each other for advice on a variety of challenges they encounter in their daily operations.  If your company is struggling with the types of issues mentioned above, then joining WWEMA would be your best investment.