Where We’re At
I was disappointed to not have a Conference & Expo this year to enjoy face-to-face interaction with all of you, but I didn’t want to miss a chance to provide a bit on the state of NFPA, especially given this momentous year as we recognize our 125th anniversary.
Success can be measured in our more than 300 codes and standards that enhance safety; in our research that informs code development; in our public education programs that teach young and old how to keep themselves and their families safe; and in our advocacy work that brings voice and action to critical safety issues.
While loss has been reduced, our focus is on what is in front of us. We still face many threats, but we also have many responses to help us solve today’s challenges.
We are accelerating the delivery of digital learning by expanding our offerings to include comprehensive online learning paths that help people prepare for our most popular NFPA certifications. We continue to leverage the latest digital training design methods to create highly engaging and impactful learning experiences.
We have expanded our presence in Latin America and in the Middle East/North Africa. We have increased our Spanish-
language resources to include current-cycle documents like NFPA 101 and NFPA 70E. We will publish the 2021 edition of NFPA 101 in Arabic later this year.
Our revamped global Xchange community is helping all of you build relationships and share insights and best practices with peers around the world.
This year we launched Outthink Wildfire™, a major initiative to drive policy action to end the destruction of communities from wildfire in the next 30 years.
As part of our transformation in the way we deliver—and how you access and use—our codes and standards, last fall we launched NFPA LiNK™, an on-demand platform offering intuitive, seamless, code-based information.
A few years ago, I said that in order to have greater impact we needed to be more global, more digital, and more connected. These are just some of the ways we are fulfilling that promise. The challenges that confront us may be evolving, but the value of working together remains a constant. You are part of our past and we are counting on you to be with us in the future.
Happy 125th anniversary to all of us.
JIM PAULEY is president and CEO of NFPA.