The PEARL Board of Directors held an impactful meeting on Friday, December 1, marking a significant day of reflection and forward planning. As we wrap up a remarkable 2023, our sights are firmly set on ensuring an even more successful 2024.
A Year in Review: Committee Achievements of 2023
Conference Planning Committee: The highlight of the year was the annual conference in Portland, which saw impressive participation with 133 attendees, 14 sponsors, 17 exhibitors, and a notable number of 28 technicians taking exams.
Standards Committee: In collaboration with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the committee has made strides in updating the ANSI/PEARL Electrical Equipment Reconditioning Standard, reinforcing our commitment to maintaining high-quality standards.
Marketing and Membership Committee: This year marked the successful launch of the PEARL Accredited Company (PAC) program. The committee also developed and disseminated boilerplate specification language to PAC members and welcomed two new members – Brilliant and Power Engineering Services.
Employee Development Committee: A notable achievement was the launch of the Level 3 certification and the introduction of the “Train. Test. Certify.” format, underscoring our dedication to employee development and certification.
Decisions and Directions for 2024
The Board unanimously agreed on critical initiatives for the upcoming year:
New Member Requirements: Starting in 2024, new members will need to have one PEARL Certified Technician before transitioning from provisional to PEARL Accredited Company status. Additionally, a $500 charge will be added to the first-year membership dues, earmarked specifically for Level 1 training.
Existing Member Compliance: Existing PEARL Accredited Companies (both dealer and service) will have until December 31, 2024, to ensure they have at least one PEARL Certified Technician on staff.
Special Acknowledgment and New Board Appointments
Thank you Kristen Habeeb, North American Switchgear, for leading the Former Presidents Project. This initiative aims to harness the wisdom and experience of our past presidents for the future betterment of PEARL and to maintain our organization’s historical records.
We are also excited to announce new appointments to our Board:
Vice President: Paul Grein, Circuit Breaker Sales
Secretary: Paul Jesson, Potomac Testing
As we move into 2024, PEARL remains dedicated to fostering growth, setting high standards, and ensuring the continual development of our members and the industry at large. Here’s to a year of achievements and milestones!