A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT:
IAS President's Corner

The summer of 2014 has delivered some exciting changes to IAS. The recent move to our new offices in Brea, Calif., has brought us modern facilities and upgraded technology. This summer, IAS also created two brand new committees to operate under the direction of our Board of Directors. The Finance Committee is tasked with the annual review and approval of the IAS budget. The Business and Strategic Planning Committee is looking to the future on how IAS can manage its growth while continuing to meet the needs of its existing and new customers at home and abroad.

Even though we're glad to be in our new surroundings, it felt bittersweet to say goodbye to our Whittier office, which was the home of so many wonderful memories and accomplishments. Under our predecessor organization, the International Conference of Building Officials, we operated an approval program for testing laboratories and inspection bodies from the late 1950's. The term accreditation was first used in 1975 when the organization issued credentials, under formal accreditation processes, to a structural testing laboratory in California. Since then, IAS has blossomed into an internationally recognized accreditation body operating in more than 30 countries around the world. It is therefore appropriate to salute the many members of the original IAS staff, our current staff and the numerous volunteers who have contributed to our success. At the time of penning this note, our staff is working very hard to manage several high-priority activities such as settling into our new office; preparing for the Global Forum and the IAS Board of Directors meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; participating in the ILAC/IAF annual meetings in Vancouver, Canada; and preparing for the Pacific Accreditation Cooperation evaluation of IAS in December. It is their drive and attention to detail that continues to make IAS a success.

Please let me take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support and to wish you a very pleasant start to the fall season.



Chuck Ramani, PE, CBO
IAS President