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A Message From the President: Believe in Our Mission, Work Together, Accomplish Greater Things.

Patrick Lau

Posted on August 21, 2020

Hello everyone. 

As I write this, we have just completed Safer Buildings Coalition’s Annual Members’ Meeting.  Alas, we weren’t able to see each other in person this time around, but I really enjoyed spending time with all of you virtually.  

With our big event in the books, and my term as SBC Board President coming to an end, I’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of SBC’s accomplishments this past year, as well as some of the tasks, challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. 

It’s been a very busy 2020 for us at the Safer Buildings Coalition. At the beginning of the year, the Board set forth several key objectives:

  • Find ways to keep our members engaged
  • Grow our community in the public safety space 
  • Improve industry competency

This led us to create a new SBC work group – the Public Safety Technology Work Group. We formed this as a means of engaging FCC license holders and other stakeholders in the in-building network. The work group focuses on technical needs, including how to address in-building wireless dead zones while protecting mission-critical radio systems through proper RF system design and operation and FCC compliance. Most recently, we introduced another SBC work group – our 5th. Chaired by Safe-Fi CEO Laurie Caruso, the Community Affairs Work Group will work to:

  • Develop ways to inspire and harness the power of partnerships between Communities and Industry to serve those in need.
  • Build safer buildings, safer communities, and a safer connected world.
  • Build and nurture relationships with other “like-minded” organizations.

In short: to “Do Well While Doing Good.”

Our main goal as an organization is to provide value for our members. With that in mind, I would like to emphasize just how unique SBC is. Quite simply, the Safer Buildings Coalition is the ONLY non-profit organization focused on advancing policies, ideas and technologies for comprehensive in-building communications for Public Safety and the people they serve.

In order to accomplish these objectives and advance our mission, it’s important that we make ourselves relevant in the wireless industry. When there’s a policy change and new code being proposed, we want to have a seat at the table, and have our voice be heard. In the last few weeks we have announced several strategic organization partnerships, including NPSTC and CBRS Alliance. These partnerships give us a broader platform to promote our mission, help us attract more stakeholders and work to make public safety communications a mainstream issue.

Our work requires big commitment and extraordinary leadership. And I am very pleased to say that within the Safer Buildings Coalition we have all of the above. Indeed, I want to express my gratitude to the SBC Executive Team - John Foley, Managing Director; Chief Purdue, Executive Director; Seth Buechley, Founder of SBC, as well as our staff and Board Members and leaders of our five work groups. You all work tirelessly to continue building our organization and advancing our mission to where we are today. Most importantly I want to thank you – SBC members and member companies – for believing in us and for your support. We couldn’t do this without you. 

Finally, as I alluded to above, we just concluded an SBC Board election. I would like to congratulate Eric Toenjes from Graybar as our incoming President and welcome the new Board. As I will transition to the role of Immediate Past President, I look forward to working with the new Board and continue my service. As long as we believe in our mission and work together, we can accomplish greater things.

Thank you!

Patrick Lau
President
Safer Buildings Coalition