TIA TR-42 subcommittee elections bring new names to the fore

While posting to our Web site the news about the recent election of new chairs and vice-chairs for TR-42 and several of its subcommittees, I was reminded of a conversation I had several years ago with an executive of the training organization BICSI.

It was not long after BICSI had launched its OSP (Outside Plant) Specialist designation and our discussion focused on the reasons for creating it. A primary motivator was that for the most part, expertise in OSP design and construction resided with individuals whose experience dated back to the days of Ma Bell. Many of these individuals were approaching retirement; some had already retired. And there really was no formal (and maybe no informal) plan for passing their knowledge along to a next generation of professionals to carry out such important network design work for years--decades--to come.

The formal OSP Specialist program has succeeded in educating that new generation of professionals.

Why did the TIA news remind me of the OSP specialty? From a quick glance at the names of those who have been elected chairs and vice chairs of TIA TR-42 subcommittees, it looks like the TIA is in the process of bringing along a next generation of leaders in the creation of cabling standards. Sure, there are some familiar names in the group; but some new names have shown up as well.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I have never been to a TIA TR-42 committee or subcommittee meeting. I really don't know how these elections work. It could be like some of the committees I've been on, in which the person who misses a meeting or steps into the rest room at the wrong time gets elected to "spearhead" an onerous effort. Or it's a case of, "Volunteers step forward," and everyone but an inexperienced few step backward. I can't say for sure. But I like to think that several individuals are in leadership roles today because they chose to truly drive the cabling industry forward through their efforts at standards creation.

(Note: The links that follow go to LinkedIn profiles. If you're not on LinkedIn and can't view them, well shame on you! Join LinkedIn. And as soon as you do, join the Cabling Installation & Maintenance Group, for goodness' sake.)

So I'm sending kudos to newly elected Jamie Silva, vice-chair of TR-42.4; Mike Kinard, chair of TR-42.12; Brett Lane, TR-42.12's vice chair; and David Fisher, chair of TR-42.13.

More disclosure: Let me know if I've blown it on this one and some of these folks have been long-time committee/subcommittee leaders. I look at TIA meeting minutes frequently and don't remember these individuals as previous committee/subcommittee chairs. But sometimes I do just get things wrong.

Not long ago I heaped praise on a familiar name in the standards scene, Jonathan Jew, because I view his volunteer efforts as both significant and selfless. I know that the individuals I've named today have the backing of their employers for their standards-creation activities. I also understand that having a seat at the table when these standards are created does have its advantages. But just like those who have earned the OSP Specialist designation have helped their long-term career prospects by putting in such effort, those who recently stepped into leadership roles within TR-42 will no doubt find that any professional advantage they gain by doing so might best be described as sweat equity.

Congratulations and best of luck to the new leaders within TR-42. Also, of course, to those for whom such leadership is not entirely new.