ForConstructionPros.com

Effective last December, the North American Power Sweeping Association (NAPSA) has joined forces with Association Headquarters Inc., a 30-year-old association management company in Mount Laurel, NJ, to handle the day-to-day administrative responsibilities of NAPSA.

The decision by NAPSA follows a long-range strategic planning meeting NAPSA's board held in Philadelphia last August. "Fifteen companies stopped what they were doing, paid for everything on their own dime, and spent three days to come together to decide what to do to help move NAPSA and the contract sweeping industry forward," says Carl Barton, Aardvark Sweeping and incoming NAPSA president. "That was very impressive to me."

"Our organizational and business needs have grown along with our membership," said Dale McCaskill, Southco Sweeping & Maintenance and current NAPSA president. "AH has a proven track record helping grow organizations, while at the same time saving money and time through the use of their professional staff. Add to that membership growth, help providing additional services, and benefits for our members and you have all the ingredients for success."

NAPSA had undergone a number of management changes, including a stint where, as Contract Sweepers Institute (CSI), it was under the umbrella of the American Public Works Association (APWA). But the sweeping association experienced its greatest growth and made its greatest advances after members decided in 2000 CSI needed to strike out on its own. Since then it has been run basically by volunteers, and what started with 25 members has grown to more than 350 with broad support from manufacturers and suppliers.

Barton, who will assume the NAPSA presidency at National Pavement Expo, said the board has been discussing some of the obstacles to growth for a volunteer organization and met in August to determine how best to handle them.