From the President of INCE-USA (Dec 2019)

President’s Newsletter—November 10, 2019

Per INCE-USA annual tradition, the following represents the president’s synopsis of the year’s most noteworthy accomplishments and events. In August, the 2019 National Conference on Noise Control Engineering (NOISE-CON 2019) was cohosted by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering USA and the Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation-Related Noise and Vibration (ADC40). The conference was attended by 454 participants. As part of the technical program, 237 technical papers were presented across four parallel sessions. An exposition was held during the technical program, beginning with a reception on Monday evening. A demonstration theater operated in the exposition area, where the latest in noise control products were presented. Over 50 companies participated in the conference exhibition.

Congratulations are extended to the conference organizing committee. Bryce Gardner and Chad Musser served as the conference cochairs; Judy Rochat served as the conference vice chair. positions of conference technical chair and technical vice chair were held by Yong-Joe Kim and Andrew Barnard, respectively. Serving as proceedings editors were Gordon Ebbitt and Sarah McGuire. Dana Lodico served as the student volunteer coordinator. The exposition manager was Regina Young. The conference secretariat was provided by Virtual, Inc.

INCE-USA membership remained stable this year at over 900 members, albeit with some effort spent collecting late dues. In response, please consider the exceptional value provided by INCE-USA membership by renewing your membership promptly. The success of the INCE-USA is clearly attributed to its members. Our appreciation is thus extended to Steve Sorensen, vice president of membership.

Our financial position continues to be strong. The institute currently enjoys the financial position of over US$1.4 million in assets and almost US$1 million in equity. The noise control engineering courses (path to Board Certification) have garnered more interest than anyone expected, which speaks well for our future. As a consequence of opening Board Certification to nonmembers, INCE-USA has opened a new and attractive path to membership. Please join me in also thanking Deane Jaeger, treasurer, and Paul Burge, vice president of Board Certification.

Time goes on, and leadership evolves. It is appropriate to welcome recent and new leaders into their respective roles. We look forward to Mike Bahtiarian stepping into the position as president next year. Randy Rozema has accepted the position of secretary. Judy Rochat is now serving as vice president of technical activities. Dana Lodico is the new vice president of honors and awards. Hether Fedullo is serving as the new vice president of conferences. Also, the INCE-USA welcomes John Lessard as the new INCE-USA business associate from Virtual, Inc. We look forward to continued success under John’s tutelage. If I have missed anyone, please let me treat you to an order of raw oysters on Bourbon Street.

The success achieved this year for the INCE-USA was due to thousands of voluntary hours from its dedicated officers and directors, the maturing of the INCE-USA and IBO relationship, and the enthusiasm of its membership in general. The names of the contributors are too numerous to list here. Rather, I just ask that we do it again in 2020, and I look forward to welcoming you to NOISE-CON 2020 in New Orleans.

Steve Marshall
INCE-USA President