- Dynamic Standards. The board received an update on the CDS rollout and the communications program CSI has been building to address member concerns. We discussed what we are hearing from members, what is working, what needs to improve, and what comes next. The concerns being raised are real and the board is not dismissing them. We are also seeing meaningful engagement and market traction from across the AECO industry, and I think that full picture deserves to reach more members.
- AI and digital standards. We discussed how CSI’s standards and their delivery must continue evolving to function inside the digital and AI-assisted tools the industry is already using. Keeping MasterFormat, UniFormat, and OmniClass authoritative and useful requires this work. This work is also about CSI's place in the industry and ensuring we remain a vital voice as the profession evolves, not a legacy resource firms work around or ignore.
- Governance. We discussed the nominations process and the concerns members have raised about how candidates reach the ballot. The Governance Committee will be reviewing this, and the board is committed to a process that is transparent and reflects the full range of the membership.
- Organizational health and member value. We reviewed the state of CSI’s membership, chapter relationships, and the investments being made to strengthen what it means to belong to this organization. We are also continuing to develop tools and resources to help chapters do what they do best: directly engage with members and build relationships. More on that in the detailed recap to follow.
- Communications. The board endorsed the communications strategy: a plan built around clear objectives, a shared messaging foundation, and a commitment to proactive communication with members.
What Comes Next
The board's discussions this weekend organized around four priorities that will shape the year ahead: Trust, Value, Communication, and the Future. A more detailed recap walking through each of those will follow in the coming days and will give members a fuller picture of where things stand and what the board has committed to.
In the meantime, I want to be clear about the posture of this board going forward: we will communicate more proactively, we will hear from more members directly, and we will be transparent about where CSI is, including where we have work to do. As your board chair, I will be putting out more frequent communications to the membership. That means going beyond CSI-controlled channels. We are committed to getting accurate information into the hands of chapters and regions so they can share it through their own networks, and communicating with members where they are.
I am grateful to William for his leadership and for the foundation he leaves behind. His platform — building up our people, our projects, and our profession — will continue to guide this board’s work.
If you have questions or want to share something directly with the board, please reach out.
Jarrod Mann, P.E., FCSI, CCCA, CDT
Incoming Board Chair, CSI