May 2010 | See all articles in this issue

Conversation with a leader...Ryan Calkins

“Trade associations are the best forum for competitive collaboration.”

Ryan Calkins is the President of Statements, Inc., Distinctive Tile and Stone in Seattle, Washington, and serves as the Vice President of the Ceramic Tile Distributors Association. As Ryan points out in the interview below, he is the third generation in a family business that has long been active in its industry trade association. He’s made a point of leveraging as many association benefits as possible – from trade missions to webinars. As if he’s not busy enough, Ryan also authors a blog on the tile business, http://ciaotile.com/.

Please tell our readers about your volunteer role in the CTDA. How did you get started in the association?

I'm the third generation in our family to work in the tile business, and so my experience with CTDA goes back to childhood. I fondly recall attending a CTDA conference in Florida with my father, Steve Calkins, when he was serving on the board. I have been an active participant since 2005. I have served on the Green Building Committee, and now the Conference Planning Committee, and I'm currently the Vice President following a year as association Treasurer.

What are your other volunteer interests?

I serve on boards of two nonprofits in Seattle. Both nonprofits are involved in poverty alleviation through microfinance, which is a market-based approach to helping the poor lift themselves out of poverty.

Do you consider association participation part of your corporate culture; i.e., are other employees involved in trade/professional associations?

We strongly encourage participation in associations as a means of connecting to others in the industry and for continuing education. I also believe that trade associations are the best forum for competitive collaboration: where competitors can come together to set standards and to create universal education tools to benefit the tile industry as a whole.

You were one of the participants in CTDA’s trade mission to China in 2008. That was a big commitment of time and resources. How would you characterize that association opportunity?

I'm an avid traveler and so it didn't take a whole lot of arm twisting to get me to go. However, even on straight business merits, it was a great experience primarily because of the education I received about a huge trade partner. In addition, I forged solid relationships with distributors and agents from around the country. I can count a dozen industry leaders who I met on the trip who I keep in touch with regularly as a direct result. I'll be one of the first to sign up for the next CTDA trade mission.

How has your company benefited from your involvement?

Although we regularly conduct business with fellow CTDA members around the country, the most important benefit of membership is the education. Learning best practices from other distributors and from the expert presenters, bouncing ideas off of the veterans, even just conversations over meals about challenges and opportunities--these things only happen in the context of association events.

How have you benefitted personally?

It's a great group of people. One thing you learn pretty quickly is the quality of the CTDA membership. Maybe it's the nature of the tile distribution business, but there are no prima donnas and no one's resting on their laurels. People in our industry work hard, tell it like it is, and think long term. They are great people to count as friends.

Have you ever stopped to quantify your volunteer leadership time?

Nope. There are times when I need to make a point of tabling volunteer commitments during busy periods, but otherwise it's not an overwhelming burden to incorporate into my schedule.

How do you manage your association time commitment along with your commitment to your business and your family?

Travel is probably the most challenging aspect of participation, especially now as we (anxiously) await the arrival of our first born. However, CTDA's new social media efforts, the conference calls, and the webinars are all available without having to travel—and they are becoming an increasingly important part of the value of CTDA. I'm definitely one of those who prioritizes family over work commitments, maybe to the detriment of my business at times. But in the long run, it's definitely the right decision.

What are the challenges to your participation at the leadership level?

It is important for those considering volunteering as an officer, committee chair, or some other position to understand that it comes with opportunity costs. You will need to postpone or decline business projects because you spend time on association work. However, the short term costs result in long term gains.

Is there anything else you have learned from your association experience?

Pick one area that you would like move the association forward on. Don't try to fix every problem or address every challenge.

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