Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/215553
Industry Insights One Member's Fight to Do Design Work M Fred Clark, President/CEO Clark Food Service Equipment fclark@clarkinc.biz 6 FEDA News & Views any of you are aware of the on July 1, 2014. fight against interior designers' As a dealer community, we need efforts to pass legislation that to make sure we're aware of what is would prohibit our industry's trained going on in our states' legislatures and professionals from designing com- reach out to our elected officials when mercial kitchens and dining facilities. a bill comes up that could negatively We've encountered their efforts here impact our profession. Looking at simiin Pennsylvania during the 2009/2010 lar bills from the past, it appears that session with House Bill 1521, which each proposal gets watered down a bit. would have had the same negative con- Nonetheless, we should stay informed sequences to our profesand never lose sight of how sionals and industry as bills Our legislators it could affect our industry. need to see in other states. One of the keys is to Sections of the bill stated that these bills make sure our lawmakers that interior design services understand what we do, could only be performed don't solve any and how we go about it. by registered design profes- problems or Our specialized knowledge sionals, and it went on to benefit any party, about food safety codes describe what constituted and proper kitchen design "services." What struck me other than the operations actually makes is that none of the services select few who us more qualified to design described in the bill were want them passed. commercial kitchens than radically different than most interior designers. what we, as foodservice equipment The potential negative consequences designers, already do when we design actually outweigh the benefits that bills a commercial foodservice facility. So as like these claim to bring. with other similar bills, it seems that the Our legislators need to see that these real motivation behind proposed legisla- bills don't solve any problems or benefit tion like this rests with a handful of inte- any party, other than the select few rior designers who are trying to limit who want them passed. Patti Morrow their competition through legislation. and her team at the IDPC are doing a With our industry's specialized train- great job for our industry, and we need ing and CFSP certification process, we to continue to support her, financialare uniquely qualified to provide design ly, as well as participate in letter camsolutions to the foodservice industry. paigns and even testify if needed. FEDA With Patti Morrow's help, I prepared members can also show their support written and oral testimony and present- by contributing $250 with their 2014 ed it in front of the state house commit- FEDA dues check to help supplement tee. That, combined with a letter writ- the ongoing work of the Interior Design ing campaign, essentially stopped the Protection Consulting. bill in its tracks. However, on July 11, Lastly, I strongly recommend that our 2013, Senate Bill 1060 was introduced FEDA board as well as individual buying and is now sitting with the Consumer groups and dealers, themselves, stay Protection and Professional Licensure involved as much as possible. We all Committee. It is very similar to past need to stand united, to step up and bills, and if passed, would take effect help stop these bills one by one.