For over a millennium, we’ve been told that pride is one of the seven deadly sins. However, pride has two competing definitions in English. There’s the version that is synonymous with “conceit,” which is what ancient monks warned against.

The second definition is about demonstrating confidence and a reasonable sense of satisfaction in oneself. That’s a very healthy thing to do! In this issue, we discuss this form of pride a few times.

We announce that registration has opened for the 2026 Marine Fabricators Conference, which offers several opportunities for professionals to share their great work with industry colleagues. These include the Marine Fabricators Association (MFA) Fabrication Excellence Awards and the Tools, Tips & Tricks contest, which are accepting entries. 

Mike Boatman shares his perspective as a marine fabricator and several points of pride he has experienced during his career. MFA board member Kyle Van Damme highlights how the Fabrication Excellence Awards program works and how to create a submission package that best shows off your work to capture the judges’ attentions. 

This issue also shares the latest in high-end finishes, small tools for marine fabricators and how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve efficiencies without reducing workforce. Suppliers interviewed are certainly proud of their products and how they can make a job easier, and decreasing busywork is something we all hope to achieve. 

However excellence shows up in your professional life, don’t be afraid to share it with others. If there’s one thing that I have learned so far about this industry, it is that the folks working in it never hesitate to lift each other up when given the opportunity.