As I reflect on the past year and enjoy the promise of a new year, I am particularly proud of the impact our pipe, valves and fittings sector has had on America’s industry. As I have often indicated throughout 2022, our greatest pleasure and sense of positive impact are to focus on this outstanding sector and its large list of leaders who have long comprised its backbone.

I lay particular claims of leadership with the chief executives of such companies as Weldbend, Milwaukee Valve, Legend Valve, and more. Their top leadership has not only served their fine companies due to their exceptional skill, but they have made available their time and professional ability to the entire industry. 

My great fortune has been the 60-plus years of learning about the PVF industry and emphasizing the sector’s unusual contribution to America’s industrial sector.

However, even more than these critical segments, I have gotten to know and befriend the most outstanding leaders who have set the pace for the PVF industry.

What has been lost in our great nation has been more than made up by these industry giants. They have given a once little-known sector by the 24-hour-a-day individuals a place at the table, and brought the once unlimited commitment to PVF and its total makeup to America’s fabulous climb and success.

Has Fed Reserve Chairman Abandoned Major Markets?

When the once illustrious Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell reached levels of achievement by reversing the major stock markets from gloomy bottoms to major stardom, he rightfully was celebrated as the savior of the stock market basics. Powell accomplished this task by throwing previous federal limitations aside and ensuring that the voluminous stock market would reverse such plight.

Specifically, Powell abandoned the major quantity increases of the Federal Reserve’s bonds, whose interest levels had been reduced by the Fed. This proved more than anticipated as the stock markets opened up from a dropping bottom.

This focus on a drooping stock market had sunk this key to America’s major stock market sector during a previous surge in the decades before. Unfortunately, it didn’t last this time. In fact, it proved even worse, as the Federal Reserve boss bought into the fallacy that major stock market shares had created an uncontrolled runaway price inflation. 

What made it worse is that this was bought into by Powell’s antagonist, President Joe Biden, who had little understanding of economics.

At the end of 2022, Powell heavily supported the once-opposite position of deflating the once-powerful stock market sectors that he himself had helped to create.

Why 2023 is Due For an Upswing

While short-term projections are always dangerous due to their analysis coming relatively soon after the year’s start, there are enough factors to make the current year valid.

The major aspect of putting a seeming shine on 2023 is the momentum building up as 2022 ended.

While 2022 still tumbled, the United States and major Western nations struggled with the Ukraine disaster and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s vicious aggressiveness. The United Nations was shown to be inconsequential in its meager confrontation while the U.S. presidential clash was lurking.

However, bits of good news understated a good chance that the American worker will not be fouled this time. Neither of the two ex-presidential mid-term results indicated majorities in preliminary polls, while the current Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seems a good bet.

With no other Democrats confronting the shaky presidential hold, it’s a sure bet that a strong leader will be chosen to give this nation the leadership it deserves.