Welcome to STAFDA
Georgia Foley, STAFDA Executive Director, announces lineup additions.
It’s almost “show time” for STAFDA in Atlanta and we’re pleased to announce additional features to our November 8-10 Convention & Trade Show.
Former three-term Republican governor of Michigan, Gov. John Engler, is now president of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest industry trade group in America representing manufacturers in every industrial sector. He will speak at STAFDA’s Atlanta General Session, Monday, November 9 and address legislation affecting businesses of all sizes.
Since joining NAM in 2004, Gov. Engler is a leading advocate for more than 12 million people employed in manufacturing by educating the public and policymakers on this critical economic sector. He promotes a broad-based agenda for maintaining U.S. competitiveness by lifting unnecessary burdens on manufacturing: excessive taxation and regulation, the high cost of health care, expensive litigation, and energy costs.
Gov. Engler focuses on competitiveness through innovation, research and development, implementation of information technology, and intellectual property rights. He foresees the looming shortage of skilled manufacturing employees as a growing threat to America’s competitiveness in the 21st century’s high-tech global economy.
During his NAM tenure, Gov. Engler has emerged as one of the nation’s top advocates for developing America’s abundant domestic energy supplies to meet the growing demand. He is a strong supporter of renewable energy and clean-coal technology. NAM has also gained national recognition for its support of rebuilding and expanding the U.S. infrastructure.
As the governor of Michigan, he signed 32 tax cuts into law, saving taxpayers $32 billion, and helped create 800,000 new jobs while taking the state’s unemployment rate to a record low.
Governor Engler complements an all-star speaker line-up. The General Session will also include State of the Industry addresses from STAFDA president, Hal Look, vice president-building hardware, ProBuild, and Les Ireland, president-commercial operations for the industrial products group within the Power Tools & Accessories Group of Black & Decker. Keynote speaker will be former Godfather’s Pizza CEO and now Fox News radio host, Herman Cain, who’ll address leadership.
Leading workshops Sunday, November 8, will be these notables: economist Alan Beaulieu; showroom/visual merchandising expert Greg Gorman; marketing
professor Dan McQuiston on creating a marketing plan; Robert Stevenson on customer service; and how to grow a small business expert Steve Strauss.
STAFDA’s Trade Show will feature 12 hours of exhibit time to see more than 35 different product categories. Distributors come prepared to take advantage of show specials, reps attend to source new lines and meet with current suppliers, and exhibitors are motivated to either debut their 2010 product line or promote fourth quarter sales programs.
Also new this year, STAFDA has partnered with Habitat for Humanity. The Atlanta Habitat for Humanity works with the local community to build green, affordable, quality homes for deserving families. From 1983-2008, Atlanta Habitat has built more than 1,000 houses in the City of Atlanta and serves 10 metro Atlanta counties.
Following the close of Tuesday’s Trade Show, exhibitors may donate items such as hand tools, tool accessories, safety equipment, storage items, blades, finishing tools and supplies, and more, to Habitat. They’ll have an area set up near the Exhibitor Service Desk where exhibitors may drop off their donations. Instructions on how to donate will be provided to exhibitors in advance.
The STAFDA Convention & Trade Show is open to members only. For more information, please visit www.stafda.org or phone 800-352-2981.
CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The October/November 2024 of Contractor Supply magazine is here!
Our cover story, A Rewarding Passion - Dale Hahs II, third-generation of Denver's AIS Industrial & Construction Supply, is STAFDA's incoming 2025 president.
A Special STAFDA section featuring a welcome address, an agenda, session previewss by presenters and much more. Also in this issue are our Industry Updates on: Lifting, Moving and Material Handling; Lasers, Levels and Measurement; Hand Tools; Cordless Power Tools; Drill Bits and Cutting Tools; and Toolboxes, Bags and Belts.
This digital edition, sponsored by BECK AMERICA Inc., is fully searchable and contains live links to every advertiser and new product listing. Click away!
| Read the Articles Read the Digital Edition |
