STAFDA Members Enjoy Music City USA for 48th Annual Convention
Nearly 2,800 distributors, manufacturers, and rep agent members joined the party in Nashville, Tennessee for the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association’s 48th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 10-12.
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| Over 2,800 members of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association were on hand for the organizatoin's 48th annual convention and trade show in Nashville, Tennessee November 10-12. |
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STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley said the trade show floor had to be reconfigured three times to accommodate the increasing number of booths and higher demand. With 453 booths, including three 2,500-square-foot islands and eight 400-square-foot islands, the overall footprint of the Nashville show was 10% larger than the 2023 event in San Antonio.
Held in the heart of Music City USA, the convention and trade show kicked off with an opening jamboree at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as STAFDA members had two hours to enjoy the music, food, and history of folk, country, and bluegrass music at the museum.
As always, education was a central focus of the convention, starting with the Sunday morning workshops offering a full mix of technology, business, and leadership insight. Illustrating the efforts to expand interest in the industry, Foley pointed out that a record number of university students were also in attendance at this year's event.
Attendees were able to create a personalized agenda focusing on their own educational goals. Topics included “Cybersecurity: Stop Today’s Hackers” (Mike Foster); “Stay Competitive & Continue to Grow When Price Matters Most” (James Dorn); “Finding Success in Conflict Resolution” (Scott Tillema); and “Unleashing Your Superpower: Get the Best from Yourself & Those Around You” (Jamie Turner). JJ DiGeronimo provided action-based strategies during the Women in Distribution Luncheon.
In addition, rising stars aligned with Mark Noon for the Emerging Leaders Forum with his “Set Up to Step In for Effective Leadership” workshop. This session was designed for members’ future leaders and managers who are determining whether they will need to step up or simply step in to new, expanded roles within their companies.
For those attendees 35 and younger, a six-member panel featuring an intergenerational combo of two distributors, two manufacturers, and two rep members interacted with audience members covering a variety of industry-spanning subjects during the NextGen Luncheon. The panel also included college students studying industrial distribution, supply chain management, or related majors.
STAFDA officials reported that a record-number of university students attended the show this year to share their insights and experiences. They participated in a Speed Interviewing session with STAFDA members seeking new employees and interns and also competed in the STAFDA Student Supply Chain Competition where teams used a web-based business simulation program focused on Working Capital Management. The combined team of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Stanford University will advance to the qualification round of Inchainge’s Annual Global Student Challenge.
For STAFDA’ general session on Monday morning, Andrew Hartman, the association’s 2024 president, shared some teachable moments found in the history of his third-generation family-run business.
Education also was the underlying beat of STAFDA's general session on Monday morning. 2024 STAFDA President Andrew Hartman shared some teachable moments found in the history of his third-generation family-run business.
Then, Mike Foster, STAFDA's cybersecurity consultant, took the audience on a tour of AI and what it currently can do for members to help maximize the use of their time and increase efficiency.
To further illustrate the potential impact of AI technology, Foster was joined on stage by a panel of industry leaders to share what AI is doing for their companies.
Panelists included Patrick Murray, director of sales, ORS Nasco; Joshua Mason, director of sales, Milwaukee Tool; Dale Hahs II, president of AIS Industrial and Construction Supply and 2025 STAFDA president; Nelson Valderrama, founder, of Intuilize; Ken Novak, founder, Hatch quantified; and Andrew Hartman, president of Hartman Independent and STAFDA immediate past president.
The shared message from the panelists was that the use of AI is not limited to big tech companies but is open to anyone willing to take the first step.
Trade show news
More than 300 exhibitors brought new products, offered show-only special deals, and demoed their best during the trade show. New products were spotlighted in the Power Aisle, with expanded hours to include viewing opportunities for all attendees. Distributors were able to vote before the show opened, choosing their favorite new item. Evolution Power Tool's S355MCS 14-inch Mitering Chop Saw was named STAFDA’s 2024 Power Aisle Distributors’ Choice Award winner.
The sold-out Tech Pavilion showcased the latest innovations in software, e-commerce and AI solutions. The show also included Consultants Row, which included STAFDA-endorsed service providers and experts available offering face-to-face advice and information, as well as STAFDA member discounts.
New this year, the STAFDA Theater offered exhibitors a chance to extend demos to a larger audience outside their booth space.
In his last STAFDA workshop before retiring, Alan Beaulieu, president and principal at ITR Economics offered an in-depth and relatable analysis of a wide variety of economic factors including global forces, inflation trends, AI, electricity prices, and other critical factors.
A fixture at the STAFDA convention for years, he delivered a mixed message of upbeat and downtrodden news to the show attendees during his presentation. To start, based on the leading economic indicators, Beaulieu said construction distribution and industrial markets will expand in both 2025 and 2026.
Spouses and companions were not left out as they had a chance to participate in one of two optional day tours including a jaunty to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery or a visit to the Belle Meade Plantation.
STAFDA’s 49th Annual Convention & Trade Show is scheduled for November 9-11, 2025, in downtown Phoenix. Registration, you must be a member to attend, will open June 23 at 8 a.m.
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!
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