Distributor Perspective

By Andrew Hartman
2024 STAFDA president, owner, Hartman Independent Company, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

Andrew Hartman

STAFDA 2024 is right around the bend! Our convention is a part of the punctuation of the sentence that is each year. It is something by which we measure time and gauge effort and make future plans.

Embedded in the cyclical nature of our event we find hope for it signals the end of another business cycle, even if only tied to the calendar, and announces the arrival of the next.

There is always hope found in the reconnection with those that we have built our businesses and our lives with. Let’s make sure we are encouragement to each other!

Our convention is also a time to revisit the quality of humility that should be possessed by great leaders of all times and in all walks.

Humility in that we don’t know what we don’t know and so often we find clues to these things in our gathering.

Humility in that we aren’t the only one going through what we are going through.

Humility in that this industry is bigger than any one of us, distributor and manufacturer alike.

STAFDA also provides an element of home. For almost 50 years STAFDA has been the home of the distributor and the manufacturer serving the construction and industrial verticals.

It has provided context and dimension to the little segment of the world we occupy and seek to improve.

Hope, humility and home! Let’s come to Nashville and cement these afresh in our lives, together!

Tools of Tomorrow: Leveraging AI and
Innovation in Construction and Industry

By Mike Foster
STAFDA Cybersecurity Consultant and Panel Moderator

Mike Foster

As your moderator for the upcoming STAFDA panel on Tools of Tomorrow: Leveraging AI and Innovation in Construction and Industry, I’m excited to give you a preview of what promises to be a dynamic and insightful discussion. As a cybersecurity consultant for STAFDA, I’ve witnessed firsthand the rapid transformations reshaping our industry. This panel is designed to address the perfect storm of disruptors we’re all facing.

I’ll be joined by an exceptional group of experts: Andrew Hartman, STAFDA vice president Dale Hahs II, Ken Novak from HATCH quantified and Nelson Valderrama from Intuilize Inc.

What can you expect from our session? We’ll dive deep into how AI is revolutionizing operations, from inventory management to customer service. We’ll explore the impacts of mergers and acquisitions on our competitive landscape. With global unrest affecting us all, we’ll discuss strategies for building resilient supply chains. And, of course, we’ll look at how new infrastructure projects are creating both challenges and opportunities for STAFDA members.

Here’s what I’m most excited about – this isn’t going to be a one-way conversation. We want to hear from you. Bring questions about the challenges you are facing in your day-to-day operations. Your participation will drive our discussion, ensuring you leave with insights tailored to your needs.

As someone in the trenches, you know the value of staying ahead of industry trends. Whether you’re looking to optimize your current operations or positioning yourself for future growth, this panel is designed to give you actionable insights. We’ll see you there!

DATE AND TIME

The Distributor State of the Industry address and AI Panel will take place during the General Session, Monday, Nov. 11, 9–11a.m. in the Music City Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

This article originally appeared in the October/November 2024 issue of Contractor Supply magazine. Copyright, 2024 Direct Business Media.

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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!