Lynn study highlights ASMMA/I.D.A. Fall Convention
By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 1/1/1998
Chicago, Ill.--More than 2,100 delegates representing 700 companies turned out for the Fall Convention of the American Supply & Machinery Manufacturer's Assn. and the Industrial Distribution Assn. in Chicago, Nov. 22-24. The third official fall meeting of the two groups was held at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare.Industry consultant Frank Lynn, of Frank Lynn and Associates in Chicago, topped the meeting's agenda with the presentation of his study titled "An Assessment of Significant Impending Changes in the Economics of the Industrial Channel Marketing System.'' ASMMA and I.D.A. commissioned the study earlier in the year, and the presentation of the results was a much-anticipated industry event. (For a report on Lynn's speech, see p. 56 or visit our Web site at www.inddist.com).
Following Lynn's presentation on Nov. 23, delegates attended an opening session hosted by ASMMA president Dan Perry and I.D.A. president Jack Meizlish. Both Perry and Meizlish referred to Lynn's study in their general addresses, calling the work an "alarm clock'' and a "road map'' for manufacturers and distributors.
Lynn's study focused on where the industrial distribution channel has come from, where it is, and where it's headed. His futuristic, visionary theme was carried over in the speeches of Perry and Meizlish, as both presidents talked of the need for strategic planning -- at the company level and collectively at the association level.
Meizlish said the I.D.A. strategic planning committee implemented over the summer met for the first time in early November and came to many of the same conclusions that Lynn revealed in his report. Perry likewise highlighted some of the results of ASMMA's recent strategic planning session, which reached similar conclusions.
"Change will continue to have a dramatic effect on our business,'' said Perry, who is also president of Milwaukee Electric Tool Co. "And on ASMMA/I.D.A. relationships.''
The words "vision'' and "future'' impacted the rest of the session as well. Charlie Day, chairman of the Young Executives Forum and a product manager with Simonds Industries, honored two distributors with excellence awards.
The John R. Stallings, Jr. award was given to Paula Bass of KBC Tools in Sterling Heights, Mich. Bass was awarded for a program she initiated at her company called "Putting Value on Accounts Receivable.'' She was given a plaque and a tuition scholarship for the University of Industrial Distribution.
On behalf of YEF and its Young Executives Scholarship program, Day honored another industry visionary. Kathleen Durbin of General Industrial Tool & Supply in North Hollywood, California was made the first honorary lifetime member of the Young Executives Forum. Durbin is credited with starting the YEF scholarship program two years ago.
"Her labor and efforts have now led to an endowment of over $100,000,'' said Day, who hopes to see the fund grow to $1 million over the next five years.
Following the general session was the Conference Booth Program, which ran Sunday afternoon and all day on Monday. The fall Conference Booth Program reverses the traditional format held in the spring, with distributors hosting booths and manufacturers walking the floor.
This year's meeting also included an expanded workshop session, with the entire first day of the convention dedicated to education.
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