ASMMA/I.D.A. celebrate at convention
By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 7/1/1998
Orlando, fla.--When the Industrial Distribution Assn. and the American Supply & Machinery Manufacturer's Assn. met in Orlando 10 years ago, it marked the first meeting of I.D.A. as the merged National Industrial Distributors Assn. and the Southern Industrial Distributors Assn. Ten years later, I.D.A. and ASMMA returned to the Marriott World Center for their Spring Convention last month.With a focus on technology clearly evident, more than 3,000 gathered for the event held June 5-8.
"The association is in far better condition now than it was when it was founded and we met here 10 years ago," said I.D.A. executive vice president Gary Buffington. "It's been a great 10 years."
Incoming I.D.A. president Sam Mitchell echoed Buffington's comments, and indicated that while it is nice to reflect back, the real focus must be on the future.
"This is a great time to be president of I.D.A." said Mitchell, president of E.C. Blackstone, a division of Industrial Distribution Group. "The economy is good, the association is sound, and that allows [I.D.A.] staff and officers to focus on the future. We will be able to position this association for the future and allow us to be a leader in our industry. We'll have to re-write some rules regarding integrated supply and consolidation."
Mitchell offered one more tidbit regarding his year in office, which he'll share with incoming ASMMA president Jim Falduto, vice president of Wilton Corp. "Even though we're starting [our term] in Orlando, it will not be a Mickey Mouse operation."
Keeping to the technology theme, Jack Meizlish, outgoing I.D.A. president and president of Buckeye Industrial Supply, told attendees that "the technology clock is ticking, and as an industry, we need to be able to tell time."
The event kicked off with educational management sessions and the Business & Technology Solutions Showcase on Saturday, but one of the highlights was the Opening Ceremony on Sunday morning. After Meizlish and outgoing ASMMA president Dan Perry of Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. arrived at the podium on a golf cart and jointly emphasized technology and partnerships during their industry address, the stage was set for the Rt. Hon. John Major, former Prime Minister of Great Britain who delivered the keynote address.
Major, a part of English government for 14 years, amused the crowd with humorous tales of meetings with past international dignitaries. He also warned the group of the impending explosion on international trade, and said that the profitable firms will continue to carry masses of poor out from poverty.
Seminar sessions included Selling the Value You Add and Closer Customer Relationships; Integrated Supply: It's Not Just About the Customer; Personnel Productivity Improvement; Leading the Team -- How to Successfully Lead a Team of Sales Professionals; Understanding Sales Automation; Low Cost/No Cost Ways to Set the Stage for New Warehouse Technology; The Changing Industrial Supply Channel, Developing an Action Plan; and Keys to Transaction Efficiency - Uniform Code Council Implementation Tools.
The convention concluded with the Conference Booth Program, the 50th time the historic event has been held. Aside from that highlight was the presentation of the annual Distributor of the Year Award and the American Eagle Awards. Bruce Baker, of Townsend Supply Co., was given the Distributor of the Year Award, presented by ID associate publisher/editor Jack Keough.
Cunningham Supply Co. of Akron, Ohio, won the American Eagle in the distributor category for giving back to its community, which includes an education program and extensive work with the United Way. Other distributor winners included Dudley C. Jackson Inc. (employees); Applied Industrial Technologies (community) and General Tool & Supply (education).
Manufacturer winners (revenues of less than $10 million) included AirMaster Fan Co., Jackson, Mich., for employees; Elk River Inc., Cullman, Ala., community services; and
Alvord-Polk, for education. Manufacturer winners (over $10 million) included A.W. Chesterton, Stoneham, Mass., employee category; 3M Industrial Markets Group, for government; W.H. Brady, Milwaukee, Wisc., community; American Saw and Manufacturing Co., East Longmeadow, Mass., education; and Norton Co., Worcester, Mass., for environment. The overall manufacturer winner was Middleton, Mass.-based Bostik, which won for its environmental and river cleanup program. I
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