A map of the future
NAHAD's three-year strategic plan will bring the association into the new millennium
By Lee Helfer -- Industrial Distribution, 4/1/1999
Incoming NAHAD president Lee Helfer, Specialty Hose Corp.NAHAD's three-year strategic plan will bring the association into the new millenniumWelcome to the 15th Annual Meeting and Convention of NAHAD here in beautiful San Antonio. The Hyatt Hill Country Resort is a perfect place to get away from the daily business routine and "expand your horizons" by enjoying some fellowship, education and recreation.
It is my honor and privilege to serve as the president of NAHAD as we close the 20th century and move into the new millennium. Last June, the NAHAD board of directors met in Annapolis, Md. to map out the future by attending the association's second strategic planning session. The first strategic planning session was held in Kansas City, Mo., in 1995. The plan that was developed there has been our guide for the past three years. The goals of the new three-year strategic plan are very aggressive, yet achievable. We plan to continue to deliver education, information, goods and services that have real value to each member. The following are some of our priorities:
* Establish the NAHAD Institute as the recognized source of industry training and education. This project began last year with focus groups drawn from distributors, manufacturers and academia meeting to share ideas and information. From these meetings, a framework and curriculum has been developed. When completed, the NAHAD Institute will be one of the most comprehensive education and training programs offered by any distribution trade association.
* Finalize and package the NAHAD Assembly Standards. After over five years of intense work, this important project is nearing completion. Volunteers from distributor and manufacturer companies who have spent countless hours and resources to bring our industry a verifiable set of product assembly standards have created these documents. We owe a very big "THANK YOU" to all that have participated in the process. Once finalized, the assembly standards, in conjunction with the NAHAD Institute, may be developed into an industry certification program. This certification would allow complying members to advertise and sell products that meet or exceed the NAHAD industry standards. The overall goal of these programs is to demonstrate real value to the end users of our products and to let the end user know that dealing with a complying NAHAD member is the assurance of getting a quality product from a reliable and knowledgeable source.
* Continue to grow our international membership and position NAHAD as a global association. Each year, more international members join NAHAD. And each year, all of our members have to participate in an ever-increasing global marketplace. This may be considered either a negative effect by having to face a greater variety of products with much stiffer pricing competition or a positive effect by having a greater variety of products to sell at more competitive costs. Whatever your perspective, NAHAD will continue to increase the global presence of the association and keep the membership aware of the developments that may affect our businesses.
* Segment and analyze the different needs of members to target association programs and benefits effectively. Each year, NAHAD's board and committee members analyze and review current programs and benefit packages and evaluate new programs and benefit packages to determine their value to the membership. Some are discontinued and others are added based on their value to the membership. As the NAHAD membership grows and evolves, the needs change. NAHAD will continue to offer the most comprehensive benefit packages available.
* Assist members in their understanding and use of technology. It may be e-mail or using the World Wide Web.; it may be EDI or developing a Web site; it may be e-commerce or trying to figure out how to turn on a computer. NAHAD offers resources to help you learn or improve skills in the very rapidly evolving world of technology.
These and many other agenda items keep the NAHAD board of directors and committees busy throughout the year. If any of the initiatives interest you, or if you want to get involved in shaping the future of NAHAD, let me or another board member or committee chairman know and we will be happy to add your name to the list of volunteers that make NAHAD what it is.
Enjoy your stay in San Antonio and plan on joining us in Monterey, Calif. in April 2000.
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