Y.E.F. looks to the future
The Young Executives Forum celebrates its 10th anniversary with an all-time high of 208 members
By Victoria Fraza -- Industrial Distribution, 5/1/1999
Janine Woleben and Tom Haag say the hardest part of their jobs as co-chairmen of the Young Executives Forum is spreading the word on what Y.E.F. is all about.And Y.E.F., they say, is all about opportunity -- the opportunity to learn, make connections and have some fun. And as the group continues to grow -- it's at an all-time high of 208 members -- Woleben and Haag's task gets a bit easier, as members spread the word about the benefits of Y.E.F. membership to their peers.
A joint committee of ASMMA and I.D.A., Y.E.F. is made up of industry members who are 40 years old or younger. The group will celebrate its 10th anniversary in San Francisco this month. Among events sponsored by Y.E.F. at this year's convention are: the awarding of several scholarships, an annual social, the second annual Y.E.F. Golf Tournament, and a raffle featuring a Caribbean cruise package as grand prize. Proceeds from the raffle and the golf tournament go to support the Young Executives Scholarship Fund.
Haag, who is vice president of sales and marketing for SGS Tool in Munroe Falls, Ohio, says most people know that Y.E.F. is a great place to network. But he says there is much more to it than that. First of all, the group is philanthropic: each year, Y.E.F. gives out three $2,500 scholarships to students enrolled in industrial distribution programs at colleges and universities across the country. The committee also provides eight industry scholarships to the University of Industrial Distribution, the twice-a-year, week-long education program sponsored by several industry trade associations.
On top of that, Y.E.F. offers two key educational programs for members -- the roundtable rap session and the John R. Stallings, Jr. Memorial Award Presentations, both of which are offered during the ASMMA/I.D.A. fall convention, held each November in Chicago. The roundtable gives members the chance to talk about a range of business issues with their peers. The Stallings program offers similar benefits. Participants present to members programs they have successfully initiated in their companies -- marketing, accounting, computer or other initiatives. While the presenters compete for top honors, their presentations offer Y.E.F. members ideas they can bring back to their own companies.
"Networking opportunity ... those two words keep getting repeated," says Haag. "And it's true, that is a valuable part of Y.E.F.. But if you get involved with the rap sessions, the Stallings presentations or become a committee member, you get a lot more out of it."
Woleben echoes those remarks. She notes that more than 100 Y.E.F. members turned out for the roundtable rap session at last fall's convention. Woleben, who is an accounting analyst with Dixie Industrial in Shelby, N.C., says she joined Y.E.F. four years ago because of that kind of opportunity -- the chance to share business ideas and learn from her peers in the industry.
Woleben and Haag will finish their terms as Y.E.F. co-chairmen at the San Francisco convention. Their main goals over the past year were to grow membership and get more members involved with Y.E.F. programs. They have succeeded on both fronts, though they say their initiatives should be continued in the coming years, as well.
Steady Growth
Fifty-one people have joined Y.E.F. since the Spring Convention last year. In addition, Y.E.F. officially established a chairmanship for the golf tournament this year. Kim Beran of H. Gerstner & Sons in Dayton, Ohio, is charged with coordinating the event. Beran works closely with I.D.A. membership manager Donna Hufferd on that task. Woleben adds that Hufferd serves an important leadership role for Y.E.F., advising officers on all of the group's activities and events.
In another effort to get people more involved in Y.E.F., Woleben and Haag asked all members to buy or sell $200 worth of raffle tickets for the Young Executives Scholarship Fund raffle this year. Woleben says they hope to raise $30,000 through the raffle -- topping last year's $10,000 in proceeds. Long-term, Woleben and Haag hope to increase the number of scholarships Y.E.F. awards each year.
In addition to its philanthropic activities and educational and networking opportunities, Woleben and Haag say Y.E.F. membership serves as an introduction to the larger memberships of ASMMA and I.D.A. They say it's a less intimidating way to get involved with the associations because it allows younger members to meet with people their own age who likely have a similar level of industry experience. Haag says the aim is to show members what ASMMA and I.D.A. are all about, and hopefully foster an interest in other committees and task forces somewhere down the road.
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