Attendance at the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Assn.'s 28th Annual Convention & Trade Show in San Francisco, Nov. 14–16, was recorded as the highest ever, with 4,656 registered conventioneers, according to association management.

"There are 758 exhibits in the trade show," said Marshall Jones, the association's president, during the convention's General Session. "Thirty percent of the exhibitors were not at the Atlanta show."

STAFDA executive director Georgia Foley continued to tell session attendees good news, saying that building material demands are on the rise, as well as supplies of steel, lumber and plywood.

"This year has been fascinating for the construction industry," she said, also naming some of the advances the association has made, including forming a partnership with the National Assn. of Manufacturers; hosting yearly Webinars; continued participation in the University of Industrial Distribution; and recruiting new consultants to help members.

Paul Steiner of Kapro Industries in Israel delivered the session's associate address. His message was an optimistic one.

"United States' manufacturers should fear no one, and be excited about the competition in the world, and the opportunities for free trade," he said. "The only threat to the U.S. is the threat of complacency...No industry or sector is not fiercely competitive...U.S. manufacturing needs to thrive, innovate constantly, and be a part of the global culture. It must be managed with a sense of purpose."

Other activities at the convention included the popular and well-attended Tech & Consultants' Fair, which included two workshops from STAFDA tech consultant Steve Epner, including "Are You Spending Too Much or Not Enough on IT," and "Turning Over Rocks: Finding Hidden Values in your Systems."

Another popular event was the Industry Panel and Discussion, which featured a distributor, associate and rep panelist, and the Rap Sessions, which included an associate session led by NAM senior vice president, public and external affairs, Pat Cleary, who urged attendees to start at the bottom if they want governmental change for manufacturing in the United States. Cleary explained that educating employees on what candidates vote for and support, and urging the employees to vote according to what is best for manufacturing, is the ideal kind of grass-roots campaign. He said more than 700 U.S. manufacturers keep their employees informed on local government happenings for that reason.

Of the four concurrent educational workshops, Frank W. Abagnale's session on "Art of the Steal" was standing-room only, although Marjorie Brody's "Presenting Like a Pro;" Dr. Tony Alessandra's "Collaborative Selling;" and Mark Dancer's "Channel Strategies" were packed with interested attendees.

The trade show was a well-attended portion of the convention, with distributors, associates and reps walking the floors and participating in demonstrations.

The two parties, "Streets of San Francisco" and a concert by Huey Lewis & the News, and the "Speakeasy & Barbary Coast Lounge" event both seamlessly melded the look, feel and tone of San Francisco's assets and history, with entertainment, food and drink for all attendees.

Next year's STAFDA convention will be held in Baltimore, Nov. 6–8.