When I've asked STAFDA members this year, "How's business?," they all come back with one four-letter word: busy. It doesn't matter if I pose that question to distributors, manufacturers, or reps—members have told me their sales are up and business is great. There's no doubt the construction industry continues to drive the economy.

These positive comments are reflected in STAFDA's Quarterly Trend Reports. Our most recent Trend showed STAFDA distributor sales up 13.2 percent in the second quarter. McGraw-Hill Construction, a STAFDA-endorsed service provider, reports total construction is up 6 percent over last year for the first seven months of 2005.

Members are upbeat about their companies and the economy, and with our 29th Annual Convention & Trade Show upon us, they plan to make the most of this valuable opportunity at the November 6–8 meeting.

Baltimore was recently selected by the editors of Frommers, the world's leading travel guide publisher, as one of 10 up-and-coming destinations in the world for 2005.

It won't take STAFDA attendees long to make the same assessment. All STAFDA events will be held at the modern Baltimore Convention Center, and our six host hotels form a perfect crescent around the city's flagship attraction, the Inner Harbor. It's a very walkable city with a rich history. If you haven't been to Baltimore in a long time, you'll be in for a pleasant surprise.

STAFDA's convention leads off Sunday, Nov. 6 with our Tech & Consultants' Fair. We've expanded the Tech Fair to include vendors outside the hardware/software realm. For the first time this year, we'll have GPS companies represented at the Fair, and half of this year's participants are new to the Tech Fair.

Concurrent to the Tech Fair, STAFDA consultants, Jon Schreibfeder and Bob Footlik, will conduct two, one-hour seminars on inventory and warehouse management, respectively. This too is a different format than previous years. Beginning with the Baltimore Tech Fair workshops, we've decided to partner two STAFDA consultants each year whose subject material complements one another. In addition to Jon and Bob, several other STAFDA consultants and endorsed service providers will be available to meet individually with members.

STAFDA's Rap Sessions continue to be the best forum for non-competing members to come together to discuss common industry and business issues. This year, we're bringing in distribution expert, Michael Marks, and rep agent expert, John Haskell, to oversee these programs. Marks and Haskell will pose "best practice" questions to the audience during the Full Rap Session when distributors, associates, and rep agents will be in the room. Afterwards, Marks will moderate the distributor-only Rap Session and John Haskell will facilitate the first ever associate-rep agent Rap Session.

Education continues at our Nov. 7 General Session. STAFDA president, Marshall Jones, Marco Supply Co., will give the Distributor State of the Industry talk, and Ed Gericke, Werner Co., will address the industry from a manufacturing perspective.

Gen. Colin Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State, will then take the podium and deliver an inspiring message on "Leadership." Powell has had a successful and varied career in the military and government, and manages a non-profit organization, America's Promise.

Following the General Session, the Trade Show opens. This year has set a new record in number of booths sold, and we're still assigning exhibit space. At press time, we've sold 758 booths, which ties last year's final number. Since we've added additional booth space, we anticipate the current number to climb even higher.

With a record number of booths, distributors will have more opportunities to see new products, source new vendors, and strengthen existing supplier relations. But distributors, and reps alike, will have to plan their time wisely to get around the show floor to visit exhibitors.

Education continues Tuesday morning with four exceptional workshops led by: Tom Peters protégé, Steve Farber, on business leadership; George Hedley on successful business systems; Michael Marks on designing a workable sales compensation plan; and Dr. Kathy Newton with employee-based management.

Our Opening Party this year should be second to none! STAFDA members will have free rein at Camden Yards baseball park Sunday night for three hours to enjoy sports-related games, entertainment, a comedy troupe, and plenty of food and beverage. Local sports mascots, the NFL's Baltimore Ravens' cheerleaders, and other exciting personalities also will be in attendance.

The Closing "Viva Las Vegas" party following Tuesday's trade show should get everyone in the mood for STAFDA's

For such an exciting program packed with education, networking, a 758-plus booth trade show, and social events, you would expect to pay a premium to attend. About $500? Maybe $700? Or more? STAFDA provides all this for only $190 per person.

Three days of incredible value and opportunity + attractive destination = return on investment; not only for yourself, but your employees as well. Welcome to Baltimore!