Rio Grande, Puerto Rico—The lush beauty of the Caribbean was the backdrop for the 17th Annual Meeting & Convention of the National Assn. of Hose & Accessories Distributors. Over 800 people turned out for the meeting, which was held at the Westin Rio Mar Resort in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, April 22 to 26.

NAHAD president Chuck Connors welcomed members during the convention's opening ceremonies, Monday, April 23. In his last address as NAHAD president, Connors noted the "caliber and character" of the association's members and stressed the value that specialty hose & accessories distributors bring to the marketplace — a theme he'd been focused on throughout his presidency.

"It's distribution's turn to flourish," said Connors, president of Omni Services in Worcester, Mass. "The value we add ... is pivotal to customers' success."

He reminded members that they "know a lot about a little" — an advantage he says helps get and keep customers in a world where too many companies are trying to be everything to everyone. He encouraged members to trust in their knowledge and the service they bring to customers, as well as to take advantage of NAHAD and its programs.

Two days later Connors passed the gavel to Joe Mika, president of Goodall Rubber Co., who began his one-year term as NAHAD president.

Following Connors' presentation, attendees were dazzled by illusionist Billy Riggs, whose motivational presentation included a series of magic tricks. Riggs' message was, essentially, "mind over matter" — that you can overcome obstacles simply by believing that you can. Further, he told attendees that "effective companies have a leader with a dream who inspires the people who work for him."

Other speakers during the four-day event included Max Carey, chairman and CEO of CRD, who talked about marketing and the importance of branding; Robert Nadeau of Industrial Performance Group, who spoke to members about "Peak Performing Manufacturer/Distributor Relationships"; Robert Segal of Frank Lynn & Associates, whose presentation focused on succeeding in e-business, which Segal noted will eventually be just "business"; and Don Rice of Texas A&M University, who moderated NAHAD's annual Industry Leadership Panel.

The panel featured five manufacturing executives who talked about the importance of: people and training; customer service; customer relationships; manufacturer/distributor partnerships; and "service differentiation."

The convention also featured the annual Manufacturer/Associate Contact Table program, where distributors could meet one-on-one with current and potential suppliers. The event featured over 100 exhibits.