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ID Chief Editor, Jack Keough - April 11, 2008
More than 930 attendees turned out for the 24th annual meeting of NAHAD–The Assn. for Hose & Accessories Distribution, held in Colonial Williamsburg, Va., April 5-9. ID will have complete coverage in our May issue and be sure to read my blog, Keough’s Korner, to get an in-depth look at the meeting. Here are some highlights from the convention:
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Strong attendance at 24th meeting
| NAHAD’s executive vice president Joe Thompson said more than 930 people attended this year’s meeting. He also noted that there were 130 contact table exhibitors, up from 119 last year. In addition to the many workshops, seminars and social events, many members took the opportunity to visit the historical attractions in Williamsburg. |
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HAG update
| NAHAD’s Hose Assembly Guidelines (HAG) program appears to be gaining traction. During a panel discussion, three distributors and a manufacturer discussed the benefits of the guidelines. Distributors said the guidelines have allowed them to “get in the door” and sell to customers’ engineering and safety departments as well as their purchasing departments. The panelists also said the guidelines are a strong competitive weapon that allows them to differentiate themselves from competitors. The panelists included: Chuck Connors, president of Omni Services, Worcester, Mass.; Rob Lyons of Tipco Technologies, Owings Mills, Maryland; Jim Reilly of GHX in Houston, Texas; and Sam Petillo of Goodyear Engineered Products. |
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Connors receives Carver Award
| Chuck Connors of Omni Services received the George W. Carver Award for Distribution Excellence in recognition of his many years of service to the association and the industry. Connors, a former president of NAHAD, has been involved in association activities for many years. The Carver award is presented in memory of the late George W. Carver, NAHAD’s third president and truly one of the classiest gentlemen that ever worked in the distribution business. Carver’s wife, Molly, was on hand to make the presentation. |
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Convention speakers
A variety of speakers made presentations at the meeting. Seminars covered everything from achieving business excellence to value added selling, search engine marketing and customer service. NAHAD members also heard from consultant Bill McCleave who presented the initial results of a new study on finding qualified employees. The study is called the “Quest for Human Talent.” We’ll have much more on these sessions in INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION and in my blog, Keough’s Korner.
And by the way, Tom Reilly, a sales training expert who was a keynote speaker at the NAHAD convention, will be hosting a webcast with ID on April 16 titled “How to Sell in Tough Times.”
Click here for more information. |
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