Members of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association love Nashville, and Music City USA certainly loves STAFDA! Nearly 2,800 distributors, manufacturers, and rep agent members joined the party for the Association’s 48^th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 10-12. After increasing the number of booths available in the exhibit hall five times, STAFDA’s two-day Trade Show footprint grew 10% from the previous year with 453 booths, including three 50’ x 50’ islands and eight 20’ x 20’ islands. 

Educational is our jam. By bringing the highest-quality speakers to the STAFDA Convention, beginning with Sunday morning workshops, attendees were able to create a personalized agenda focusing on their own educational goals. Topics included “Cyber Security: Stop Today’s Hackers” (Mike Foster); “Stay Competitive & Continue to Grow When Price Matters Most” (James Dorn); “Finding Success in Conflict Resolution” (Scott Tillema); and “Unleashing Your Superpower: Get the Best from Yourself & Those Around You” (Jamie Turner). JJ DiGeronimo provided action-based strategies during the Women in Distribution Luncheon as attendees teamed up in “Finding & Aligning Your Career Catalysts.” 

Rising stars aligned with Mark Noon for the Emerging Leaders Forum with his “Set Up to Step In for Effective Leadership” workshop. This session was designed for members’ future leaders and managers who are determining whether they will need to step up or simply step in to new, expanded roles within their companies.

For those attendees 35 and younger, a six-member panel sparked interesting conversations and discussions during the NextGen Luncheon. The panel, featuring an intergenerational combo of two distributors, two manufacturers, and two rep members interacted with audience members covering a variety of industry-spanning subjects. The audience also included college students studying industrial distribution, supply chain management, or related majors. 

A record-number of university students brought a youthful vibe to the Convention & Trade Show as they shared their insights and experiences throughout all Convention activities including a Speed Interviewing session with STAFDA members seeking new employees and interns. They also competed in the STAFDA Student Supply Chain Competition where teams used a web-based business simulation program focused on Working Capital Management. They pulled from their well of knowledge in supply chain management, sales, operations, and other business skills. The winning team advances to the qualification round of Inchainge’s Annual Global Student Challenge.  Congratulations to the combined team of the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and Stanford University!

It wouldn’t be a trip to Music City USA without live music! STAFDA’s Opening Jamboree at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum was six floors of folk, country, and bluegrass music, as well as a song writing session intertwined with the icons and artifacts that bring the genre to life. For two hours, attendees were able to kick up their boots, enjoy a great meal, and take in the best of Nashville with their colleagues. 

Education became the underlying beat of STAFDA’s General Session Monday morning. The Association’s President Andrew Hartman, Hartman Independent Company, Canonsburg, PA, shared the teachable moments found in the history of his third-generation family-run business. STAFDA’s AI and Cybersecurity Consultant, Mike Foster, then took a riveted audience on a tour of Artificial Intelligence and what it currently can do for members to help maximize use of their time and increase efficiency. Foster was then joined on stage by a panel of members and industry partners to look further into what AI is doing for their companies. Panelists included Andrew Hartman, STAFDA Vice President Dale Hahs from AIS Industrial & Construction Supply, Patrick Murray of ORS Nasco, Josh Mason with Milwaukee Tool, Ken Novak with HATCH quantified, and Nelson Valderrama of Intuilize Inc. 

More than 300 exhibitors brought new products, offered show-only special deals, and demoed their best during the Trade Show. Brand new innovations were spotlighted in the Power Aisle, with expanded hours to include viewing opportunities for all attendees during the Trade Show. Distributor attendees were able to vote before the show opened, choosing their favorite new item while the Aisle was open Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Congratulations to Evolution Power Tools, STAFDA’s 2024 Power Aisle Distributors’ Choice Award winner! 

Within the exhibit hall, the sold-out Tech Pavilion brought the latest innovations in software, e-commerce, and AI solutions to members to demo and investigate. Consultants Row included STAFDA-endorsed service providers and experts offering face-to-face advice and information as well as offering STAFDA-only discounts. The new STAFDA Theater offered exhibitors a chance to offer extended demos to a larger audience outside of their booth space.

In his last STAFDA workshop before retiring, Alan Beaulieu’s Economic Workshop Tuesday featured his in-depth and relatable analysis of a wide variety of economic factors including global forces, inflation trends, AI, electricity prices, and other critical factors. Educated and ready to do their part for the construction/industrial economy, attendees resumed their Trade Show business dealings. A down-home Southern luncheon was served in the exhibit hall to nourish attendees as they shared a meal and conversations. 

Meanwhile, spouses and companions were able to go on one of two optional day tours. They could take a jaunt to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery or visit the historic Belle Meade Plantation – both offering scenic views of the Tennessee countryside.

Mark your calendars for STAFDA’s 49^th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 9-11, 2025, in downtown Phoenix. Registration opens June 23 at 8:00 a.m. (Central). You must be a member to attend. 

New Officers Announced
Members of STAFDA elected leadership for 2025 during the convention and tradeshow.

Following the event’s General Session, Dale Hass II, President of AIS Industrial and Construction Supply, Denver, became STAFDA President. AIS is a family-run business started in 1945 by Hass’ grandfather originally to service the airline industry. The company’s focus shifted its focus to selling to contractors after World War II. AIS has been a STAFDA member since 1999.

Matt Kitchens, Vice President of Sales for California Service Tool, Hayward, CA, was elected STAFDA Vice President. The company serves Northern California as a leading tool, safety, and equipment distributor for commercial trade contractors. California Service Tool has been a STAFDA member since 1977.

Ron Credit, Harmco Fastener Co., Inc., Rochester, NY, Tyler Veth, ASI Contractor Supply (Auxiliary Service, Inc.), Lawrenceville, NJ, and Eric Wessinger, Richards Supply Company, Waco, TX, were elected to three-year terms on STAFDA’s Board of Directors.

Tony Strein, International Fasteners, Inc., Tampa, FL, joined STAFDA’s Manufacturer Liaison Committee. Emmett Fox, Regency Sales Co., Duncanville, TX, became a member of the Rep Liaison Committee. 

 Elections are held every fall with results announced at the Annual Convention.