FALL 2017

44 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

44 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION PO Box 44, 500 Elm Grove Rd., Ste. 2I0, Elm Grove, Wl 53122 TEL 1-800-352-2981 FAX 262-784-5059 EMAIL info@stafda.org WEB www.stafda.org STAFDA’S AUSTIN CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW: UNPRECEDENTED RESPONSE by Georgia Foley The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) is an educational association serving distributors, manufacturers, and rep agents of construction/industrial products. Membership nearly tops 2,500 worldwide. Each November, STAFDA holds an annual meeting and this year’s Convention & Trade Show is November 12-14 in Austin, TX at the Austin Convention Center. This is the first time STAFDA has ever met in Austin, one of the U.S.’s most popular destinations. Within one month of registration opening on June 26, the 700 booth Trade Show was sold out. Of the three host hotels, one hotel sold out in 4.5 hours, another within 48 hours, and the third hotel within a week. STAFDA added more booth space at the Austin Hilton and that sold out within 72 hours. The fifth overflow hotel is almost at capacity. One thing is certain: STAFDA members want to come to Austin! The three day meeting is a blend of education, networking, social activities, and of course, the trade show. But this year’s meeting will have a new dimension to it – the involvement of upper classmen from four universities that offer supply chain, industrial distribution, or construction management majors. Purdue University, Texas A&M, the University of Alabama- Birmingham, and the University of Texas-Austin, will be sending students to interact with STAFDA members during a Young Professionals luncheon and more importantly, a Speed Interviewing Session. The Trade Show will also have a different feel with the addition of island booths to break up the traditional all inline show.This year’s STAFDA’s Austin Convention highlights include: ¤ Educational Workshops featuring top business SHOW EVENT ARTICLE speakers addressing pertinent business issues from reviving work ethic, to winning customers back, the best methods to deliver employee praise (or ways to improve), to creating smart work teams. (Sunday, November 12, 8:30am – Noon) ¤ The Young Professionals Luncheon is aimed at those 35 years and younger. This will be a moderated lunch by a Gen X speaker and former senior level manager at Southwest Airlines, Jason Young, who’ll discuss “The New Diversity: Engaging the Generational Workforce.” Students will be sitting with STAFDA members during this interactive lunch and session! (Sunday, November 12, Noon – 12:45pm) ¤ STAFDA’s Speed Interviewing Session will allow students to man tables while STAFDA members ‘table hop’ every 10 minutes to interview another student. Students will have their resumes with them and members will have business cards, line cards, and other company collateral. This will give students an opportunity to interview for a job post-graduation in their major or possibly land an internship. In today’s competitive environment, there is a tremendous demand from STAFDA members for knowledgeable young talent to add to their company roster (Sunday, November 12, 1-4pm) ¤ STAFDA is closing down part of 2nd Street for it’s Three hour block party in and out of Austin City Limits. Tameka Jones will be on the street level in the 3Ten venue while Bob Schneider rocks the Moody Theater. The entertaining and colorful Minor Mishap Marching Band will perform their zany style out in the street. There will be food trucks, buffet stations, and libations to satisfy attendee appetites. (Sunday, November 12, 6:30 – 9:30pm) CONTINUED ON PAGE 148