SUMMER 2024

28 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S

28 THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK Eric Dudas Fully Threaded Radio Eric Dudas co-founded FCH Sourcing Network in 2006 and launched the industry renowned Fully Threaded Radio podcast in 2010. With business partner and co-host Brian Musker, FCH operates its widely used digital inventory marketing platform, and provides data cleansing and formatting services for fastener distributors across the industry. FCH also produces the monthly Fastener Distributor Index. Apart from industry punditry, Eric ponders the deeper existential aspects of life driving a tractor around his small farm in semi-rural northeast Ohio. eric@fastenersclearinghouse.com UNTHREADED: SO, YOU WANT TO BE A FASTENER ROCK STAR... For an industry usually thought of as something less than glamorous, the fastener business seems to have its share of would be rock stars. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in downtown Cleveland was the site of the welcome bash at this year’s Fastener Fair USA, which took place May 22-23. As the party started rocking, I took the escalator up to the hands-on music exhibit called The Garage to see who was jamming. The exhibit is a large practice area filled with musical instruments that Rock Hall visitors are welcome to play. Sure enough, the place was filled with fastener folks. Holly McDaniel of WCL was seated at a keyboard. Baron Yarborough of KT Bolt had strapped himself to a Fender bass. A couple people were in the mostly soundproof drum rooms, banging away on full kits. And the Patriot Bolt guys appeared to be doing something with an electric guitar that resembled playing it. It looked like big fun, and I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised to see so many players up there. Everyone secretly wants to be a rock star. Or at least they’ve imagined it. But I was there mostly just to work through some nervous energy, so I took a quick look and headed back down to the party. On the main stage, doing actual rock star duty that evening, was Tim Vath of Solution Industries. He was looking very cool. His band, Radiate Live, was filling the Hall with its brand of party jams as the drinks and fastener CONTRIBUTOR ARTICLE “HELLO CLEVELAND: YOU’LL NEVER KNOW HOW YOU SOUND UNTIL YOU CLIMB ON STAGE. ERIC DUDAS AND TIM VATH TAKE THE FASTENER FAIR BASH TO 11.” good times rolled, as they tend to do during these events. Tim is an accomplished bass guitarist. His brother, Tom Vath, plays drums for the group. They’ve played together for many years, and their band is about as tight as a part-time music act can be. They all have day jobs, but they’re serious musicians on the side. Not actual rock stars, but they’re a whole lot closer than most because they’re up there busting it out. In contrast, my own guitar playing and somewhat off-kilter crooning has never been more than a casual diversion. Most of my musical skill was developed at college while procrastinating writing term papers. I usually got my assignments in before deadline, but while delaying the inevitable all-night typing sessions I learned to play a wicked D7 chord, along with a few other essentials. CONTINUED ON PAGE 108