Smith, Beckstein Head STAFDA

John Wolz

Jim Smith of Albuquerque, NM-based Nail Fast became the 2001 president of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association at its 24th annual convention. Jim Beckstein of Mill Supplies of Fort Wayne, IN, is the new vice president.\
Smith has been a STAFDA member since 1981 and is a construction fastening specialty distributor. He succeeds Marc Beerman of Beerman Precision of New Orleans.
Beckstein has owned Mill Supplies, a contractor and industrial supply house, since 1978. He also is a board member of the Industrial Distribution Association.
The three new STAFDA board members are Charles Steele, Contractors Supply & Equipment Co., Baton Rouge, LA; Craig Russell, Active Sales Co., Santa Fe Springs, CA; and Mark Levac, Levac Supply Ltd., Kingston, Ontario.
The November convention in Nashville drew nearly 4,600 members, easily topping the 4,181 record set in 1994 in Las Vegas. The 1999 convention in Denver drew 3,934.
Outgoing president Marc Beerman announced STAFDA�s current membership is 2,624 members, including 1,204 distributors, 1,087 associates, 314 reps and 19 publishing affiliates.
�This bucks the national trend, where most organizations are struggling with shrinking membership and reduced member services,� Beerman said.
STAFDA�s 25th anniversary convention will be November 11-13, 2001, in San Antonio, TX.
For information contact STAFDA. Tel: 262 784-4774 or 800 352-2981. Fax 262 784-5059. E-mail: info@stafda.org Web: www.stafda.org