The Southwestern Fastener Association named Cari Bailey to succeed John Elsner as executive director.

Elsner retired after nearly 18 years as executive director. His career started in the trade show business in 1969.

Bailey has been an educator and administrator for 20 years and worked the SWFA booth at the International Fastener Expo for two years. She has a bachelor’s degree from Stephen F. Austin and masters in educational administration from Texas A&M.

As the spouse of Mike Bailey of Nucor, she “contacts and understands the culture of our membership,” the board stated.

Mike Bailey is the incoming SFA chair for 2019, succeeding Chris Bell of G.L. Huyett. Neal Gordon of Dallas Fasteners is president; Jake Davis, BTM Mfg., vice president; and Suzy Cravens, Advance Components, treasurer.

“I think I’ve contributed what I can” Elsner told GlobalFastenerNews.com. “It is time to let somebody else take over.”

Elsner said the “explosion of the Internet” was the biggest change during his tenure.

“Distributors can place orders online,” Elsner said. “There is less face-to-face selling,” which has been the strength of associations.

That has become an issue for regional trade shows, including the biennial Southwestern Fastener Expo.

The number of potential exhibitors has shrunk too, Elsner pointed out.

“Names like Heads & Threads and Porteous are gone.”

Indeed, outgoing SFA chairman Chris Bell acknowledged the 2018 Southwestern trade show “may have not met expectations of everyone and we as a board realize that maybe it is time for some changes so we are actively looking to see what can be done to better or even change the format of these shows to have better participation.”

The 2019 Spring Conference will be February 26-28, 2019 at the Hilton Galveston Island Resort Beach Hotel. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Nathan Baxter on the topic of company culture. Web: southwesternfastener.org