STAFDA to Mark 25th Anniversary

John Wolz

The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association will mark its 25th anniversary at its November 11-13, 2001, convention and trade show in San Antonio, TX.
STAFDA expects 4,500 participants and more than 700 booths at the trade show.
Keynote speaker Larry Winget�s presentation is titled �Success is Simple, Money is Easy and Life is a Hoot.� STAFDA president Jim Smith of Nail Fast Inc. of Albuquerque, NM, will give the distributor state-of-the-industry address, and Dave Christifulli, vice president of Wacker Corp. of Menomonee Falls, WI, will speak on manufacturer issues.
Workshop topics and speakers are: �Success Skills for Today�s Professionals,� Kay Dupont; �Dealing with People You Can�t Stand,� Rick Brinkman; �Climbing the Ladder to Success,� Charles Petty; �Improving the Bottom Line,� Al Bates; �Do We Sell, or Do They Buy?� Michael Fortino; and �Recruiting & Retention Strategies,� Lou Benson.
The schedule also includes a technology & consultant fair. The fair will have breakout sessions on �Using Technology to Boost Business� and �Building Websites that are Competitive Weapons� and a Sunday afternoon rap session for noncompeting distributors, manufacturers and reps.
The rap session format has been changed this year to begin with a panel of distributors and STAFDA vice president Jim Beckstein of Mill Supplies Inc., associate Doug Beck of Panasonic and rep Gene Morris of Morris Marketing Group, followed by roundtable discussions of a question posed by each panelist. A rep-only rap session and a distributor/manufacturer joint session will follow.
STAFDA is promoting the Monday and Tuesday afternoons trade show as a �buying� event, with exhibitors offering show-only specials and prize drawings.
Registration information will be sent to STAFDA members. For additional information contact Catherine Usher. Tel: 262 784-4774 or 800 352-2981. E-mail: cusher@stafda.org. \
� 2001 FastenerNews.com