ASA members can now supplement their recruitment efforts through a new feature announced last week.

NETWORK2023 held Nov. 8-10 in Orlando, Florida featured more than 850 attendees, including 86-member distributor firms that represent more than $50 billion in annual sales.

This Week:

The House and Senate are in Session. 

It’s clear from conversations with ASA members across the country, finding talent continues to be an issue for distributors, manufacturers, and manufacturer reps. 

Draws Large Crowd in Long Beach

This Week: The Senate is in session. The House is in and out of recess subject to the call of the Chair.

The mission of the ASA Emerging Leaders Division is to be the voice and advocate for the next generation of leaders in our industry, providing strategic insight to the association that supports the advancement of the industry’s next generation, as well as being an advocate for engaging the members through a strong professional network that advances the interest of the members.

Finding a Speaker and the Race to Succeed

Part of the value of being an ASA member is the incredible networking opportunities afforded to members through ASA events.

The American Supply Association’s Plumbing Division is pleased to announce Kohler Co. Vice President and General Manager Business Services Jim Lewis is the recipient of the 2023 Plumbing Division Award of Excellence.

In 1997, Bolt and Six Degrees were the first social networking sites launched. Bolt was a platform for 15-20-year-olds to use for email, voicemail, message boards and instant messaging. Six Degrees was created to help people connect with people they didn’t know.

Done Deal, Motion to Vacate & What Happens Next

Fast & Furious

Once again, The ASA University Trainer's Best Practice Forum was a resounding success, spanning two enriching half-days with active engagement from members throughout the event.

Respondents reported median year-over-year sales growth of 2% for August 2023 vs. 2022.

ASA on Capitol Hill, House Party & Motion to Vacate

In the coming weeks, ASA will be launching Phase II of Project Talent including a new tool aimed at directing jobseekers to member company websites.

Former ASA president to be honored at NIBCO IPD Breakfast at NETWORK2023 in Orlando.

ASA on the Hill & Two Things to Watch

Earlier this week, ASA launched its first Voice of the Contractor survey to nearly 30,000 plumbing and mechanical and industrial/mechanical pipe, valves and fittings contractors throughout the country.

WSA, recognizing their responsibility to their members to provide programs and services they desire have decided to turn over those functions to ASA.

As members grapple with attracting talented workers to their businesses, the ongoing need to develop professional, insightful, and effective leaders is even more pronounced.

The Senate Returns & Don't Mess with Texas

ASA staff members had the opportunity to attend the recent IMARK and TCG buying group summer meetings where they met with members of those groups and gained greater insights on the issues they are facing.

Quiet Before the Storm

Each year, ASA University reaches out to our member companies to find out more about their training needs and challenges.

Trainers recognize the need to capture seasoned employee expertise – but how?

39 Days & a Line in the Sand

40% of the respondents reported a decline in year-over-year sales for July.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting…

Information to Help Communications with Local Code Officials.

ASA volunteers discussed the state of the practice when obtaining digital product data from manufacturers to be utilized by distributors. 

Department of Energy & House and Senate Updates

Inflation Reduction Act Rebates, Water Heater NOPR & More

Appropriations Bills, NDAA, Farm Bill & More

The ASA Executive Committee and senior staff met several weeks ago to review the progress the association is making.

Respondents reported essentially flat sales (+0.1%). Year-to-date sales through June 2023 increased 5% vs. 2022.

Three Case Studies - Bruce Supply, Silver Creek Supply, and White Star Supply

Every three years, model building codes governing plumbing and PVF are renewed and adopted by federal, state and local regulatory and legislative bodies as enforceable requirements. 

For years, ASA team members have traveled the nation to meet with members in what has been dubbed the “ASA Member Blitz.”

Congress is Back, NDAA, Farm Bill & More!

PHCC Educational Foundation recently announced the six plumbing students who received top honors in the plumbing competition during the annual SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference.

The prestigious ASA Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to individuals with a long history of service and dedication to our industry.

Coming off a record-setting attendance last month at EMERGE2023, attendees were asked what they value most about being ASA members.

Although aggressive pricing and inventory concerns continue to drive the market down, especially for larger orders.

Department of Energy Regulations, Recess & Fundraising

With the prevalence of training within any company, having a way to offer, manage and track what training is required, what training is needed, or what training is desired, is an essential part of a strong training program.

Appropriations, Energy & Water, and More!

ASA recently commissioned a research project to, in part, understand the perceptions job seekers have when considering the PHCP and PVF industry.

Industry Insights reports a median sales increase of 5% for May 2023 vs. May 2022.

 

Updates on Ways and Means and appropriations

The best practices roundtable session at the 2023 ASA Northeast Summit produced productive discussions on top-of-mind industry topics.

Distributors post strong sales gains

Tax Markups, Internal Debate & Cooking with Gas

ASA University is proud to announce an educational partnership with the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH).

Last week a key bill that would have had a detrimental effect on members in-state, as well as nationally, was removed from consideration.

Laser focus is the key to your goals

Using third-party tools like Indeed is equally critical in expanding a firm’s recruitment effectiveness.

Crisis Averted & The Road Ahead

Carbon steel pricing has hit some headwinds that are putting pressure on pricing recently.

Last year it came to light that the PHCC National Association had negotiated a discount program for its contractor members with one of its supplier members, Home Depot/HD Supply.

Did you know ASA University offers manufacturer training that is entirely FREE for ASA members?

We Have a Debt Limit Deal, ASA on 199A and More

The X-Factor & Sticking Points

One of the major highlights of the 2023 ASA Emerging Leaders EMERGE conference in Savannah, Georgia was the annual best practices roundtable sessions.

Respondents reported a median sales decline of -1.8% for April 2023 vs. 2022.

ASA in DC, The Big Meeting: Part 2, & Debt Ceiling Negotiations

We’ve all heard the stats, an average of 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day and all 76 million boomers will have passed that age by 2030. 

A report issued in April 2023 by Beyond Plastics, a project with the mission to “… end plastic pollution everywhere…”, falsely claims that the use of PVC and CPVC pipe in drinking water system pose a significant health and environmental hazard.

The American Supply Association is proud to announce the winners of the ASA World Plumbing Day poster contest.

The Big Meeting, New Regulations for Fleet Trucks & More

Debt Limit Breakthrough, Government Debt Default & More

ASA members continue to face challenges finding talent to meet current needs.

Debt Limit, Spending, Biden Announcement & More! 

The Southwest Pacific Distributors (SWPD), a regional affiliate of ASA, recently held its annual leadership conference at Indian Wells, California!

Respondents reported a median sales increase of 1.7% for March 2023 vs. 2022.

Debt Limit, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Berkeley Gas Ban Ruling & More!

During the first week of April, ASA welcomed representatives from seven manufacturers and six distributors to Chicago for round table sessions to facilitate discussion and broaden learnings focused on the topic of manufacturer created product data information sets.

Participation in the Women in Industry annual conference grew by over 45% as the 2023 conference in Charleston, SC set a record attendance.

IRS, More CODELs, WOTUS & More!

Equipment Controls Company, an ASA distributor member based out of Norcross, Georgia, was ready to take training to the next level at their organization.

ASA Fly-In, IRS, CODELs & More

Prices corrected for nickel and all base materials since the ASA Commodities Report

Last week, 25 ASA members from across the country descended on Washington to help advocate for issues important to the PHCP/PVF industry.

The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) is opening registration to those interested  ASA members for the same price as NAED members.

Earlier this month, many ASA members and other professionals in distribution met to learn, connect, and gain insight into best practices at the 2023 University of Innovative Distribution conference in Indianapolis, IN.

Budget & Taxes, Healthy H2O Act & More

ASA staff members were in attendance at The Commonwealth Group 2023 Spring Conference

At last year’s ASA Strategic Planning Retreat, volunteers discussed the idea of a ‘product data library’ that could be the sole source of manufacturer product data.

Respondents reported a median sales increase of 11.5% for February 2023 vs. 2022.

Opposition to Proposed Tax Increases

For more than four decades, ASA’s annual Operating Performance Report (OPR) has helped distributors in both the plumbing and industrial/mechanical PVF markets benchmark their company performance against their historical performance as well as against their competitors. 

 

Recently, the final stage of the process was completed with the IAPMO Board considering petitions from industry to reconsider decisions reached by the UMC Technical Committee (TC) and the IAPMO Standards Council (SC).

Biden’s FY2023 Budget & Inflation

The latest PMI tracked a little lower than it was in December and sits at 47.4. This is not miserable as these are still numbers within reach of the expansion zone (readings above 50), but they are still dipping.

With the unemployment rate at its lowest level in decades, employers across the nation continue to struggle staffing their companies with high-quality talent. 

House Activity, State Water Standards in Schools & More!

Planning for this year’s event is well underway!

Work Continues on an Energy (Security) Bill in the House

Respondents to ASA’s monthly sales reported a median sales increase of 18% for January 2023 vs. 2022.

ASA is proud to announce the launch of a new and exciting website that better reflects the association brand and that of the PHCP & PVF industry.

Recent survey dives deep into eCommerce channel development and importance of robust product data as a service differentiator.

ASA's Jim Kendzel recently had the opportunity to represent ASA and HARDI at the ASHRAE Winter Meetings held in Atlanta, GA.

Every year on March 11th ASA joins with other stakeholders around the world working in the plumbing supply-chain in celebrating WPD.

Last week in Naples, FL, more than 100 members and staff once again met to keep the association properly focused on the future horizon, reestablish the assumptions that the association is making, what new initiatives the association will need to take and what successes we are making.

And Then There Were Two

ASA on the Hill

ASA's Director of Codes and Standards represented the members of ASA at the recent meetings of the CSA and ASME.

Debt Summit, 2024 Election Updates & More

Implementing and maintaining a training program is no small task.

No Decision Yet on Speaker of the House

While year-to-year comparisons strong, previous-month comps more modest.

Significant price inflation cited among factors; Recession forthcoming?

The American Supply Association is proud to announce the winners of the first ASA World Plumbing Day poster contest.