ASA Attends Recent Buying Group Meetings

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.

The Commonwealth Group Shareholders Meeting held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs gave staff the opportunity during the group’s general session to address more than 300 attendees from roughly 120 distributor companies.

A common theme echoed by TCG members was the issue of attracting the new talent needed to replace those transitioning into retirement, as well as the training needed for those new career seekers — two themes the American Supply Association is uniquely positioned to provide valuable support.

ASA CEO Mike Adelizzi addressed TCG distributor member representatives about new initiatives being rolled out by the association geared to support the industry.  Phase 2 of PROJECT TALENT will direct thousands of job seekers responding to the association’s aggressive social media campaign, directly to member websites where it is ASA’s goal to have member support in closing the connect between interested candidates and the current employment issue our industry is facing.

Adelizzi also discussed plans that are underway to establish a national standard for product data transfers between distributors and manufacturers, as well as a new campaign to survey plumbing and mechanical contractors and share their outlook on construction and market trends, relationships with distributors, buying habits, as well as issues being faced by member customers. 

At the IMARK Invitational held at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, IMARK Plumbing graciously provided ASA time in its meetings rotation where staff had the valuable opportunity to meet with nearly 40 current and prospective ASA distributor members during a two-day period. Staff took the opportunity to chat with IMARK members on the value the industry’s only national trade association provides in areas such as employee education and training, as well as PHCP-PVF industry benchmarking/business intelligence.