STAFDA catches a virtual wave

Members of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) caught the tech wave for the association’s Virtual Anaheim Convention along with the 24 Hours of STAFDA’s Trade Show, held Nov. 9 - Nov. 10. 

The online offering brought attendees together to network, see new product demos, take advantage of special pricing, and hear from industry speakers.

The STAFDA Virtual Anaheim Convention kicked off with an information-packed General Session. STAFDA President, Greg Hughes, Kinnunen Sales & Rentals, Stillwater, Okla., focused on how distributors remain relevant in turbulent times during his state-of-the-industry address. 

The associate viewpoint was provided by Maria Ford, president of the North American Industrial and Commercial Sales & Marketing Team, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc., Towson, Md. She discussed transformation, digital acceleration, and cooperation between manufacturers, distributors, and industry partners. 

Tech guru Guy Kawasaki felt right at home using the online forum for his live keynote presentation and interview with STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley. He discussed his career in Silicon Valley, working with other technology icons such as Steve Jobs, what amazing tech discoveries await us, and creating a positive work environment.

Utilizing a specialized Networking Center, 85 exhibitors and 14 Tech Pavilion vendors reached out to distributor and rep members to schedule one-on-one meetings and create engaging demos.

Since STAFDA is a global association, meeting times were available for a full 24 hours to accommodate attendees in all time zones. More than 225 demos and 100 one-on-one meetings were held from Monday at 12:30 p.m. to Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

Distributors were in a heated race to attend the most meetings and demos with the top three participants winning one of three $1,000 gift cards to their choice of a Richard Petty, NASCAR, or Mario Andretti racing experience. 

Another hallmark of the STAFDA Convention is the outstanding Educational Workshops offering attendees a wide range of timely topics from industry experts.
 

STAFDA’s 45th Annual Convention & Trade Show, will be held November 7-9, in Charlotte. Registration opens June 28 at STAFDA.org.