ASA held its annual conference, NETWORK on Sept. 25-27,  2019 in Washington, D.C. NETWORK continues to be a very important opportunity for the industry to connect and conduct business as year-end nears and firms are closing in on their annual financial targets.  

As the most anticipated industry event of the year, NETWORK2019 was a huge success. The anticipation for this year’s conference was full of excitement, as ASA celebrated 50 years as a national association! To recognize this historic milestone, ASA hosted a special evening at the National Air & Space Museum making the event a memorable networking opportunity for the wholesaler-distributors, manufacturers and manufacturer reps in attendance.

With NETWORK hosted in the nation’s capital this year, attendees had a special opportunity to meet with their elected officials. More than 100 attendees met with elected officials to discuss important legislative issues impacting the plumbing, heating, cooling and piping, and industrial pipe, valves and fittings (PHCP-PVF) industry, including reducing regulatory burdens and addressing workforce shortages. In addition, ASA’s Political Action Committee (ASA PAC), held its annual PAC reception. Attendees at the reception were excited to hear Congressman Brian Mast (18^th Congressional District of Florida), a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Attendees were impressed by Congressman Mast’s inspiring speech about his service in the U.S. Army for more than 12 years, earning medals including the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal for Valor, the Purple Heart Medal and the Defense Meritorious Medal.

Unlike any other industry event, NETWORK offered attendees the opportunity to attend nearly a dozen educational sessions to hear and learn from an exciting lineup of educational, political and motivational speakers. Nearly 800 formal meetings took place between the distributor attendees and the 80 manufacturers participating in the NETWORK conference booth sessions. Also, for the first time, ASA held a special networking roundtable session. This highly anticipated session was well-attended, with nearly 200 attendees participating in information sharing and critical thinking about the issues facing the industry.

ASA thanks everyone who attended this year’s annual conference. Plan to attend next year — please save the date for NETWORK2020 in “Sweet Home Chicago” Oct. 7 – 9 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park!