The recent chaos and gloom that we’ve experienced during the global pandemic has taught us several important lessons, including resilience and strength.
It’s taught us to be stronger, to be hopeful and to look to the future, which is why the American Supply Association’s key initiative, “Building One Future,” is particularly poignant at this time. As an industry, we must come together to build that future.
As an ASA Platinum Supplier Partner, NIBCO is proud to be supportive of this long-term, 10-year, strategic action plan to help members remain competitive well into the future. In the plan, ASA has identified several critical issues that our industry must face together to shape a better future. Talent recruitment, networking and education are among these.
Developing talent is an investment that NIBCO continues to support, understanding its significance and impact on the future of the industry. NIBCO CEO Rex Martin has long been an instrumental and driving force behind the company’s ongoing support of apprenticeship programs and trade schools, realizing that investing in our youth is constructing the path for the future. In response to the labor shortages facing our industry, which have intensified since COVID, NIBCO adopted a sales-training program aimed at bringing young people into the industry through our college recruitment efforts.
Networking is yet another ASA initiative that is key to building the industry’s future. Recognizing this, NIBCO’s Executive Vice President Ashley Martin (and fifth-generation family member leading the company) cofounded ASA’s Women in Industry division more than eight years ago, providing women in our industry the connections and opportunities to meet and exchange ideas to advance their knowledge and careers.
This strategy to empower women and recognize the important role they play in our industry also translates to NIBCO internally, where Martin is a strong advocate of bringing women into the company to launch their careers. She is the executive sponsor of the NIBwomen’s Group, an internal group founded by Alice A. Martin that celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2020.
Keeping members well informed of the latest industry technologies is another key pillar that ASA and NIBCO commonly believe to be critical to the betterment of the industry. Education is a constant challenge, but never so challenging as it was during COVID. To stay connected and educate our customer base, both distributors and end users, NIBCO quickly implemented online webinars that allowed for transferring critical information about products and technologies in a timely, safe method. Today, these educational webinars can be accessed online.
NIBCO is incredibly proud of its rich legacy in this industry. With a history of success and innovation in the plumbing industry, NIBCO is focused on bringing products and technologies to market that make installations easier and more efficient. Ninety percent of NIBCO’s valves, fitting and flow-control products are proudly manufactured in nine U.S. manufacturing plants strategically located from the East Coast to the West Coast.
NIBCO is also proud of its strategic partnership with ASA, leveraging its resources, but also giving back by sharing our knowledge, our passion and our commitment to the industry. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are building a successful future.
