Serving as ASA President throughout the course of the past several months has been a great learning experience for me. During this time, I have been privileged to represent ASA at various industry events and visit with many of you in the PHCP and PVF industry. I have been able to report on the successes of the association and the growing number of benefits that are available to our members. My first experience with ASA was in 1992 when Kenny Pipe and Supply started and we became a member of the Southern Wholesalers Association (SWA). Our company has been a member of SWA and ASA ever since.
Since that first ASA experience, I have witnessed an association of declining membership and revenues develop into one of great stature within our industry. Over the past five years, I have experienced the growth of the organization and watched it become leaner, more organized and more focused under the leadership of our Executive Vice President Mike Adelizzi. I have also observed the development of a new strategic plan focused on serving the needs of members.
We have a very well-defined set of values to deliver to our members. The focus of ASA’s membership benefit package is in four key areas: Benchmarking, Networking, Advocacy and Education. As an ASA representative at industry events, I have provided brief highlights from each area. A highlight area for Education is ASA University. Our Education Foundation is currently developing its Colleges of Purchasing, Finance and Warehouse Operations. The College of Sales and the College of Leadership will be unveiled atNetworkASA 2011in Las Vegas. The ASA Education Foundation is moving quickly to introduce these innovative colleges as well as to broaden our educational offerings and value. One of ASA’s many Benchmarking benefits includes the Operating Performance Report (OPR), which provides the most complete, accurate and up-to-date comparative financial performance information for and about PHCP and PVF wholesalers in the industry.
In the area of Networking, ASA offers a series of opportunities that are second-to-none. At the top of that list is our annual convention,NetworkASA 2011, September 13-16 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV. The event is designed to educate and inform as well as maximize networking time for industry wholesalers and suppliers. Please see the ASA News section (page 38) for more program detail and speaker information. In last month’s letter, I highlighted ASA’s Advocacy efforts. Dan Hilton, our Director of Government Affairs in Washington, D.C., keeps us engaged in daily activities on “the Hill.” Dan’s addition to the ASA staff at the end of last year provides us with a valuable resource.
How else are we measuring ASA’s growth? We have strong member involvement in all areas. Membership is growing at a near-record rate. Participation in our benchmarking reports is up significantly. Supplier partnerships are well above and beyond where they have been in recent years. Participation in our educational events is growing. Our volunteer committees, councils and special interest divisions have also gained participation. The evidence is overwhelming. WE ARE AN ASSOCIATION OF GROWTH.
To ensure our future success, we need to continue to develop our programs, recruit active member volunteers and help ASA remain member-focused. If your company is not currently a member of ASA, you are certainly missing out. What better time to become a member than during a time of strong growth? Non-members are encouraged to contact ASA today at (312) 464-0090 to find out more about the benefits of becoming a member. Tell them I sent you!
Bill Kenny
Kenny Pipe & Supply
