The Southwest Pacific Distributors, a regional affiliate of the American Supply Association, recently held its annual awards dinner in Long Beach, California.

On Oct. 15, the American Supply Association submitted public comments opposing two Tentative Interim Amendments (TIA) that if passed, would remove the use of press-connect and mechanical joints in refrigeration systems under the 2018 and 2021 versions of the IAPMO Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC).

The American Supply Association’s Fred V. Keenan Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor that can be given to a member of our industry’s national trade association.

Nashville, Tennessee — home of country music, hot chicken and Johnny Cash. Along with those prominent illustrations depicting the city at face-value, this year it was also the home of the ASA Emerging Leaders’ annual forum EMERGE.

The word “essential” has taken on a bit of a new meaning since the onset of 2020 and the coronavirus pandemic. When talking about how business behaved throughout the ups and downs of the past 20 months, many mention how thankful they were to be an essential business, and how this title allowed doors to remain open and business to continue.

Steve Rossi, director of government affairs at ASA, along with more than 1,800 engaged ASA members, are largely to thank for that.

Heading into his year as ASA President, CEO of New England PHCP distribution giant The Granite Group, Bill Condron, plans to continue the upward trajectory that both ASA and his company are on.

Condron began his career in the industry stocking shelves in the warehouse of the family business. While he never intended to join the industry, his plans changed as he worked his way up through the company over the past 20 years.

The American Supply Association recently published the first of two special industry compensation studies. The first study, which focuses on driver and warehouse worker compensation levels, plus also dives into inside and outside sales positions and showroom sales personnel, covers the time period of June 1 through Aug. 31, 2021.

Respondents to ASA’s monthly sales report enjoyed a median sales increase of 19.3% for September 2021 vs. September 2020. Worth watching going forward, in comparison to the previous month — September 2021 vs. August 2021 — respondents reported a decline in median sales of -3.0%.

It’s easy to rest on your laurels when things are going well. Some may not think to stretch your organization out of fear that you will get in the way of a “good thing.” Remember the old adage — “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

American Supply Association Director of Codes and Standards Jim Kendzel, MPH, CAE, was named the recipient of the IAPMO Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award. The Joseph Kneidinger Sustainability Professional of the Year Award is presented to the professional that best fulfills or symbolizes the commitment to environmental sustainability. The nominated professional must be an IAPMO member.