Scott Robertson has been a fixture with the North Central Wholesalers Association since 1984. He would come to the association’s annual event with his grandfather, John Robertson, and quickly hit the floors, building relationships so when he was ready to take over Ohio-based Robertson Heating Supply ( Supply House Times’ 2009 Wholesaler of the Year) he would be properly prepared.

What’s past is prologue at Merit Brass.

John Strong said Economy doesn’t host too many after-hours events, but when the company does, it’s a hit.

Jeff Valles and Tom Cohn have delivered strong content at Forte Buying Group meetings for a long time. Valles – Forte’s director of membership services – believed the group’s summer meeting was going to follow a typical schedule; seminars, workshops and receptions. But in the end Valles felt the July meeting in Rosemont, Ill., was the perfect time to shake things up.

The fervor of North Central Wholesalers Association members is on the rise and the numbers are trending in the right direction, both in meeting attendance and the bottom lines of NCWA companies.

Plastered throughout McCormick Place in Chicago was the slogan for the KBIS 2012 event: “Touch the Future.” With the pace companies are advancing technology in their kitchen and bathroom products the slogan for KBIS 2013 might be “A Touchless Future.”

The recovery continues. For the second consecutive year, Supply House Times’ Premier survey reveals an increase in sales made by PCHP companies. The annual survey, conducted by Supply House Times and BNP Media Market Research, ranks the Top 125 PHCP wholesalers by their sales from the past year.