09/30/2011

NAHAD Board Meets in Las Vegas

On September 24, the NAHAD Board of Directors met in the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Using the opportunity to preview the convention space, review the proposed schedule of events for the 2012 convention and tour the facilities, provides a backdrop for a jam-packed agenda. Aside from a brief review of administrative matters, the Board took the pulse of progress on the objectives laid out in the 2011-2013 Strategic Plan. Currently, the Board is in the second year of the plan which identified the following objectives:

Objective 1:
Achieve recognition as the industry leader for hose assembly safety, quality and reliability - to this end, discussion revolved around activities of the Hose Safety Institute with reports from the committee chairman, Sam Petillo and the Standards Manager, Debbie Mitchell. The Board was updated on progress of revisions to the Hose Assembly Guidelines and delivery mechanisms, current and proposed for guidelines documents, both electronic and hard-copy. There was also discussion of the Hose Safety Institute Advisory Council which is in formation.

Objective 2:
Commit to a regularly delivered program of education and information - A review of NAHAD's Programs & Services on NAHAD.org was conducted by Molly Thompson, NAHAD's Program Manager. Kristin Thompson, NAHAD's Communication Director discussed the four primary communications outlets - the NAHAD News, 2011-2012 Membership Directory, the annual Convention Guide, as well as the newest communications vehicle, the online hoseconnections which is circulated twice each month.

Objective 3:
Increase distributor membership from 271 in 2010 to 300 in 2013 - The report by NAHAD's Membership Director, Amy Luckado was reviewed by Committee Chariman, Mike Helfer. There are currently 282 Distributor Member companies, 142 Manufacturer member companies, 22 Associate member companies and 14 Affiliate member companies. In addition, NAHAD has 275 branch locations and there are 2,456 employees of those companies and/or branches who are listed as contacts for NAHAD. To date in 2012, NAHAD has gained 27 new member companies.

Objective 4:
Position the NAHAD website (and e-commerce, social networks) as useful industry resources - Executive Vice President, Joe Thompson conducted a thorough review of the new NAHAD.org web site. Opportunities for linking to NAHAD members through the site were displayed, as well as demonstrations of the NAHAD Facebook page and NAHAD's LinkedIn functionality.

Objective 5:
Concentrate Guidelines Resources on Branding and Marketing - this objective was covered as part of Objectives 1 and 4.

Objective 6:
Industry Alliance Building - A Task Force, consisting of members of both NAHAD and NIBA-The Belting Association, was formed last Spring. Members plan to meet again this fall to discuss opportunities for co-locating a convention or other joint ventures. In addition, there was a brief discussion of other potential alliances.

Objective 7:
Clearly define a partnering/collaboration strategy with other organizations - as described under Objective 6

Objective 8:
Apply training and recruitment programs to attract new talent to the industry. Program Manager, Molly Thompson serves on the advisory board of Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP). ICP's current initiatives were discussed.

Board Members are very enthusiastic about the venue for the 2012 Annual Meeting and Convention. The Venetian/Palazzo Hotel is an all suite facility, with well-appointed sleeping rooms and excellent meeting space. Its location in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip will allow attendees the opportunity to experience all that Las Vegas has to offer while still having the advantage of space dedicated to the business purposes that NAHAD members have come to expect over the years. The preliminary schedule for the 2012 convention appears in the October issue of the NAHAD News and will be featured in the next issue of hoseconnections. Sleeping room reservations can be made online by linking from the Annual Convention button at nahad.org. The complete information, including the convention brochure will be posted as information becomes available and will be mailed to members in late November.