2018 Annual Convention Highlights

Speakers and Presentations

Amazon Business’ 2020+ Impact on the Millwork Channel

D. Bruce Merrifield Jr
The Merrifield Consulting Group

Amazon is building a radically different customer-centric, value channel. They can (and eventually will) sell varying (and increasing) amounts of products into any vertical that currently sells to their Prime Members. By 2020, their radical product information and delivery capabilities will significantly shift – factory-out, push channels – to Pull-Marketing. The traditional channel service-cost bundle will be under attack. Bruce’s presentation addressed specifically the Millwork channel?

About the Speaker

Bruce Merrifield started his consulting practice for the independent distribution channels in January of 1980, after having spent 8 years working for a growth- by-acquisition chain of distribution companies. In 1983, Bruce bought Clark Security Products, a San Diego distributor which then had $7 million in sales. He turned around Clark, installed a high-performance culture. Clark grew organically to over $150MM in sales and was sold to Anixter Corp. in December, 2010. Over the years, Bruce has given countless speeches to well over 100 trade associations, as well as many of the world’s largest corporations with many repeat assignments along the way. He has written over 100 published articles and authored “Electronic Commerce for Distribution Channels” in 1999. Bruce has been and currently is a formal advisor or board member for many firms and provides specific, strategic advice to many more on a regular basis. He has done several, contract turnaround projects in which he has worked with existing management throughout. And, he is an equity partner in two separate, but related firms that leverage software-as-a-service technology to create new business models for distributors. Bruce co-founded the Advance Profit Innovation Conference (apicconference.com) in ’08. Since then, he has become the pioneering authority on both “Cost-To-Serve Economics” and “Line-Item, Profit Analytics Management” for distributors. Visit Bruce’s site and prodigious distribution work at www.merrifield.com

Members Only: View Presentation

Winds of Change

Alex Chausovsky
ITR Economics

Businesses need to know what the leading indicators are saying about the 2018 economy and what ITR’s outlook is for 2019. There are business cycle changes afoot, and there are other factors that will have an impact on our future—and others that won’t. The consumer drove the economy to where it is today. Alex provided answers to why the consumer could be in a weakened position for 2019 and how this could be tied to the savings rate, the stock market, and interest rates.

Attend the education session, Winds of Change, and walk away from this session with:

  • A clear vision for the future
  • Knowing what leading indicators matter
  • Understanding the impact of government policy on the economy
  • Inflation expectations
  • Risks to the economy and forecast

About the Speaker

Alex Chausovsky is an accomplished Speaker and Consultant at ITR Economics. He is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than a decade of expertise in subjects that include macroeconomics, industrial manufacturing, energy efficiency, automation, and advanced technology trends. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the U.S., Europe, Brazil, China and Japan for the last fifteen years. Click Here to View More About Alex Chausovsky and ITR Economics.

Members Only: View Presentation

Trucking in the Millwork Industry

Scott A. Craig
Penske

Beyond the day-to-day challenges associated with your primary business, you also find yourself tossed into the middle of the trucking industry to distribute your products. To help navigate the transportation side of your business, Scott provided the key considerations as it pertains to the lease vs. own decision; important technology enhancements related to fuel-efficiency and fleet safety; and a review of key economic indicators, fuel forecasts and transportation regulations.

About the Speaker

Scott A. Craig is a Certified Public Account with the past 24 years of transportation industry experience with Penske. Scott holds a degree in Business and Accounting from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Currently, Scott resides in Bradenton, Florida.

Understanding the Challenges of Today’s Regulatory Requirements

Jessica Ferris
WMA Director of Codes and Standards

Why is understanding the challenges of industry regulations important? Because not understanding the challenges or regulatory requirements can impact your company productivity and your company wallet. WMA’s director of codes and standards, Jessica Ferris helped attendees better understand how to meet the challenges in an ever-changing regulatory world. Join us!

Attendees learned about:

  • Changes in door industry compliance requirements relevant to the pre-hanging industry
  • WMA’s Millwork Safety Program – Industry OSHA Programs and data research
  • NFRC’s New Simplified Door Rating Procedure
  • Revisions to Canadian door component substitution development
  • WMA Standard update and Certification Program developments
  • What to expect in 2019