Global Fastener News

After 44 years, the National Fastener Distributors Association has “reached a fork in the road,” according to incoming president Jay Queenin. “We are charting a new course.”

• Queenin of Specialty Bolt & Screw Inc succeeds Matt Ulrich of Assembled Products Inc. Kevin Reidl of Hodell-Natco is the new vice president and Bob Porteous of Porteous Fastener is associate chair.
• The NFDA named Pacific-West Fastener Association executive director Vickie Lester as the seventh leader in the association’s history.  Southern California-based Lester Management will continue to manage Pac-West.
• When the balance sheet was tallied from 2011 showing a $50,000 loss, Queenin said the board realized changes were essential to return the organization to solid footing.
Running an association is like running a business, Queenin told members at the association meeting in Atlanta.
Queenin cited “outside” factors including industry consolidation, leaner companies, competing for scarce resources, information and relationships migrating online, and generational changes as influencing the new direction.
The NFDA board began considering changes in January.
“We’re willing to try new things,” Queenin said.

He noted that the NFDA has 89 distributor members and 58 associate members totaling 147, and that 90% of the organization’s income is derived from member dues.
“The NFDA has received high-quality, professional services since 2007,” Ulrich said of SmithBucklin. “However, the NFDA board believes it is time to head in a different strategy direction, and we feel Vickie Lester’s background and abilities will help us achieve our vision.”
Queenin acknowledged the split between NFDA associate members on antidumping issues. Associate members include domestic manufacturers and importers.
But Queenin said members can work together on such issues as health care, unions and taxes.
He called on members to be more active in the organization, and pledged to make volunteer work a priority. He also said NFDA intends to emphasize association task forces that are focused and have time limits to increase participation.

Queenin cited new NFDA goals:
• Bring industry leaders together.
• Provide tools to increase professionalism.
• Work with other associations to strengthen the overall fastener industry — a new strategy for the organization. “Most of you belong to more than one association,” Queenin noted. “We will work together in moving all associations in one direction.”
• Transform the NFDA into a national voice on policy matters that impact members by disseminating information.

NFDA 2012-13 Leaders
As a student Queenin worked summers at Specialty Bolt and then went to law school. Upon graduation he became a prosecutor in the Massachusetts attorney general’s office. He joined the family fastener business six years ago and is now COO. 
Reidl started working in the warehouse of the family business 13 years ago.
Founded in 1977, Specialty Bolt services large OEMs. Headquartered in Agawam, MA, SBS also has facilities in Canada and Mexico. E-mail: jpqueenin@specialtybolt.com Web: specialtybolt.com
Reidl joined the family business 13 years ago and began working in the warehouse. He is now president.
The new distributor board members are distributors Jim Lindrup of Fabory USA; Bob Luzum, Accurate Component Sales Inc.; and associate Simmi Sakhuja, president of Stelfast Inc.

Lester is 7th NFDA Executive
Lester started her management company in 1986, with the Western Association of Fastener Distributors as her first client. Later that year she added the Los Angeles Fastener Association. In 2009 those two associations combined to become Pacific-West Fastener Association.
She started in association management “stuffing envelopes” and worked four years with a Los Angeles company before starting her business.
“As the new executive director of NFDA, Vickie will assist the board in providing our members with exciting new professional development opportunities, networking experiences and a national policy voice,” Queenin said.
“In addition we believe that Vickie is uniquely positioned in the fastener industry to advance the NFDA’s strategic vision of coordinating more closely with other fastener associations.”
Assisting Lester is Jeannine Christensen, director of member services for Lester Management, and Marci Myer, member services assistant. Christensen has been with Lester since 1994, and Myer joined the firm three years ago.
Lester holds a bachelors in English and medieval studies from Pitzer College and an MBA from California State University. In 2001 she earned the Certified Association Executive designation and is a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management.
Lester succeeds Mark Lenhart of SmithBucklin. Previous NFDA executives were John Hausoul of SmithBucklin (2006-2010); Dave Merrifield (1996-2005); Ken Dickson (1990-1996); Mary Ann Langholz (1976-1990); and Gordon Vaughan during the 1970s.
The next NFDA meeting is being scheduled for November 2012 in Arizona, overlapping with the Pac-West meeting in Scottsdale.
The NFDA office has begun transitioning to 10842 Noel St. #107, Los Alamitos, CA 90702. Tel: 714 484-4747 Web: NFDA-fastener.org  ©2012/2014 Fastener Industry News.
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Related Links:

• National Fastener Distributors Association