Global Fastener News

STAFDA Marks 25 Years

John Wolz

There were 13 companies represented at the first Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association meeting in 1976 in Chicago. At its 25th anniversary convention in San Antonio this month, 1,251 of the 2,611 member companies attended.\
STAFDA was founded by a group of distributor friends, led by Jack Jahntz of L.W. Meyer & Sons, New Berlin, WI, when the industry was concerned about competition from direct seller Hilti and product liability insurance.
By early 1977 there were 18 member companies, and STAFDA hired Morrie Halvorsen as executive director.
By the end of 1977 STAFDA had 90 distributor and 63 associate members.
Membership grew to 600 by 1980, topped the 1,000 mark by 1985, grew to 1,900 by 1990, 2,100 by 2000 and 2,600 by 2000.
STAFDA�s $350 annual dues have never been raised.
The first regional meeting was held in Myrtle Beach, SC, in 1978.
The first tabletop show was in 1978, and the first full-booth trade show in 1982. STAFDA went to annual trade shows in 1997. The 2000 convention in Nashville drew nearly 4,600 people and totaled 710 booths.
Celebrity speakers at annual conventions have included Paul Harvey; Howard K. Smith; the Capital Gang of Bob Novak, Al Hunt and Mark Shields; George Will; Art Buchwald; Jack Kemp; Bob Dole; and two former U.S. presidents, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.
STAFDA has a paid staff of just three: executive director Georgia Foley, administrative manager Jan Tschetter and member services director Cathy Usher. �2001 FastenerNews.com