Now that ISH North America is moving to a biennial event, with its next trade show scheduled for Sept. 28-30, 2006, in Chicago, the American Supply Association and the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors - National Association have announced they will co-host Network '05 next September. This will provide one consolidated industry program that will include the annual meetings of both groups, along with a new combined series of programs that will bring together manufacturers, wholesalers and contractors in a collaborative setting for the first time in history.

A highlight of Network '05 will be the “Channel Marketplace,” a one-day table-top event that will offer manufacturer executives the opportunity to have more intimate discussions with their distributor and contractor customers, with the emphasis on relationship-building.

ASA and PHCC members will meet separately for the initial portion of the program, allowing time to address their respective elections, reports and other business. The opening party will be co-hosted by the two groups, followed by two days of joint programming.

“We've been talking about getting the entire channel together at one event like this for some time,” said Inge Calderon, ASA's executive vice president. “With the ISH North America show going to an every-other-year cycle, we have the perfect opportunity to do so starting in 2005.”

“Our members are excited about having the chance to network with their suppliers and with the industry's manufacturers,” said Ike Casey, executive vice president of PHCC. “We're already starting to identify channel issues that we'd like to address with them.”

ASA's President-Elect Dottie Ramsey of Modern Supply Co. in Knoxville, Tenn., said, “It's time that we got together to discuss how we can work together within our channel, instead of sitting in separate rooms pointing fingers at each other.”

According to incoming PHCC President Mary Garvelink of Commercial Design Engineering. Ltd. in Colorado Springs, Colo., “It'll be a big change for us, but a very welcome one.”

ASA and PHCC will work with Messe Frankfurt on this event, scheduled for Sept. 7-10, 2005, at the Disney Swan & Dolphin Hotels in Orlando, Fla. For more information, contact Inge Calderon, 312-464-0090 or e-mail at ingec@asa.net.