ASA President’s Letter

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Industry Insights Senior Vice President Greg Manns notes data from the 2025 report shows 2024 was a challenging year compared to a few recent ones. However, Manns cautions that he is not painting a picture of gloom and doom because ASA wholesaler respondents still reported a fairly solid year when looking from a historical perspective over the last 5-10 years.

NETWORK2025 in Fort Lauderdale is a must-attend event for you and your team. Explore our unmatched program and join us in South Florida - you won’t be disappointed.

This year’s EMERGE (May 13-15) in Las Vegas will be a doozy and will put the division in a position to where it has nearly doubled in size since the 2023 event in Savannah, Georgia. Last year’s EMERGE conference in Boston set a new all-time attendance mark and the Vegas version in May will threaten it.

I held my first meeting as ASA president and was impressed by the volunteers who gathered for our winter strategic retreat in Southern California. LEAD, an invitation-only event for ASA volunteers and past presidents, drew nearly 100 attendees.

In the cold, gloomy Midwest, I aim for two daily goals: 30 minutes of light exercise and learning something new, often from the American Supply Association website, which I highly recommend.

The new president of the American Supply Association (ASA) shares his 18-year journey, highlighting ASA's value in networking and equality among wholesalers.

As my presidency at ASA concludes, I reflect on a year of financial stability, networking growth, and key initiatives like the Strategic Leadership and Innovation Summits.

Technology is a catalyst for change, reshaping our work lives through automation, advanced data analytics, and artificial intelligence. As industry leaders, we must embrace these changes to maintain our competitive edge and ensure the survival of our businesses.

ASA has recognized how important data standardization is to our industry. About two years ago, at our LEAD strategic planning retreat, we discussed how ASA could get involved and help guide our industry.

More than 50 ASA companies have flipped the switch on the “Now Hiring” option on supplyindustrycareers.com with more than 2,500 brick-and-mortar locations nationwide.