Larry Davis is a unique individual with an interesting story. He owned his own company for more than 30 years and then decided it was time to sell. He was concerned for his employees and their families who have been loyal and trustworthy for many years, so he made a deal with Hirsch Pipe & Supply to retain all his employees while he stays on to manage the San Juan Capistrano, Calif., branch for a few years. When asked about his experience with the MDM program, Larry said, “As an industry veteran I know how important it is to never stop learning. The MDM program provided me with the opportunity to continue to grow as an individual. I was able to utilize a lot of the information that I received taking the ASA University MDM classes. I have found the information useful in many aspects of my work life.” Larry completed the MDM Fast Track which is an option meant for people with greater experience within the distribution industry looking to further their Leadership Skills.

When Anton Williams, Davis’ mentor for the program, was asked about how he felt about Davis’ MDM Capstone Project, he replied, “Larry’s hard work, dedication and business experience led to him streamlining our order entry process and saving Hirsch Pipe & Supply more than $40,000 during the first year of implementation of the new procedures. The new process will not only save us money but will increase our customer-service levels.”

The MDM Graduate Review Committee is responsible for granting the MDM Certificate to the candidate through formal analysis. Davis presented his final Capstone Project to the GRC and it had some great things to say about the first MDM Fast Track graduate:

George Yezbak, retired industry veteran, said, “I liked the fact that he was humble enough to participate in the program at all, given the fact that he has so much experience in the industry. Overall, he did an excellent job of meeting the requirements for the MDM program. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for his dedication, and commitment to the training and education he received.”

Coley Herrin, Plumbing Distributors, Inc. in Lawrenceville, Ga., said, “Larry’s project was well-planned and documented and it represented what ASA intended the MDM program to be. He is a remarkable individual whose experience in the industry provides a unique perspective on the program, and his desire and message to continue learning and never stop is both admirable and inspirational.”

Davis’ MDM Fast Track experience and successful completion of the program further demonstrate the benefits of participating in this one-of-a-kind program. ASA University looks forward to sharing the success stories of MDM graduates throughout this year and the years to come. Congratulations Larry Davis from all of us at ASA-U!