Based on a proven facilitation concept, ASA has formed nine CONNECT communities to give professionals in vital job functions an ability to meet virtually over the web on a monthly basis to discuss common challenges and provide practical solutions.

These communities will virtually meet once a month to discuss a challenge introduced by one of the group members. Group members will then dissect the problem and offer solutions. At the end of each meeting, the spotlight peer will assimilate the suggestions and commit to a direction.

Each monthly session will be led by The Distribution Team’s Jason Bader and Marshall Jones. They will work with the spotlight peer and lead each community in interactive best-practices roundtable sessions where attendees can gain insight and learn from peers on critical topics.

The nine CONNECT communities include: 

Branch manager
Meets: Third Thursday of month, 
1:30 p.m. (Central)

Finance manager
Meets: Third Wednesday of month,
10:30 a.m. (Central)

Human resources manager
Meets: Third Wednesday of month, 
12 p.m. (Central)

Marketing professional
Meets: Third Tuesday of month, 
11:30 a.m. (Central)

Operations manager
Meets: Third Tuesday of month, 
2:30 p.m. (Central)

Outside sales manager
Meets: Third Wednesday of month, 
3 p.m. (Central)

Purchasing manager
Meets: Third Wednesday of month,
10:30 a.m. (Central)

Training manager
Meets: Third Thursday of month, 
12 p.m. (Central)

“Have you ever been to a conference or a convention and had some great networking opportunities, met some people, talked about some things in your business and then you pretty much went your separate ways?” Bader asked. “What if you could continue those meaningful conversations for the entire year? That’s where the CONNECT online groups come in. 

“Through these groups of key functional roles, we have gathered 15 non-competing distributors to talk about challenges each of you face every day. Whatever role you are in your organization, we are going to develop a community for you. This is one way to connect with other ASA distributor members, share some things going on in your business and have 15 or more heads trying to work on that same problem. This is a way to gather together and solve challenges.”

CONNECT REGISTRATION
Each ASA CONNECT community is limited to 15 noncompeting participants and will be filled on a first come, first serve basis. As each community fills, ASA will open registration for the next community in that job function.

REGISTRATION FEES
ASA leadership is extremely excited about this exciting program and the value it offers our members. Therefore, we are waving the fee to register for these CONNECT communities in 2020.

To register for an ASA CONNECT community, visit ASA.net/Networking/CONNECT or call 630-467-0000 for more details.