The May issue is an exciting one. The first order of business is Supply House Times’ annual Premier 150 distributors list. As you can predict, sales skyrocketed for many PHCP-PVF distributors throughout fiscal year 2021 — the total dollar number of sales reported from this year’s survey (based on 2021 sales) increased more than $22 billion dollars from the number that was reported in last year’s survey (which was based on sales in 2020) — which is pretty darn good news.

Nearly 100% of respondents expect sales to increase throughout fiscal year 2022 as well. I can only image what total sales number increase I’ll be reporting to you next year. Check out the Premier 150 rankings and comments from respondents here.

Another reason I’m particularly excited about this month’s issue is our new column, “Build it Better,” authored by Pepco Sales and Marketing’s CEO Charlie Parham. Charlie will be the voice of the manufacturers’ rep each month, sharing insight, experience, advice and more. During our initial discussions planning for this column, Charlie said contributing a column is an opportunity to help others and give back to this great industry. He shares in his column that his personal mission is to “leave this world better than he found it,” and sharing knowledge and engaging with the industry he loves is one way to do just that.  

The theme of “even better” shines through in one more area of this issue. At Winsupply’s annual Local Company Awards Ceremony and Gala in Dallas this March, I had the chance to host a roundtable discussion with several local company presidents. I intended to ask supply chain and trends questions, but the conversation took a turn, and we ended up focusing on how each of these presidents had experienced the “Spirit of Opportunity” that Winsupply offers, and their mission is to pay it forward to others, leaving the company and industry even better than it was when they entered.

One more piece of good news. ASA’s Women in Industry Division gathered for its annual ELEVATE conference in Louisville, Kentucky April 20-22. The conference had a record-setting number of new attendees — roughly 130 — as well as record-setting attendance over all. I assume this increase in new attendees reflects the increase of women overall within the PHCP-PVF distribution, rep and manufacturing sectors, as well as an increase in industry investment in growth and engagement with available opportunities — both things that will keep our industry getting even better.

At ELEVATE, Delta Faucet’s Senior Director of National Trade Sales, Suzanne Chreene, took home the Alice. A. Martin Woman of the Year Award. As she humbly accepted her award, she spoke about how thankful she is to have influenced and impacted enough people in the industry to have been nominated for such an important award. She encouraged everyone in the room to do the same — continue helping newcomers, mentor and giving back — leaving the industry even better than you found it.