Building relationships to build our industry's future

SHT 1023 ASA News 1 Feature Slide 1 — Pictured are the ASA women volunteer leaders and staff members that attended the 2023 ASA Strategic Planning Retreat in Naples, Florida, including NIBCO Executive Vice President Ashley Martin (back row, third from left), who co-founded ASA’s Women in Industry division more than a decade ago, NIBCO Vice President of Customer Enagement Dawn Bloch (back row, far left) and NIBCO Director of Marketing and Communications Sally Boyer (second row, far right). *Photo by Brad Young/ASA.*

SHT 1023 ASA News 1 Feature Slide 2 — NIBCO headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana. NIBCO is proud to have the opportunity to connect with other ASA members while working together toward a common goal to shape and better the industry. *Photo courtesy of NIBCO.*

As a Platinum Supplier Partner of the American Supply Association, NIBCO is proud to have the opportunity to connect with other ASA members while working together toward a common goal to shape and better our industry.

Earlier this year, key members of NIBCO’s team had a chance to be involved in ASA’s strategic planning sessions (part of ASA’s Winter Leadership Retreat) to prepare our industry for the future. ASA’s strategic goals of operational excellence, employee recruitment and education, advocacy and embracing the future were reviewed to ensure that they were properly focused. Working together, representatives from various aspects of the industry examined assumptions that the association was making, established new initiatives the association will take on and discussed the successes that were being made.

It is evident that the value that is being brought to the organization is reflective of the engagement that is being shared with other members. By supporting each other with positive relationships, we can work together for a better industry. This value of connecting and networking was apparent by ASA’s sold-out Women in Industry annual conference earlier this year in Charleston, South Carolina. The attendance was a great indication of the involvement and interest industry participants have.

Developing strong relationships through networking is key to building the industry’s future. While a paramount initiative for ASA, it has also long been an initiative for NIBCO.

NIBCO’s Executive Vice President Ashley Martin (and fifth-generation family member leading the company) co-founded ASA’s Women in Industry division more than 10 years ago, providing women in our industry the connections and opportunities to meet and exchange ideas to advance their knowledge and careers.

This strategy to empower women and recognize the important role they play in our industry also translates to NIBCO internally, where Martin is a strong advocate of bringing women into the company to launch their careers. She is the executive sponsor of the NIBWomen’s Group, an internal group founded by Alice A. Martin more than a decade ago.

Employee recruitment and education is another common goal that NIBCO shares with ASA. NIBCO continues to invest in, develop and support its employees, understanding the significance and impact on the future of the industry. NIBCO Chairman Rex Martin has long been an instrumental and driving force behind the company’s ongoing support of apprenticeship programs and trade schools, realizing that investing in our youth is constructing the path for the future. In response to the labor shortages facing our industry, NIBCO adopted a trainee program aimed at bringing young people into the industry through our college recruitment efforts.

Finally, keeping members well informed of the latest industry technologies is another key pillar that ASA and NIBCO commonly believe to be critical to the betterment of the industry. Providing the best education to our customer base, both distributors and end users, NIBCO offers multiple opportunities both in person and online that allow for transferring critical information about products and technologies. Educational videos can also be accessed online at one’s convenience.

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NIBCO is incredibly proud of its rich legacy in this industry. With a history of success and innovation in the plumbing industry, NIBCO is focused on bringing products and technologies to market that make installations easier and more efficient. More than 90% of NIBCO’s valves, fittings and flow-control products are proudly manufactured in 10 U.S. manufacturing plants strategically located from the East Coast to the West Coast.

NIBCO is proud of its strategic partnership with ASA, and it encourages everyone, companies and individuals, to get involved and do their part in coming together as an industry to build our future.