“Three years ago I was disinterested in the direction ASA was headed. I wondered why I was ‘donating’ my annual fee to the association and had thought about leaving. Then I attended the Legislative Fly-In with my mentor, the current head of the MwDA, Stan Dreyfuss from SG Supply. It completely changed my attitude toward ASA,” shares Dennis Goode, CEO of M. Cooper Supply and the new chairman of ASA’s Government & Public Affairs Committee.
“I have a renewed appreciation for the direction the current leadership is taking ASA. I am sure that there are other members that have been dissatisfied over the lukewarm presence shown by ASA in addressing keys issues in or out of the political arena in the past. I can assure you that time is over; it is the dawn of a new day for ASA,” he said.
Goode has been actively involved in ASA’s efforts to address the issue of copper theft and support legislation that will address this major issue. In July 2008, Goode traveled to Washington, D.C., and testified before a committee investigating metals theft and its impact on U.S. businesses. His experience led to him being actively involved in creating the Copper Theft Prevention Act of 2008. In July 2009, Goode returned to D.C. and attended a congressional hearing where further testimony was given with the sponsors of the Senate bill, The Secondary Metals Theft Prevention Act of 2009, Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Orrin Hatch of Utah.
“The experience that Dennis has had in speaking on behalf of ASA for legislation that is important to our industry, combined with his passion for promoting ASA’s legislative agenda, made him an excellent fit for the responsibilities that come with being chairman of this very active committee,” said Mike Adelizzi, ASA’s executive vice president. “We are fortunate to have someone with his qualifications following in the footsteps of Don Robertson, who came into this committee and really rewrote the playbook on how ASA was going to address government affairs going forward.”
Goode agrees. “With the tremendous job that my predecessor Don Robertson has done to create a solid foundation for the Government Affairs Committee, it was an easy decision to accept the nomination to become the chairperson. I have been actively involved in creating copper theft legislation and plan to do more in addressing major issues that affect the success of supply houses in our distribution family. I am excited to be a part of the Political Action Committee process in promoting ASA’s very ambitious legislative agenda, which will position ASA in being recognized as a new leader to get our collective voices heard, and initiate changes in the direction of our political involvement.”
For more information on ASA’s legislative agenda, please visit the Advocacy section ofwww.asa.net.
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