On June 8, the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distribution Association (STAFDA) announced its new educational initiative, the “Excellence in Distribution” school. The program caters to professionals in the construction and industrial space, according to a news release, and will take place March 12-14, 2024, at the Hilton Nashville.

The Excellence in Distribution program replaces the “University of Innovative Distribution” (UID), a four-day management school for professionals in distribution and supply chain previously held once a year in Indianapolis. STAFDA co-sponsored the UID for 23 years before the company managing UID terminated their contract earlier this year.

Because of the value and importance of UID, STAFDA has revived it in the form of the Excellence in Distribution program, according to STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley.

“The 2.5 days of quality education at the Hilton Nashville will be taught by experts serving our industry covering key topics: outside sales, branch management, HR, profitability, warehousing and inventory, and trending topics like Al,” Foley said in the release. “All companies in the construction and industrial channel are encouraged to attend, not just STAFDA members. We’re all in this space together and ‘Excellence in Distribution’ is designed for the betterment of our industry.”

STAFDA members will receive preferential pricing, but the program is designed to serve the construction, industrial, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, LBM, safety, concrete or any other market in the construction channel, according to the release.

Registration for the program will open in late November. Until then, updates on the program will be provided via STAFDA’s social media.