Members of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association lit up the Phoenix Convention Center during STAFDA’s 49th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 9-11. With a fiery line up of top-rated speakers, a two-day Trade Show featuring the hottest new products, and a keynote speaker sparking inspiration, STAFDA’s Phoenix Convention & Trade Show fueled new business insights and growing networks for attendees.
Educational hot spot: STAFDA prides itself in offering members the best in education, beginning with Sunday morning workshops. Attendees create their own agendas customized to meet their individual educational goals. Topics included “The Self-Empowerment Cycle” (Dirk Beveridge); “Value-Added Selling with CoachVAS.ai” (Paul Reilly); “How to be an Influencer in any Market” (Mike Staver); and “Find Your Why: Creating a Compelling Brand Story” (Steve Yastrow). The Women in Distribution Luncheon took a stroll in downtown Phoenix to Greenwood Brewing as its founder and owner, Megan Greenwood, shared her experiences and successes in a male-dominated industry.
Attendees of the Emerging Leaders Forum discovered the “Art of Storytelling” with Don Yaeger. Don is a 12-time New York Times bestseller who has spent a lifetime studying the most effective elements of a well-told story.
For those attendees 35 and younger, the NextGen Luncheon introduced a panel featuring an intergenerational combination of distributor, manufacturer, and rep members fielding audience questions. Topics ranging from business goal setting to cross-department collaborations and more.
Sunday, a beautiful downtown Phoenix park was the perfect setting for attendees to get their kicks at STAFDA’s Route 66 Opening Party. Live tunes from the SB Band got the road trip rolling and stops at food trucks featuring tacos, chili cheese dogs, and a variety of pies and ice cream kept the party fueled. Monday evening STAFDA also hosted a reception at the Phoenix Sheraton to kick off the manufacturer hospitality events.
What’s your origin story? During STAFDA’s General Session, President Dale Hahs II, from AIS Industrial & Construction Supply, shared his company and family story, provided industry updates, and thanked Board and Liaison Committee members for their service to the Association. STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley told STAFDA’s origin story and outlined its future. Keynote speaker Pasquale Scaturro described his adventures at the origin of the Nile (and all the way to its end at the Mediterranean) and in helping a blind explorer summit Everest. A riveting and uplifting presentation followed by a Q&A session with Hahs created a memorable program. Scaturro spent Monday afternoon signing copies of his book, Mystery of the Nile, while talking with attendees at STAFDA Center during the Trade Show.
The third year of STAFDA’s Power Aisle again brought new and innovative products to the front of a packed exhibit hall. Distributor attendees were able to vote before the show opened, choosing their favorite new item while the Aisle was open Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday. Congratulations to H-Ton Products, who just joined STAFDA in August and is the 2025 Power Aisle Distributors’ Choice Award winner!
More than 225 exhibitors brought new products, offered show-only special deals, and demoed their best during the two-day Trade Show. STAFDA’s exhibit hall remains the place to allow attendees to get their hands on new tools, source innovative products, and build a vast network of industry partners.
The Tech Pavilion within the exhibit hallbrought nearly 30 booths filled with live demos of the latest innovations in software, e-commerce, and AI solutions. The Consultants Pavilion allowed one-on-one conversations with STAFDA-endorsed experts providing face-to-face advice and information as well as offering STAFDA-only discounts.
Tuesday’s Economic & Market Update welcomed Alex Chausovsky. Alex’s look behind the curtain at the U.S. and world economy provided a practical forecast of what to expect in the coming months and years.
During the second day of the Trade Show, attendees sat down for lunch in the exhibit hall sharing some extended conversations and a tasty meal – including warm blueberry cobbler!
STAFDA’s 50th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 15-17, 2026, in Anaheim. Get ready to celebrate! Registration opens June 29 at 8:00 a.m. (Central). You must be a member to attend.
For more information or photos, please contact Catherine Usher, STAFDA Member Services Director, at 262-784-4774 or [email protected].
