ISA reimagines its convention model
by Christina Bertino
The Industrial Supply Association’s annual convention is back in-person this year after having to shift to a virtual format 2020-2021 due to COVID-19.
But that’s not the only change the association made to its annual convention this year.
ISA is yet again elevating the standard convention format to the next level with the highly anticipated ISA22: A Channel Built for the Future. Bringing together channel stakeholders in-person while also remaining on the cutting-edge of virtual programming, ISA22 will deliver options curated to encourage whole team engagement from the top down.
Geared toward the leadership teams of Distributor, Manufacturer, and IMR companies, this year’s agenda is future-focused and packed with strategies companies within the industrial supply channel need for long-term success and sustainability in the face of continuing change.
"ISA22 is really delivering with this year’s content and format. They heard what the industry is asking for and they’re providing just that… the opportunity for leaders to gather to tackle the issues and opportunities within the industrial supply channel and create a stronger future together," said Maria Ford, president of North America Industrial/Commercial Sales & Marketing at Stanley Black and Decker.
Attendees will hear about the hard trends based on future-facts that are shaping the future. They’ll learn how to see disruptions before they disrupt… making disruption a choice. Session topics this year will give attendees a deep dive into what’s going on outside of the industry that is rapidly changing the way we do business.
“Future trends in technology, the future of distribution, what the workforce of the future looks like, and the voice of the customer are hot-topics that matter and are changing the way we do business. With the education provided at ISA22, companies will be able to see the trends of the future and pivot their strategies to get ahead. There’s going to be so much room for open discussion and change-making at the convention. The format of the sessions will be interactive; the booths will be immersed into the whole experience. This year, it’s all about the future and connectivity,” said Brendan Breen, ISA president.
Speaking of connectivity, ISA22 is also taking things up a notch and fully immersing the exhibit hall into the in-person education and networking experience. Everything will be connected at ISA22 – the exhibits, education, topic-driven roundtable discussions, networking, and more. Why? So, attendees can make more purposeful connections and seamlessly interact with industry decision-makers.
There will no longer be separate Manufacturer/Distributor Days. There will not be any 15-minute bells or mandatory meetings. This year, you meet with who you want, when you want, and where you want… even if that’s at the hotel bar, a restaurant or lounge. It’s all about networking in a way that makes sense to you.
Following the ISA22 Houston Convention is a Virtual Program that complements the in-person program that will launch every Tuesday for 3 weeks after the event. The program was hand-selected to continue to build upon the in-person agenda by providing content that dives deep into how to execute lessons learned so companies can level-up their talent and engage their whole company across all departments. Topics includes Sales and Marketing, Digital Transformation, and All Things HR.
There’s a lot of that’s new this year at ISA22. You can get all the details at isa22.isapartners.org.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The March/April issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about Joyce Lansdale and Vallen. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dirk Beveridge, Frank Hurtte, and David Kahle, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
