SPRING 2024

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THE DISTRIBUTOR’S LINK
SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION
PO Box 44, 500 Elm Grove Rd., Ste. 2I0, Elm Grove, Wl 53122
TEL 1-800-352-2981 EMAIL info@stafda.org WEB www.stafda.org
TEXAS A&M OFFERS EDUCATION TO
STAFDA MEMBERS by Georgia H. Foley, CEO
Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, one of
schools that regularly participates in the Specialty Tools
& Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) Convention
& Trade Show each year by bringing students, is returning
the partnership by offering STAFDA members two unique
educational opportunities.
Texas A&M is setting up five scholarships and working
with different channel organizations/associations to get a
mix of industries represented by offering one scholarship
per channel. The University has selected STAFDA to
represent the construction/industrial sector.
A STAFDA distributor has the ability to receive a
$5,000 scholarship to earn their Master of Industrial
Distribution (MID) from Texas A&M University, one of the
Top 10 Colleges of Engineering in the U.S. Scholarship
applications will be submitted to Texas A&M whose faculty
will select the STAFDA distributor to receive the scholarship.
The recipient will be recognized during STAFDA’s General
Session in Nashville, November 11, 2024.
The MID program is a 21-month, online curriculum
and designed for working professionals who are emerging
leaders. Requirements are that the participant have at
least three – five years of experience and considered by
their company to have high potential for management.
Students currently enrolled in the MID program average 12
years of experience, but the range is from 3-20 years. The
candidate must apply and be admitted to the MID program
by June for an August start date.
For the first year, classes include: The Science
of Distribution; the Digital Distributor; the Distribution
Customer Experience; and Distribution Profitability
Analysis. Second year coursework focuses on: Distribution
Operational Excellence; Distribution Growth, Models &
Drivers; Distribution Capstone Project Part 1; Leading
People and Managing Performance; Distribution Channel
SHOW EVENT ARTICLE
Development; and Distribution Capstone Project Part 2.
The Capstone Project involves transformational
problem identification, steering committee presentation,
data collection/analysis, and ROI calculation.
Job titles of those currently enrolled in the MID
program include: regional manager, sales manager; district
manager; branch manager; outside sales; independent rep
agent; operations manager; inventory coordinator; COO;
CFO; CEO; vice president; and more!
Texas A&M reports 50% of those students earning
their MID saw a pay increase of 20% and 81% received
a promotion while in the program or within three years of
graduation.
Interested? Please visit, mid.tamu.edu, to learn more
about the MID program.
In addition, Texas A&M is allowing STAFDA to share
their “Talent Matters” micro-learning email series with
members. Sent each Wednesday, STAFDA members
will receive Texas A&M’s quick 3-4 minute read on
actionable insights and strategies to implement into
members’ talent recruitment and retention efforts. The
University has interviewed individuals in all aspects of
industrial distribution, from human resources to business
administration, to executive vice presidents and talent
acquisition, to provide members with fresh, new, and
engaging content each week.
February’s content focuses on “Recruitment: Digital
and Social” while March will concentrate on “Onboarding:
New Hires & Managers.” Other topics for the year include:
“People Metrics”; “Upskilling: Soft Skills Development”;
and “Recognition & Rewards.”
For a list of all themes for 2024, please visit www.tx.ag/
TalentMatters. For more information on these programs or
STAFDA membership, please visit www.stafda.org or Tel:
1-800-352-2981.
SPECIALTY TOOLS & FASTENERS DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION