On the heels of his State of the Union address, President Bush took time last month to address attendees of the 2003 National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) annual meeting in Washington.

Nearly 200 wholesaler-distributor executives and industry association members journeyed to the White House on the final afternoon of the meeting, held January 27-29, for a private, half-hour session with the nation’s president.

Bush addressed a few of the distributors’ business concerns but hedged his comments by saying that current events, namely Iraq, will dictate what happens with the economy.

First-time attendee Ron Kahn of Kahnco Sales/American Brenner Wholesale, Burlingame, Calif., said the president’s message was clear:

    “He talked about Iraq and how he was committed to getting things done there,” said Kahn, who sat just eight feet from the president.

Bush also talked about the war on terrorism, taxes, the economy and health care.

The president’s address concluded two days of talks by influential speakers. The meeting’s general focus was conveyed in its title: “Don’t Compete — Dominate!” Speakers covered topics ranging from technology to Iraq, and pundits shared their predictions given the political climate.

Highlights of the three-day meeting included a speech by well-recognized political commentator Tony Snow, host of the “FOX News Sunday” television show. Snow spoke on “The Competition of Ideas: Politics and Policies in 2003 and Beyond.” His presentation included predictions for the path the new Republican-held Congress will take.

U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Elaine Chao also addressed the group, outlining the administration’s targeting of “bad actors” related to ergonomics. She discussed unemployment and the administration’s goal for creating new jobs.

Other topics included the future of associations. Harrison Coerver explained the need for them to think innovatively and strategically.

In the technology arena, Jack Shaw, president of eCommerce Strategies, Marietta, Ga., spoke on the integration of e-commerce capabilities into distributor businesses.

Dr. Kevin Hassett, an economist with the American Enterprise Institute, Washington, detailed his economic predictions for 2003.

Networking opportunities were plentiful at the meeting. Attendees were encouraged to attend the Tuesday night political action committee dinner where participants were able to talk politics and rub elbows with close to 25 Republican members of the House of the Representatives.

Panel discussions and round-table networking sessions were highlights of the conference, as well.

The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) was represented by a number of executive staff, including executive director John Garfinkel, board president Gary Gradinger, immediate past president Roger Parrott, vice president/president elect Randy Brame, and Kahn, an ISSA board member.

During the meeting, ISSA’s executive director, John Garfinkel, was elected to the NAW Board of Directors. He will serve a three-year term.

“John’s involvement is going to be beneficial for us because we now have a voice on the board,” said Kahn.

Kahn got the sense that NAW is an important influence in Washington. “I would go back because you get different insight; you see how Washington works, and the importance of a trade association.

“It’s nice to see that we have an association that has a voice in Washington for ergonomics and other things that affect our businesses.”

— Seiche Sanders

San Francisco Told to Wash With Soap

The San Francisco Examiner recently reported that a new, drug-resistant strain of bacterial infection staph has heightened the need for personal hygiene in the city.

The methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus has affected between 200 and 300 San Francisco residents since last summer, according to medical officials. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) says that the most common symptoms are nausea, vomiting, retching and abdominal cramping.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health recently released information saying that the strain produces a toxin that enables it to pass through the skin making it highly communicable.

The Department of Public Health recommends residents wash often with soap and warm water, keep fingernails clean, and reduce the sharing of personal items.

REGULATORY NEWS

Ohio Governor Bob Taft recently signed Senate Bill 217, expanding certification requirements for pesticide applications. According to the bill, an individual must have a commercial applicator license or be a trained serviceperson in order to apply pesticides to certain publicly accessible sites such as golf courses, retail food establishments, hospitals and day care centers are some examples, to name a few.

The Department of Transportation (DOT), recently announced that the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) division will temporarily lower some registration fees for transporting hazardous materials: the lower fees — $150 for small businesses, and $300 for all other companies — goes into effect July 1, 2003.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) recently stated that hygiene standards for day care facilities should promote handwashing with soap and water over portable hand sanitizers.

Sen. Joe Corzine, D-N.J., has reintroduced legislation that would require the implementation of security measures at specified chemical facilities. The Chemical Security Act of 2003 (S. 157) would require that close to 15,000 facilities conduct building assessments to determine their vulnerability to terrorist exploitation.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Impact Products, Toledo, Ohio, recently announced the acquisition of the White product lines from White Mop Wringer Co., Tampa, Fla. Effective immediately, Impact and White customers will be able to consolidate their purchases through Impact, and all products will be shipped from one shipping location.

Clark National, Elk Grove Village, Ill., a $340 million broadliner and paper specialist, recently acquired the assets of E-Janitorial Supply, Cincinnati. E-Janitorial, formerly owned by William Mitchell, services building maintenance contractors and other janitorial accounts in the Cincinnati, Dayton and Columbus markets.

Supply King, Neptune City, N.J., has acquired White House Chemical and Supply of Trenton, N.J. White House, called “Trenton’s oldest sanitary maintenance distributor,” will be merged into Supply King’s Neptune City operation.

Novozymes A/S, Denmark, a biotech-based manufacturer of enzyme activants used in the cleaning industry, recently acquired Semco Bioscience, Milwaukee, also a producer of naturally occurring microorganizms for the cleaning industry.

NEWS MAKERS

A.W. Mendenhall, Elk Grove Village, Ill., a wholesaler in the sanitary supply industry, recently held the company’s annual sales meeting and awarded Scott Tennant the Rookie of the Year Award. Tennant represents A.W. Mendenhall in the southern Ohio and Kentucky areas.




POSTED ON: 3/1/2003