Strategic Market Alliance Members Rise To The Challenge

Strategic Market Alliance’s (SMA) members were inspired to “Rise to the Challenge” at its annual conference, held at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa in Phoenix.  

The event featured informative guest speakers from within and outside of the distribution industry, as well as engaging receptions and social activities for fun, friendship and networking.

More than 350 professionals from the foodservice, janitorial and sanitation distribution industry attended the conference.

Noted economist, Alan Beaulie, president of the ITR Economics and senior economic advisor to NAW, was the featured speaker at the conference’s opening session.  Attendees also heard from Ted McKenna, a senior research director at Corporate Executive Board and a sales expert. 

During the event, several suppliers and SMA members were recognized for exceptional performance over the past year, with each receiving SMA’s Navigator Award.

SMA Supplier award recipients include:
Dart Container, Mason, Michigan; Pactiv, Lake Forest, Illinois; Genpak, Glens Fall, New York; Kimberly Clark Professional, Irving, Texas; Georgia Pacific Professional; Atlanta; Handi-Foil of America, Wheeling, Illinois; SCA, Philadelphia; and GOJO, Akron, Ohio.

SMA Member-distributor award recipients include:
Allied Eagle Supply Co., Detroit; Brady Industries, Las Vegas; Brame Specialty Company, Durham, North Carolina; Nassco Inc., New Berlin, Wisconsin; Regional Distributors Inc., Rochester, New York;  Sikes Paper Company, Atlanta; Singer Equipment Co., Elverson, Pennsylvania; South Jersey Paper Products, Vineland, New Jersey; Imperial Bag & Paper Company, Bayonne, New Jersey; and Joshen Paper & Packaging, Milwaukee.

“The Navigator [award] has been established as the standard of excellence within the SMA family of companies for demonstration of value, impact and commitment to the business and partnership principles that SMA stands for,” says Dick McGann, SMA president and CEO. “Winners of the Navigator award have set the pace for all to follow and we are very pleased to recognize their performance, as we align to develop strategies for growth and delivery of greater value to our mutual end user customers.”