The NAW Executive Summit was back in person this year and I had the pleasure of being able to attend. This year, the Summit focused on critical areas that we as decision makers need to be aware of in order to be prepared for what distribution is like today, but also what it will be like in the future. Continue reading to learn about some of my biggest takeaways from the Summit.

1. The supply chain challenges from 2021 will continue through at least Q3 of 2022, but most likely into 2023. Companies need to position themselves to sustain these challenges.
2. The economy is strong, but inflationary pressures will create challenges and also create opportunities for companies positioned well. We’ve been very focused at COE to ensure we are able to sustain these pressures and take advantage of new opportunities to grow our business.
3. Wholesale distribution contributes over $7T to the US GDP and the majority of wholesaler-distributors are expecting strong growth in 2022. This is great news for our industry and a trend we will hopefully see continue.
4. COE is well positioned to support our clients with best in class inventory availability and delivery capabilities. Our dedication to Innovation has helped us persevere through the supply chain and economic challenges the past few years have presented, and we will continue to do so throughout 2022 and beyond.

During the summit, I also had the pleasure of accepting NAW’s inaugural Distributors Deliver Award. I am fortunate to be a board member of NAW’s Institute for Distribution Excellence, and I’m truly proud of our collective efforts to advance our industry and our society. We are a tight-knit group and when we all get together great things happen! I had the privilege of taking an early morning run in our nation's capital with some fellow NAW Executive Summit attendees. The Lincoln Memorial was the halfway point, so we gathered for a picture. Shortly after, I took this picture of the Washington Monument from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial with the WWII Memorial and reflecting pool in the foreground just before sunrise. To top it off, there was a group of Marines out for their early morning run with their 80lb pack...true heroes and just an awesome sight to see. God Bless America.