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What is the Fastener Summit?

The Fastener Summit is an event being put on by the Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) that includes a lineup of industry related speakers.   But it is quite a bit more than that.

The Fastener Summit is the FIC’s first attempt to get all the fastener associations from around the country pooling their efforts to come up with a national, industry wide program, sponsored collectively by members of the fastener industry.

To learn more about the specific speakers, go to the Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) website at www.fastenercoalition.org .  You can also look on the Fastener Tech ’17 website as they have the details listed there too.  The date of the Summit is June 7, 2017, at 1:00 p.m – 6:00p.m.  and it will take place immediately following the end of  Fastener Tech ’17 in Rosemont, Illinois.

The organizers of Fastener Tech ’17 have generously offered the FIC this time slot immediately after Fastener Tech ’17 and it is also the day before the Midwest Fastener Association’s golf outing which takes place on June 8, 2017.  The Fastener Summit is sandwiched between two of the MWFA’s  largest events of the year!  Many thanks out to Nancy Rich and the MWFA board for their generosity and also to Mike McNulty and the staff of Fastener Technology International for letting the FIC piggyback on their  great trade show.

The FIC was formed in the 1980s, and was instrumental in effecting change to the Fastener Quality Act. Since then, there have been few industry related issues that have required the FIC to come together and take action.  The Fastener Summit is the FIC’s first attempt to proactively pool their efforts and offer programming on a national level.

While this first Fastener Summit is being held in conjunction with the MWFA’s Fastener Tech show, the expectation is that future Fastener Summits will be held in other regions and possibly, one day, be a stand alone event.  Largely, it depends how well this event is attended and supported.

Many regional associations host speakers and conduct panel discussions, but nothing really exists on a national scale. Some associations are constrained by small memberships and they simply do not have the resources to attract national speakers.  In the past, the NFDA has hosted national speakers but they reported that their attendance was disappointing.  On the flip side, STAFDA has national speakers year after year, but the admission price of going to the STAFDA show is substantially higher than that of the fastener shows.  And, you have to buy into the whole package – so if you want to walk the trade show you’ve pretty much got to buy into the whole event.

The FIC Fastener Summit in June will be more than a baby step but it is still just the first step.  Please consider attending Fastener Tech ’17 (which I believe is the 2nd largest fastener show based in the U.S.) and then stick around and attend the Fastener Summit.  If you belong to any regional or national association, you are also a member of the Fastener Industry Coalition!  Take a look at the lineup of speakers and hope to see you there.

Fastener Industry Summit Planned for June 7, 2017

The Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) will sponsor its first Fastener Industry Summit on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 at the Donald E. Stephenson Convention Center, immediately following the conclusion of Fastener Tech ’17.  The Fastener Industry Summit will include programs relevant to all segments of the fastener industry

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Government Relations (includes lunch)

The Laurin Baker Group, LLC, an organization with more than 40 years of experience in government relations has worked with the IFI for many years.

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Market Research

The Freedonia Group, a leading international business research company, will provide insights on the U.S. and global market for fasteners.

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Training for the Fastener Industry

Rock Valley College Manufacturing Training Center will share information about its program for training cold heading operators, tool design and other skills related to fastener manufacturing.

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM Sales & Management

The Fastener Summit will conclude with a keynote presentation by Bob Davies, a speaker known for his ability to connect with crowds through humor while teaching them how to achieve their career goals through effective time management.  His topic will be, “The 1.2% Factor – How one small change leads to large results”.

Registration

Registration for the Fastener Industry Summit will be possible through the Fastener Tech ’17 registration process, found on the Mid West Fastener Association Site (www.mwfa.net) or register while at the show.  For a direct link to the registration site, use:   https://registrationtechnology.swoogo.com/FT17/

Due to the generous support of our wonderful sponsors, registration fees are $150 for the first person from a company, with a discounted rate of $100 for each additional person from that company.

Sponsors

Sponsors for the Fastener Industry Summit include

• Fastener Education Foundation
• Industrial Fasteners Institute
• National Fastener Distributors Association
• Mid-West Fastener Association
• Mid Atlantic Fastener Distributors Association
• New England Fastener Distributors Association
• North Coast Fastener Association
• Southeast Fastener Association
• Women in the Fastener Industry

Additional sponsorships are available and include passes to the summit and promotional opportunities for the sponsoring company.  Please contact Marty Nolan for further details.

About the Fastener Industry Coalition

The Fastener Industry Coalition (FIC) is made up of thirteen North American regional and national associations concerned with the distribution, manufacturing and/or importation of fasteners and/or services to the fastener industry.   Its mission is to provide support and resources to participating fastener industry associations, to help them improve efficiency, effectiveness, and membership value.

For more information about FIC contact Marty Nolan, m.nolan@rlenglish.com, telephone 216-389-2405, or visit www.fastenercoalition.org

More About the Summit Speakers

The Laurin Baker Group, LLC

With a new administration in Washington, there will be many changes in laws and regulations that will have an impact on the fastener industry. The summit will begin with a lunch program on the regulatory climate, featuring representatives from The Laurin Baker Group, LLC, an organization with more than 40 years of experience in government relations, communications and public affairs.  The Laurin Baker Group, LLC has been the voice of the Industrial Fastener Institute in Washington D.C. since the rewrite of the Fastener Quality Act.  As IFI’s representatives in Washington, The Laurin Baker Group, LLC has provided ongoing counsel on legislative and regulatory issues affecting IFI members.

The Freedonia Group

Sound business decisions are based on market data, and the summit will include insights on the U.S. and global market for fasteners provided by The Freedonia Group, a leading international business research company.  More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia research to help with their strategic planning.  Since its founding, Freedonia has published 14 editions of its study on the US industrial fastener industry and 8 editions of its study on the global industrial fastener industry.

Rock Valley College

There’s no doubt about it: there is a lack of skilled workers for fastener manufacturers in the US. A representative from the Rock Valley College Manufacturing Training Center will share information about its program for training cold heading operators, tool design and other skills related to fastener manufacturing.  In two years they will be moving into a remodeled 50,000 square foot facility in Rockford and several pieces of cold heading equipment have already been donated to the College.  Additional training opportunities in the fastener industry will also be reviewed during this segment.

Bob Davies

The Fastener Summit will conclude with a keynote presentation by Bob Davies, a speaker known for his ability to connect with crowds through humor while teaching them how to achieve their career goals. His ability to provide an affirmative message while making his audience laugh earned him a spot as one of the top 100 Greatest Minds of Personal Development by Excellence Magazine.  Bob Davies has decades of experience working with a diverse set of clients around the country, helping teams and managers break free from their routine and discover their unrealized potential. Mr. Davies taps into a deep well of personal anecdotes and professional training to deliver a message that is clear, engaging and compelling.