How AI Can Transform HR for Industrial Distributors The Bottom Line: People are a distributor’s largest asset — and AI can now automate the HR burdens that slow leaders down. HR expert Tracie Sponenberg identifies five accessible, affordable AI tools distributors can pilot today to streamline onboarding, scheduling, performance reviews, employee experience, and HR … [Read more...] about AI for HR
Training
Distribution Sales Managers: What Top-Performing Sales Teams — And How Leaders Create It
If you lead a sales team for an industrial supply distributor, you already know the pressure. Margins are tight. Competition is aggressive. The number of SKUs continues to grow. We win customers, or current customers leave, for a lower price or faster order turnaround. Customers expect speed, technical accuracy, and competitive pricing. And every year, sales expectations … [Read more...] about Distribution Sales Managers: What Top-Performing Sales Teams — And How Leaders Create It
2026 Industrial Planning Season – Finance team leadership is crucial to great outcomes
Yesterday, I was writing a planning season column for a series that I am writing. I was multi-tasking and listening to an ISA webinar hosted by Brendan Breen and Mark Gilham from Enable titled Finance for Future Leaders. As I was writing and listening, I realized in my outline notes that I had not accounted enough on the role of Finance in Annual Planning Meetings. Your … [Read more...] about 2026 Industrial Planning Season – Finance team leadership is crucial to great outcomes
What can Industrial Leaders do to enhance their skill sets?
Last week I was traveling and speaking to key industrial channel leaders and one topic keeps coming up again and again from Manufacturers, Manufacturer Reps, and Distributors in the Channel. How do we retain future leaders in the industrial channel? It is hard to recruit and then retain talent in the industrial channel. So, when you make that investment as a Company or … [Read more...] about What can Industrial Leaders do to enhance their skill sets?
Finance Training is often overlooked by Industrial Channel leaders
This week, I had a webinar announcement caught my eye from ISA and Mark Gilham. It reminded me of how valuable basic finance training was when I first got started in my career at Crescent Electric Supply Company. All the sales and marketing type newbies had to attend a new manager training finance session that was in-depth, that was led by our CEO - Jim Etheredge (he was … [Read more...] about Finance Training is often overlooked by Industrial Channel leaders
Why the ISA Executive Network Matters More Than Ever
For the past few months, the ISA leadership team and the ISA Educational Council have been working behind the scenes on this project. It has been fun to be part of the project led by Brendan Breen, his entire ISA team, and all the great educational committee and board leaders (leaders who are working every day in the channel) who are committed to this program. So, getting … [Read more...] about Why the ISA Executive Network Matters More Than Ever
Part 3 – Manufacturers and Distributors need to do better than a C+ on their report cards
Last week I was on a fun webcast where Mark Jackmore CEO of Precision, and I were diving into real-world examples of how manufacturers and distributors could use data more effectively to report progress and take meaningful action together to improve their business. We covered a lot of ground on the webcast, shared best practice examples, and tactical information on how you … [Read more...] about Part 3 – Manufacturers and Distributors need to do better than a C+ on their report cards
Part 2 – Category Management is a big opportunity for Industrial Channel Leaders
Yesterday, I was on an 8:00 am Monday morning zoom calls with Industrial Supply Association (ISA) member Precision where Mark Jackmore and I were reviewing the content we are presenting on our webcast this week. Now, Monday morning 8AM zoom calls can be interesting, as the weekly coffee intake is just starting for everyone on the call, so I was interested to see where the … [Read more...] about Part 2 – Category Management is a big opportunity for Industrial Channel Leaders
ISA ELCC Program Interview – Leadership for the Industrial Channel
At ISA 25, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of Industrial leaders involved in ISA programs. I was struck by the enthusiasm from members of the Industrial Supply Association's Emerging Leaders Channel Certification Program (ELCC) and thought it would be great to start interviewing channel leaders involved in the program. Kayla Jane McLaughlin from Surpless, Dunn … [Read more...] about ISA ELCC Program Interview – Leadership for the Industrial Channel
MDM-NAW Shift highlights Data Analytics the key to market share growth
Modern Distribution Management (MDM) Shift event was held last week (May 13-15th in Englewood, Colorado). The event has continued to evolve over the past 9 years, and it was once again attended by who's who of distribution leaders. As an attendee and speaker, it has been fun to watch the event grow. Many leading distributors also presented at MDM Shift ranging from large … [Read more...] about MDM-NAW Shift highlights Data Analytics the key to market share growth
