The American Supply Association gathered for its annual ELEVATE conference in Louisville, Kentucky this April for the first time in person since 2019.

The conference brought more than 220 women, including a record number of first-time attendees. Throughout the program, PHCP-PVF women gathered for numerous networking opportunities and educational sessions focused on personal and professional growth. Meagan

ASA’s Women in Industry ELEVATE is a favorite conference to attend each year, and it was a literal blast earlier this year. ASA distributor member company Eastern Industrial Supplies sent three women this year: Meagan Owen, vice president of organizational effectiveness, Savanna True and Brandy Carrington.

Savanna and Brandy took a tour of the Zoeller Pump Company plant as part of the ELEVATE experience. "We got to see the entire process of a Zoeller pump from start to finish, including seeing how the pieces are painted, machined, and put together," Savanna explains. "We ended the tour with some Derby pie."  

The main event featured a number of networking and educational events, including a seminar from renowned body language expert Janine Driver.

"Janine's seminar was a great reminder that all styles and personalities are needed for true success. Having a homogeneous team will only get you so far," Savanna says. "Listening to Jeanine Driver talked about body language and how we assign roles/traits to others was eye-opening we learned that a lot of the things we assume about people are myths. For instance, crossing your arms is actually a thinking pose, in which people are engaging both sides of their brain. In addition, Janine revealed that having an overly charming job candidate could actually be alarming, whereas a slightly more hesitant person could be the better fit. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on her book and devouring the knowledge in it!"

After attending the ELEVATE sessions, we had a greater understanding of why the business world needs both men and women. We bring different perspectives to the table and thus are best when we collaborate. Often, as a woman in this industry, it is hard to come to the table realizing that I am needed, but we are confident that we can help our companies be better, and we can pave a path for other women rising up behind us.  

Carrington says she also learned that bringing emotion to the workplace is a powerful tool.

"Bringing my feminine strengths to the table will help everyone succeed," she says. "Having the freedom to feel all the feelings and using them to empathize and engage is a positive skill."

The women paid a visit to the Churchill Downs Kentucky Derby Museum for a networking event.

One of the highlights of our first night was the announcement of Suzanne Chreene from Delta Faucet as the Alice A. Martin Woman of the Year. Chreene’s hard work, kind spirit and achievements were a great way to celebrate the kick-off of our conference! In true Kentucky spirit, the night ended with a Bourbon tasting from Heaven Hills Distillery.

Day two of Women in Industry included some incredible speakers including Michelle Villalobos who energized the group talking about sales as a service in our lives and ways to use our unique strengths as women to succeed in business. One of the favorite conference speakers, Janine Driver, brought home a standing ovation after her presentation on communication, body language and trust. Janine’s background as a federal law enforcement officer with the Depart of Justice made her the perfect person to lead the group in exercises on perceiving body language and the assumptions we make.

Whether it was on a coffee break in between sessions or over dinner at the Churchill Downs Museum, a common favorite part of the Women in Industry conference is always connecting with different people across the industry. We loved seeing reps, wholesalers and other manufacturers and loved even more being able to meet all of the awesome first-time attendees who are new women emerging into our industry.

On day one ELEVATE, prior to the conference kick-off, attendees had the opportunity to tour the Zoeller Pump Co. factory in Louisville.

Women in Industry continues to add value because of the strong support system the women have built and cultivated. Every year, we leave ELEVATE with tactics we can implement back home immediately, inspiration for the months to come and a feeling of gratitude to work with so many incredible people. If you are thinking about attending or are interested in having team members from your organization attend, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team to learn more. We are passionate advocates for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment in our industry and each year just gets better! We hope to see you in 2023!

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