Goodbye 2020, hello fresh start, right? Unfortunately, we aren’t quite out of the woods yet.

To start 2021, the PHCP-PVF industry still is seeing changes, postponements and cancellations with buying group meetings, regional events, tradeshows and company travel — all continuing to be affected by the presence of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

EMERGE2021, hosted by ASA’s Emerging Leaders division and sponsored by A. O. Smith, is in the same boat. Originally scheduled for May 19-20, 2020 in Nashville, our hope was to be back at the Westin in downtown Nashville this May with the exact same program.

Photo courtesy ryasick/ Gettyimages

But with the continued uncertainty of the pandemic, and with the health and safety of all our members front of mind, the Emerging Leaders Council has decided to again postpone EMERGE until later in the year. 

Keep an eye out for dates and further details on EMERGE2021. Again, it still will be in-person in Nashville, and it still will be the prime industry gathering place for those individuals in your organization who show potential to be more. And ASA’s Emerging Leaders division continues full steam ahead with helping develop the up-and-coming leaders of our industry.

While we wait a little longer to gather in-person at one of the industry’s most looked-forward-to events of the calendar year, there still are prime opportunities to connect with your fellow Emerging Leaders peers.

With a desire for Emerging Leaders to offer year-round value to our members, late last year the EL Council created EL virtual best practices roundtables.

Occurring every other month with a different discussion topic every time, this resource provides powerful insight for participants on the topics they need to communicate about. The roundtables are available at no extra cost beyond your company’s yearly $100 Emerging Leaders division membership. This is a great opportunity for you to encourage your up-and-coming leaders to participate in active discussions on a variety of industry-based discussions.

For more information on how to get involved with the division or to sign up for the virtual best practices roundtables, reach out to ASA Emerging Leaders staff liaison Vincenzo Dal Pozzo at vdalpozzo@asa.net.

Coronavirus has thrown a curveball to many these past 12 months. What we forget, however, is although you have to wait longer than average for a curveball to arrive, you can still hit a home run when it gets to the plate. 

Through the resources available to me as an ASA member, and being part of the continually expanding Emerging Leaders division, I am tightening the grip on my bat and ready for that pitch to arrive. 

I look forward to seeing you in Nashville at EMERGE2021 later this year. 

Michael Maloney is vice president and director of marketing at Beaumont, Texas-based Coburn Supply and is the chairman of ASA’s Emerging Leaders Executive Council. Reach him at mmaloney@coburns.com.