Vision Forward: Matching Members’ Passion
As FEDA enters its next chapter, the association’s incoming president and CEO emphasizes member connection, adaptability, and accelerating the work already underway.
By Joe Durham
CEO
FEDA
Ask me what drew me to this industry and what keeps me here, and the answer is the same: the people. Our distributors and dealers carry a difficult, essential role — they’re the connective tissue of the entire supply chain, and the industry doesn’t function without them. But what stays with you isn’t the logistics; it’s how deeply our members care. They’re proud of what they’ve built and loyal to one another in a way you don’t see everywhere.
People in this industry strive to create value for operators in a way that goes beyond business, and that kind of passion is contagious. When you get the chance to serve people who are highly-enthusiastic about their work, you can’t help but match that mindset. That’s the energy I’m bringing into this role — a genuine passion for this industry, its future, and the people who power it.
Just as our members give their full dedication to their customers, they deserve the same from FEDA. As I step into the role of the association’s president and CEO, my first priority is to listen. Tell me about the success stories and the projects you’re proud of. But let me know about the hard stuff, too — the challenges, the frustrations, the things that keep you up at night. I want to know how FEDA can celebrate your wins and help you through your problems. I won’t always have a perfect answer, but I can promise that whatever you bring to me will be heard and taken seriously. The more I understand what our members are facing, the better FEDA can reposition to serve your needs.
That kind of direct connection is nothing new for FEDA. Since 1933, our mission has been to advance this industry, protect it, and keep members informed. For more than 90 years, every time the industry has changed, FEDA has evolved right alongside it. New equipment, new technology, new pressures on the supply chain — through all of it, the association has adapted to better serve its members. We have real momentum behind us today, reflected by the progress of the Future of Distribution Council, Emerging Distributors Council, and other initiatives. My job is to build on it, not coast on it. There’s always a new challenge or disruption pushing on the foodservice equipment and supplies industry, but no matter what challenge we face, FEDA will ensure our members are prepared to not just respond, but to lead.
None of this progress would be happening without the foundation my predecessor, Tracy Mulqueen, built. I have tremendous respect for everything she did for FEDA and for this industry, and our programs are strong today because of her vision and follow through of a future-focused strategic plan. Congratulations to her on a well-deserved retirement — and my thanks to our board and to our membership who have been so welcoming and supportive.
Now I want to meet you. The best conversations happen face to face, so I encourage you to join us at this year’s FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, Sept. 15-18, at Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. Come for the speakers and insight into where our industry is headed. But also come so we can talk — about your business, your wins, and the challenges you’re working through. For those I’ve already had the pleasure of working with, I look forward to continuing the conversation. And for those I haven’t yet met, I hope this is where we begin. I want to hear your story, and there’s no better place to start.