Vision Forward

From Mission to Vision

Looking at how FEDA is creating a vital and inspiring vision for the association and the distribution industry.

Tracy Mulqueen

Publisher, FEDA News & Views

CEO, FEDA

tracy@feda.com

The association staff and I wish you, your families and employees a truly joyous and peaceful holiday season. While you plan for what’s ahead for you and yours, I encourage you to take a look at all the association’s 2025 events, programs, activities, and groups highlighted in this issue. The winter edition of News & Views provides extensive information about everything from FEDA’s important upcoming annual executive leadership conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, to popular educational courses and advisory leadership groups — the Future of Distribution Council and Emerging Dealers Council.

It’s an ample list, but I want you to know that what you’ll read here doesn’t begin to cover everything happening at FEDA next year. Dealers will also be able to participate in new year-round meetings and events related to the association’s expanded legislative work, including addressing always unpredictable federal and state regulations and taxes impacting businesses. All of this and more will be guided by FEDA’s recharged Advocacy Council.

In addition, the association’s DP+Q (Data Portal and Quoting) Partners program will launch new software options for dealers, thanks to our phenomenal new tech partners and invaluable guidance from the FEDA Early Tech Adopters group. Another initiative designed to strengthen dealers’ competitive edge is the FEDA Dealer Growth Accelerator Mentoring Program. Modeled after mentoring programs that are working well for other industries, the initiative will connect dealers with their experienced peers to learn how to increase sales, improve operations, optimize warehousing, expand their use of technology, and add more value to the services they currently offer end-users, such as financing and customer support.

The DP+Q Partners and new mentoring programs, in particular, represent FEDA’s move from its previous focus on returning to and supporting its original mission — strong policy advocacy on behalf of dealers, relevant education and training courses, and new dealer services and tools based on emerging needs — to what is now the association’s “vision” phase. This is a step we’ve been building toward over the last several years, and it is being informed by the progress our councils and committees are making in their respective areas, such as technology and building a prepared workforce. Chief among them is the Future of Distribution Council, whose upcoming visioning discussions will help lead the development of FEDA’s framework for positioning the industry for success in an entirely different and challenging future market (see Page 28).

I’m eager for you to see FEDA’s vision unfold in subsequent columns, as more than 200 dedicated and involved members, volunteers and partners support the association in all the above endeavors. We deeply appreciate their time, expertise and commitment to this cause and look forward to the incredible plans ahead.