MESSAGE FROM THE SAWD PRESIDENT: SCOTT MCPHERSON, CORE-MARK
EMBRACING AN ERA OF CHANGE FOR THE SOUTHERN AND THE INDUSTRY After nearly three decades of witnessing our evolving industry, 2020 brings the most dynamic change The Southern Association has faced, rivaled only by the state of transformation across the wholesale convenience landscape. Membership in The Southern teaches one to appreciate the familial fabric from which its members are cut. An association of business owners fueled by the entrepreneurial spirit, the wherewithal to overcome adversity and a tenacity to survive and flourish in this industry despite the odds. The road ahead will certainly come with plenty of challenges not unlike the road we all traveled to get here. As an association with such rich culture, 2020 brings a transition from Renaissance Association Management (RAM) who has managed The Southern for over 25 years to Association Management Group (ASG). On the surface, transitioning from one professional association management company to another doesn’t seem too daunting; however, this is an association built on FAMILY and RAM was not just the management arm of The Southern, it’s been the lifeblood. Greg and Donna Martin helped to foster a culture of warmth, acceptance and fellowship in the organization, whether you were the most tenured members or those attending for the first time. Although we will deeply miss seeing them at our meetings, we can take comfort knowing their imprint is forever stamped on this association. 6 | THE SOUTHERN 97TH ANNUAL MEETING • 2020
In February, your Board of Directors completed a very successful mid-year meeting in St. Kitts. Our new management association, ASG, led by Charles Hall and assisted by Betsy Rahm, stepped into big shoes and executed a great event with a beautiful backdrop of the Atlantic and Caribbean Oceans. We missed “Boudreaux” greatly, but you knew The Southern culture was still thriving when we ended the evening sessions wishing everyone a good night only to find the entire group still at their tables an hour later. The strength of The Southern resides in the cherished friendships built over generations and a mutual respect for the work we all do as peers and competitors. As we look forward to the 2020 Annual Meeting, at the completely restored Sheraton Bay Point Resort in Panama City, your board is busy making sure our association is well positioned for the future. The driving force behind our success is the work coming from our committees. April Garver is guiding the Conventions Committee in making site selections for the next 3 years with a special focus on 2023, The Southern’s 100 Year Anniversary. Jack Casanova has taken over Education and has the committee focused on continuing our strong history of giving back, through scholarships to our next generation and the stewardship of the Greg Martin Scholarship Fund. Pulling dual duty as the chair of the Special Projects Committee and a member of the Executive team, Hugh Raetzsch is
leading a committee focused on improving our pre-show deal process, increasing membership, vendor and event participation. And last but certainly not least, I am proud to have worked with this Executive Committee (Marty Howell, Hugh Raetzsch, Chad Pickel and Steve Douglas) who have presided over a very successful financial close to 2019 and positioned this association for a strong 2020 and beyond. Before shifting focus to the state of our industry, we have to recognize our VENDOR PARTNERS…a critical pillar in the foundation of The Southern. Whether it be participation in our bi-annual association events, supporting our Southern Leaders Division or assisting us with education and insights on our industry, the vendor members of The Southern are world class. The uniqueness of the Southern shines brightly in how we interact with our vendor partners, recognizing so many of them as personal friends and certainly valued members in our quest to be successful in this industry. Thank you! Shifting to our industry…Great leaders allow history to provide perspective and shape their vision for the future. If we spend too much time thinking about rising wages, increasing carton decline, regulatory disruption, health care, labor challenges and consolidation...the competition will pass us by. It is paramount that we focus on the consumer. Not the consumer we Continued on next page
