Speakers
Randy Brannen, CAFS, NCT II
NAFA Secretary and Conference Chair
Vice President - Sales & Marketing
Kleen-Air Filters
What You Do Speaks So Loudly I Can’t Hear What You’re Saying
Thursday, October 3 | 11:20 am - 12:00 pm
Discover the core principles that have driven 40 years of success in the filter industry. This session highlights the importance of trust, commitment, and human connections in business. Learn how:
- Actions speak louder than words in building trust.
- Keeping commitments solidifies your reputation.
- Integrity and trustworthiness lead to long-term rewards despite challenges.
In today’s fast-paced world, these timeless values—commitment, partnerships, trust, honor, dignity, transparency, and self-confidence—are key to achieving repeatable success. Join us to explore how these principles can transform your business practices and foster enduring partnerships.
Alex Chausovsky
Director of Analytics and Consulting
Bundy Group
Alex Chausovsky is the Director of Analytics and Consulting for the Bundy Group. He is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than two decades of expertise across subjects including economics, manufacturing, automation, advanced technology trends, and business cycle analysis. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the US and Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. In his investment banking advisory role, Alex is a trusted source of information for owners and executives of privately held firms who are seeking a business sale, acquisition, or financing. Alex has delivered over a thousand presentations, webinars, and workshops to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries, and is the go-to source of industry data and insights for business owners and leaders. Alex's analysis has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, on the BBC, and on NPR, and he is a Top Voice on LinkedIn.
Alex will kick off and conclude the convention with bookend keynotes and lead a roundtable discussion.
Keynote: Economic and Labor Market Update
Tuesday, October 1 | 8:35 am - 9:35 am
Analyze headline economic data such as inflation, interest rates, labor market conditions, consumer spending, and business investment and offer actionable advice on what businesses can do to prepare for economic transformations.
Roundtable Discussion with Alex Chausovsky
Tuesday, October 1 | 9:55 am - 10:40 am
Following the insightful Economic and Labor Market Update, this Roundtable Discussion aims to delve deeper into the practical implications and strategies businesses can employ to navigate the ever-changing economic landscape.
Keynote: Building an Effective Talent Strategy
Wednesday, October 2 | 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Proven Tactics to Attract, Hire and Retain Your Most Valuable Asset - Despite the macroeconomic headwinds, the competition for talent remains fierce. Some organizations are ill-prepared to handle the challenges of complex post-pandemic labor market, shackled by the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality. Others are thriving, armed with analytical insights and surrounded by allies, allowing them to attract, hire and retain highly performing impact players in their industry. What kind of an organization are you? More importantly, what kind do you want to be in the future?
Kevin Delahunt, CAFS
NAFA Guidelines Chair
Senior Technical Advisor
BGE Indoor Air Quality Solutions
Designing Built HVAC Filtration Systems for Optimum Performance
Thursday, October 3 | 10:20 am - 11:00 am
NAFA takes pride in being the global leader in air filtration education and is actively working to amplify its influence in the industry by seeking speaking opportunities beyond NAFA events. Kevin Delahunt of BGE will deliver an educational session at AHR next year on “Designing Built HVAC Filtration Systems for Optimum Performance.”
At this year's Annual Convention, Kevin will preview the highlights of his upcoming presentation and solicit audience feedback to enhance the final session. This presentation will cover:
- Reducing Particulate Load in Occupied Spaces
- System Performance Beyond Filter Performance
- Importance of Filter Hardware
- Designing for Extraordinary Events
- Post-Installation Filter System Verification
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of how to design and maintain HVAC filtration systems that not only meet current standards but also ensure the health and safety of building occupants. Practical insights and case studies will provide actionable steps for immediate implementation in their own projects.
Will Denton, CAFS, NCT II
NAFA Board of Directors
Vice President
Joe W. Fly Co., Inc.
Will Denton has been with the Joe W. Fly Company and in the air filtration business for 18 years, and a member of NAFA just as long. Will has been involved with several committees at NAFA including as Chair of the Marketing and Membership committee, as will as serving on the NAFA Board of Directors. He is certified as a CAFS and NCT II.
Understanding NCT Certification: Enhancing Your Air Filtration Expertise
Tuesday, October 1 | 10:40 am - 11:00 am
This session is designed for professionals in the air filtration industry who are looking to deepen their knowledge and skills through our NAFA Certified Technician (NCT) program.
You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the competencies covered in both level I and II of the NCT certification. We will explore practical applications, best practices, and the significant benefits that achieving these certifications can bring to your career and organization. Whether you're new to the field or a seasoned professional, this session will provide valuable insights into how NCT certifications can improve air quality, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure compliance with industry standards.
Patrick Rosenthal, CAFS, NCT
Central Texas Manager
Tex-Air filters
Business Meeting and Awards
Thursday, October 3 | 9:30 am - 10:20 am
Join us to stay informed, celebrate achievements, and discover opportunities for engagement within the air filtration community.
Jon Schreibfeder
President
Effective Inventory Management, Inc.
Jon Schreibfeder is president of Effective Inventory Management, Inc., a firm dedicated to helping manufacturers, distributors, service centers and large retailers get the most out of their investment in stock inventory. Over the past 40 years, Jon has helped over two thousand firms improve their productivity and profitability through better inventory management. He is the author of numerous articles and a series of books on effective inventory management including the recently published Achieving Effective Inventory Management – Sixth Edition and the National Association of Wholesale Distributor’s Guess Right - Best Practices in Demand Forecasting for Distributors. A featured speaker at seminars and conventions throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim, Jon has been awarded the title “Subject Matter Expert” in inventory management by the American Productivity and Quality Center and is an advisor to Purdue University’s Innovative Distribution Program.
Balancing Your Inventory, Customer Service and Profitability
Wednesday, October 2 | 11:10 am - 12:00 pm
The goal of effective inventory management is to “meet or exceed your customers’ expectations of product availability with the amount of each item that will maximize your net profitability”. In this session we will explore how to achieve this goal. Topics will include:
- How do you determine customer expectations? Do expectations vary for different segments of your inventory?
- How do you decide what products to have in stock and available for immediate delivery?
- How do you accurately forecast future demand of each item?
- Ensuring your anticipated replenishment lead times and other replenishment parameters are accurate.
- Maximizing profitability by buying the optimum quantity of each product.
- Effectively analyzing your investment in stock inventory.
Our goal for you to leave this session with a plan to achieve the goal of effective inventory management.
Billy Southerland
CEO/CBO
IronRoad
Since 2000, Billy Southerland has been CEO of IronRoad, a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Possessing a unique ability to build strong customer relationships, with hard work and a visionary work culture, Billy's leadership blossomed IronRoad into a $200M company. Billy's passion is Servant Leadership and he lives by the belief that the measure of a leader is deemed by their willingness to serve others. Prior to IronRoad, Billy spent two years out of college working for Young Life; a Christian outreach organization that works with high school students. During that time, he worked directly with the community to build a strong base of support that impacted thousands of kids throughout the Columbus, Ohio area. After leaving Young Life, he went to work in a family insurance business which grew into one of the largest in the Cincinnati area and was ultimately sold in 2004. During the transition, many of the insurance agency clients began to understand the value behind working with a PEO and became IronRoad’s first clients. It was the beginning of what, today, has become IronRoad. Mr. Southerland earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. He also attended the University of Cincinnati where he played basketball. Billy is active in his church and mentors young people through Bible studies and discipleship.
Impacting the Bottom Line through Outsourcing and Group Purchasing Strategies
Wednesday, October 2 | 10:00 am - 10:50 am
Are you encountering obstacles in expanding your business amid today's changing landscape and increasing costs? Managing healthcare expenses, HR, Payroll, Workers' Compensation, and employee benefits can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, there are strategies to overcome these challenges, enabling you to concentrate on business growth. Instead of working in your business to manage the cost of many of your topline expenses, allow experts to do it more effectively and predictably. You now have access to companies around the globe that specialize in delivering this service and product to you so that you can focus on growing your business with more capital available to do so.