Recruiting, hiring, retaining and training employees continues to be an overwhelming challenge for industrial distributors. The collaborative efforts of the PTDA Foundation’s programs to build awareness of industrial distribution careers continues to garner unprecedented financial support with a final total of nearly $302,000, demonstrating a continued commitment from the industry in reaching the future industrial distribution workforce.

According to Barbara Ross, 2017 PTDA Foundation Fund Drive co-chair, Garlock Sealing Technologies (Palmyra, N.Y.), “Industrial distributors and manufacturers are continuing to support the work of the PTDA Foundation through their contributions. With the launch of a new strategic plan that heralds some exciting new programs coming to benefit them in recruiting and hiring right-fit individuals, I foresee even more continued support in the future.”

Also serving as 2017 PTDA Foundation Fund Drive co-chair, Bob Callahan SENQCIA MAXCO (Elmhurst, Ill.), noted the 2018 Vanguard campaign, which was kicked off at the recent PTDA Annual Business Meeting in Hollywood, Fla., showed much promise. He said, “After detailing the new strategic plan and its coming offerings, stakeholders from the power transmission/motion control industry really stepped up their contributions. It’s very exciting to see this positive acknowledgement of the Foundation’s work through increased financial support that I feel will have a profound impact on our industry’s future success.”