At its 42nd Annual Meeting & Annual Convention in May at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis, NAHAD welcomed an outstanding turnout, including its largest group of first-time attendees and industry professionals, reflecting the continued growth and momentum of the community. With more than 120 exhibitors showcasing the latest products, innovations, and services, there were ample opportunities to explore new solutions and connect with key partners across the industry.
This year marked a strategic shift for NAHAD — from resort-style destinations to a more accessible, cost-effective, and centrally located event aimed at driving higher attendance and broader company participation. This convention successfully repositioned NAHAD’s flagship event by:
- Expanding attendance and inclusivity
- Increasing education and leadership development
- Strengthening business networking and commercial outcomes
The event delivered strong turnout, including a large influx of first-time attendees, signaling continued industry growth. Attendance trended higher than prior years due to affordability and Midwest accessibility. This in turn resulted in high participation across education, networking, and exhibit activities, reinforcing attendee engagement.
The event offered a significant increase in educational content versus prior years. Programming included:
- The annual economic outlook provided by ITR Economics
- Leadership and team dynamics workshops
- Sales execution and company transformation sessions
- An emphasis on practical, business-relevant learning aligned with member needs.
Additionally, NAHAD introduced LEAD (Leadership Exploration and Development Program), which was its first ever in-person training component, including mentorship pairings and DiSC-based leadership development. The organization is positioning this as a long-term pipeline investment in next-generation industry leaders, said Molly Alton Mullins, NAHAD Executive Vice President.
As usual, networking played a huge part, with a strong focus on structured and informal networking, with the opening and closing receptions, industry roundtables, dedicated company meeting rooms for 1:1 business interactions, and continued emphasis on facilitating real-time business connections and deal flow.
The Showcase of Hose Solutions, always an attendee favorite, featured more than 120 exhibitors showcasing products, innovations, and services.
Mullins attributed the success to the event’s strategic location shift. Indianapolis was chosen to reduce cost barriers, enable companies to bring larger teams, and increase accessibility for its heavily Midwest membership base.
“This decision directly contributed to attendance growth and expanded participation across roles and levels,” said Mullins. “It effectively served as a more scalable, business-focused model for future conventions — balancing cost efficiency with high-value programming and industry connectivity.”
The NAHAD Annual Convention next year will be held April 10–13, 2027, in Austin, Texas, at the Fairmont Austin Hotel.
Learn more at nahad.org.
Filed Under: Hose Assembly Tips, Industry News, News
