Lead Photo: STAFDA CEO Georgia Foley delivers the opening remarks at the association’s 2021 Convention in Orlando, FL. (MDM photo)

The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) is about to undergo a changing of the guard for both top leadership and management in the group’s 50th year.

During STAFDA’s annual convention and trade show Nov. 9-11 in Phoenix, longtime CEO Georgia Foley announced she will step down as of Jan. 1, 2026 and that the group will hand off back office responsibilities to association management company Frontline Co.

Foley has been with STAFDA since 1994, and CEO since 2000 when she succeeded her father, Morrie Halverson, who was the association’s first CEO upon its founding in 1976 by 18 industry leaders in the construction/industrial supply channel. 

Foley and STAFDA Member Services Director Catherine Usher are STAFDA’s only two full-time staff members. Both will remain with STAFDA as Frontline employees, with Foley set to reduce her hours. Nonprofit STAFDA will continue to be owned by its more than 1,900 members comprised of distributors, associate/manufacturers, publishers/media and manufacturer rep/agents. 

Meanwhile, Elm Grove, WI-based STAFDA has launched a search to find Foley’s successor.

“I’ve been gifted with a career beyond my wildest dreams to serve STAFDA members who are so near and dear to my heart, but shifting over to Frontline will get STAFDA in a far safer place than it is right now with only a staff of two,” Foley said at the convention.

MDM had Foley on the MDM Podcast back in September 2023: “MDM Podcast: Education, Industry Demand and What STAFDA’s Up To”

Today, STAFDA has more than 2,200 member companies comprised of distributors, associate/manufacturers, publishers/media and manufacturer rep/agents.

Also at the convention, STAFDA elected its new officers for 2026, led by new President Matt Kitchens, who is Vice President of Sales for California Service Tool (Hayward, CA), which has been an association member since 1997.

Other newly-elected STAFDA officers include:

• Erika Sherman — President and Owner of MC Tool & Safety Sales (Blaine, MN) — as Vice President
• Blake Larsen of C.F.C. Supply (West Haven, UT) — elected to three-year board term
• Bill Gottmeier of Denali Industrial Supply (Fairbanks, AK) — elected to three-year board term
• Chad Carney of Pyramex Safety (Piperton, TN) — joined Manufacturing Liason Committee
• Kirk Strebin of American General Tool Group (Vista, TN) — joined Manufacturing Liason Committee
• Chris Morris of Morris Marketing Group (Greer, SC) — joined Rep Liason Committee
• Eric Stone of Lawless Group West (China, CA) — joined Rep Liason Committee
• Craig Yuhas of NACH Marketing (Galt, CA) — joined Rep Liason Committee

STAFDA’s 50th annual convention wil be held in Anaheim, CA on Nov. 15-17, 2026.