People: President Casey McIlhon of NFDA (National Fastener Distributors Association)

Significant Helping Hands in Global Fastener Trade:

President Casey McIlhon of NFDA (National Fastener Distributors Association)

1. First, can you please talk about how you define your role as the President of NFDA and what is the significance of this role to you?

This is a tremendous honor for me to take on the role of President of the NFDA primarily due to the fact that my Grandfather was one of the founders of the NFDA. The NFDA has played a large role in my family’s presence in the fastener industry. I am quite excited to be able to give back to the association now by acting as the President. My role is to insure the association continues to meet and ideally exceed the needs of our membership. 

2. In your perspective, what do you think is the feature of U.S. fastener industry in terms of production volume/value, main product solutions, import & export, and percentages of main business types (manufacturers/importers/exporters), etc.?

Although I don’t have data readily available to answer your question, I can say that the Fastener Distribution Index (FDI) continues to show the U.S. fastener market is strong.  The FDI is a monthly survey of North American fastener distributors, conducted by the NFDA and the FCH Sourcing Network and you can follow it through the NFDA’s website. It offers insights into current trends/outlooks. As a diffusion index, figures above 50 signal strength and below 50 signal weakness. The index has remained above 50 for more than a year.

3. Before taking the position of NFDA president, I know you have been working actively in Assembled Products, Inc. (API), can you please talk about the main service and business range of API, including what kind of product you can provide, your company’s current capacity, major markets, and partners API is currently cooperating with?

API was formed in 2005 and is a continuation of a business founded by my Grandfather and furthered by my Father, Iowa Industrial Products (IIP). IIP was sold to Bossard, and a portion of this business, the kitting department specifically, was sold to my Father in 2005 which is what is now API. API specializes in kitting and assembly, largely to the agricultural industry. We also have a contract packaging division which offers high volume contract packaging solutions for a variety of customers.   

4. Being both a business owner and an association leader, how do you deal with many of the demands on your time?

I would love to answer this question in about six months as this is a new role for me. All kidding aside, fortunately I am surrounded by a great team on both sides. We have an extremely competent staff at API who supports me in my role, and the team at NFDA is equally as talented. So I have plenty of great colleagues in which I can lean on when necessary. I also am a Husband and Father of three quite active children who really keep me on my toes.

5. As the President of NFDA, have you had any plan to increase the views exchange among fellow members, win over benefits for members’ interests, or strengthen the awareness of the association?

Absolutely, all of the above. One of the main benefits to our members is the ability to network and establish relationships with executives of their business partners. Increasing the value to each of our members is a main focus of our Board of Directors. 

6. What has been the most significant change, achievement, and mission of NFDA in the most recent and future years? And what do you expect to do for reinforcing the value of NFDA? 

I am quite proud of the current rebound that NFDA has made in recent years. Our membership had reached a low point a few years ago, which prompted the association to make some significant changes. We partnered with a new management agency and developed a meeting format more suited to what our members needs are. Our mission is to help our members thrive in the global marketplace. Personally, I have three goals for my presidency. First and foremost is to increase member participation at our meetings. Our membership is growing, and I will be working hard to get our members together in person. Second is training, we have partnered with the Fastener Training Institute and now are offering scholarships to the FTI. I am eager to expand this area. And finally, I would like to see the NFDA do more to support our regional associations. I will work to increase collaboration between NFDA and support to the regional groups that make up the heart and soul of our industry.

7. In addition to years of experience in the fastener industry, do you have any other experience from outside the fastener industry that you think is also the factor for you to achieve successful business management? What do you think is the feature of your leadership?

Great question, outside of my work in the fastener industry my time is devoted to family. I am quite active in the lives of my children, in both youth sports and also religious education. What this has helped develop in me is an ability to listen. I would hope that if you talked to one of my team members, they would say that I am a compassionate leader who understands the needs of my organization.

8. What do you think is the prospect of U.S. fastener industry? What kind of role is U.S. fastener industry currently playing? Do you have any suggestions for domestic U.S. fastener suppliers in terms of business expansion or market changes?

The US fastener industry is a business that continues to evolve. We have seen many significant changes over the years, and have adapted well to each of them. Much domestic manufacturing has moved to other areas of the country and other areas of the world, yet by and large we continue to sustain our businesses in a healthy manner. We are now seeing some of this manufacturing returning to North America in a leaner form. Thus I see the US fastener industry sustaining itself well over the coming years. 

About the President

With nearly 22 years of experience in the fastener industry, Mr. Casey McIlhon professionally began his fastener career in 1994. He was graduated and presented the Bachelor Degree of Business Administration in Univ. of Iowa in 1994, during which he started to work for Bossard. He was promoted to Director of Sales in Bossard in 2003 and started his own business “McIlhon & Associates, Inc.” in 2005. In 2013, he joined Assembled Products as Executive Vice President. Now he heads API and is also the President of NFDA.