Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/655792
4 FEDA News & Views Brad Pierce President Restaurant Equipment World brad.pierce@rewonline.com The President's Message I 'm writing this farewell column as I soar 18,000 feet. The sky is clear blue and I feel amazing. The world below me looks so peaceful, confl icts have dis- appeared and everything just feels so right at this moment in time. I think qui- etly to myself, if only the reality on the ground was this perfect. As I pass above cities fi lled with our industry partners, I begin to reminisce about the past two years of my FEDA Presidency—my time working with the AutoQuotes team, manufacturers and other dealers on the FEDA Data Interchange, meeting with the fi ve families of the E&S industry at the NRA Show. Dealers, consultants, service agents, reps and man- ufacturers, all of us, cautious- ly sharing the news within our respective segments as we listened to one another with open minds. Little did any of us know at the time that we were on the road to becoming respected colleagues and lifelong friends. During the months that followed, so did our interactions, shifting from formal meetings to casual phone calls, bounc- ing ideas off of one another through e-mails or chatting in trade show aisles. Our trust for one another grew and we moved from an obligation to "play nice" to a true desire to collaborate together. Each of us began touting our support for the other's role in the industry to our respective members. This was a sur- prise to many, especially given all of the sins we'd traditionally blamed on one another. We were all unifi ed in our com- mitment to lead by example. We began to show up at one anoth- er's events and conferences. I distinct- ly remember one attendee remarking, "Wow, you're a dealer and you're here? We really appreciate that you came to see all the good things we do in the channel." The truth is I was thrilled to be invited and even more eager to learn for the benefi t of the industry. I can write articles about collaboration all day long, but nothing in the world beats walking the talk. As I near my destination, I realize the reality on the ground is not far off from the industry I envisioned in the clouds. Collectively, we've made leaps and bounds over the past two years to bridge the gap. That's what I hope to leave as a legacy, a renewed focus to work together with our allied part- ners for a healthy and strong industry long into the future, and I have no doubt the next generation of industry lead- ers will have great success in elevating the purpose. It's time to bring this plane in for a landing as I've done thousands of times before. When I touch down in Tucson, it will be the last time as pilot-in-command of this great organization we call FEDA. While I'll miss the adventure, I am grate- ful for all of you who helped me along the path to success in this role. You're in great hands with incoming President Joe Schmitt. He's a good friend and a phenomenal leader. He'll do a fantastic job with the support of the outstanding Excom, board and members. It's truly been an honor and privilege to serve as your FEDA President these past two years. Thank you for an amazing ride! Taking Collaboration to New Heights Collectively, we've made leaps and bounds over the past two years to bridge the gap.