2019 Annual Wire Harness Conference

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Lead, Educate and Connect—these three words gives the perfect insight into this year’s Wire Harness Conference. Starting with a record high of 50 attendees joining the “First Timers Session” that was led by representatives of WHMA’s board of directors, this meeting was to educate the participants on the association and conference, discuss industry topics, and introduce and connect the first timers with other members throughout the conference.

With 2019 being one of the largest Annual Wire Harness Conferences hosted by WHMA, with 32 exhibitors and 235 attendees, the presentations were full, roundtables were conversing, the exhibit hall was busy, and the receptions were buzzing. This conference is not just a conference but has become an investment for many attendees to learn, grow, share and discover new approaches in the wire harness and cable industry.

The conference planning committee goes to great lengths to create a compelling and educational industry related agenda and did this year justice. It began with the Keynote Presenter, Todd Buchholz, and his riveting presentation entitled “Prosperity Ahead—or Not?” giving the audience an understanding of the competitive pressure we face today and a roadmap to finding success.

Diving into what to expect from the economy this year and beyond was Taylor St. Germain with his presentation on “Wire Harness Industry Economics—the Future and Now.” This presentation had the audience on the edge of their seats learning about using a rate-of-change calculation method by which their company can take advantage of their own data and the economic environment. They also walked away with a clearer vision for the economic future in 2019 and beyond, an understanding on the impact of government policy on the economy, and inflation, interest rate and profitability expectations.

With other great speakers focusing on supporting and developing standards, profiting from R&D tax credits, and developing the future workforce in manufacturing, the conference provided pertinent information to their attendees. Daniel Penrod from LJR Electronics stated, “I've attended the WHMA annual conference on and off since 2000, both as a manufacturer and now as a distributor. The 2019 conference was the best yet, with greater attendance and relevant economic speakers.”

Thoughts from the Chairman of WHMA’s Board of Directors about this year’s conference. “It was great to hear the attendee feedback that the 2019 WHMA conference was one of the best ever. They really appreciated the opportunity to network with their industry peers, while learning about ways to improve their business. The 2020 conference in Las Vegas should be even better,” said Rick Bromm, President, Altex.

In 2020, WHMA’s Annual Wire Harness Conference will be held at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa the week of February 16th. The 2020 Annual Conference Committee are developing the agenda, locating speakers and forming discussion topics for this exciting industry event. This event goal is to LEAD you through the best practices of the wire harness and cable industry, EDUCATE you on developing standards and additional resources throughout the industry, and CONNECT you with long-lasting, valuable relationships within your industry.