AHMA Executive Conference and Annual Membership Meeting Gives Members Chance to Hear High-Profile Speakers; Association Announces 2007 Slate of Officers and Directors.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) held its 2006 Executive Conference and Annual Membership Meeting held in conjunction with International Hardware Week(R) (IHW(R)), and in cooperation with the World Business Forum, in downtown Chicago June 4 - 7, bringing together executives from across the U.S. to discuss the state of the hardware/home improvement industry today, and its future.

AHMA teamed up with the World Business Forum to give AHMA members a chance to hear some of the world's foremost thinkers and leaders, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who spoke on critical topics such as global security, crisis management and peace and global prosperity.

"This year's AHMA Executive Conference provided members with an unparalleled opportunity to be motivated, moved and inspired by the most powerful minds in business," said AHMA President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Farrell. "This event tied in with our mission to provide member-centric value through relevant and timely programs."

"INTERACTIVE" ANNUAL MEETING

AHMA conducted its annual Membership Meeting June 5 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, where Farrell set the stage by noting the association remains committed to finding ways to increase its value to members by developing the programs, services and activities needed by manufacturers. For the first time, AHMA conducted an "interactive" membership meeting, where attending executives were asked to provide their ideas on how AHMA can be of greater value to its membership. Ideas were grouped into four categories: information, supply chain, international and end-user customer.

"As we continue our mission to develop unique programming for our members, we realized we had a tremendous opportunity to ask them directly what issues they face on a daily basis, and how their trade association could help them," said Farrell. "Ultimately, manufacturers need to ask themselves if they can compete globally in all these important areas, and how they, with our help and leadership, can convert actionable ideas to results," Farrell said.

In his Chairman's Remarks, Stuart Bush of Roebic Laboratories, Inc. thanked members in attendance for their ongoing support of the association and urged them to provide ongoing feedback on how AHMA can best help them succeed as manufacturers.

AHMA members ratified a new slate of volunteer officers for terms beginning January 1, 2007. They include:

Chairman of the Board: Donald D. Dray, president and CEO, Dasco
    Pro, Inc.
    First Vice Chairman: William A. Hudson, president of international
    and executive vice president of marketing and sales, H. D. Hudson
    Manufacturing Co.
    Second Vice Chairman: Dale E. Schmidt, vice president of retail
    sales, Elkay Sales, Inc.
    Third Vice Chairman: Jeanette M. Kellogg, vice president of sales
    and marketing, Genova Products, Inc.
    Treasurer: Mark J. Studley, president and CEO, Blue Ribbon
    Products, Inc.

New directors elected to serve three-year terms are: Cecil Given, executive vice president, Reaves and Company, Inc.; James J. Maskas, division vice president, 3M; and Rhonda L. Sullivan, president and CEO, Lavelle Industries, Inc. Elected as a replacement director for a one-year term is Dan G. Stuart, vice president of building materials, The Sherwin-Williams Company.

AHMA JOINS FORCES WITH WORLD BUSINESS FORUM

Following the Annual Meeting, AHMA Executive Conference registrants attended the World Business Forum June 6 and 7 at Navy Pier. In addition to former U.S. President Clinton, Colin Powell and Rudy Giuliani, AHMA members also heard from:

--Adobe Systems CEO Bruce Chizen on the topic of growth and innovation;

--One of the world's leading authorities on employee productivity Marcus Buckingham;

--Malcolm Gladwell, author of two New York Times #1 bestsellers on marketing and innovation; and

--Kenichi Ohmae, voted one of the world's top five management gurus by The Economist, and Dr. Jiren Liu, Deputy Director-General of the China Software Industry Association (CSIA), who gave a practical perspective on conducting business in China.

About the American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA)

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association (AHMA) is a globally focused trade association of manufacturers or providers of hardware, home improvement, lawn and garden, paint and decorating and related products, as well as manufacturers' representative's agencies and trade publications.

AHMA offers many valuable member and industry programs, services and activities including the AHMA Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), AHMA Strategic Sourcing, AHMA Low Cost Country Sourcing and related supply chain / strategic sourcing training programs, AHMA Manufacturers Showcases, AHMA University, AHMA Executive Conference and Annual Membership Meeting held in conjunction with International Hardware Week(R), AHMA Hardlines Technology Forum(R), AHMA / USA International Pavilions, Government Relations Programs, Member Benefit Vendor Programs, Member Cost Reduction Programs, AHMA Hardware Industry Relief Effort (HIRE), and the AHMA / Habitat for Humanity Partnership.

For more information about AHMA, please visit www.ahma.org.