In its Fall Membership Meeting of 2023, Starnet welcomed Scott Steinberg to share insights about the future of work and how technology would continue to disrupt our industry with waves of change. Even if our membership chose to move slowly, our client end users and manufacturers would abandon us if we failed to at least match their rate of technology adoption. His presentation continues to be a treasure trove of concepts beyond electronic technology that are relevant to the concerns and aspirations we hear every day from our entire network – members and vendors.

Incremental adjustments no longer seem to be effective in today’s business environment. To realize the promise of partnering for success, we constantly encourage the manufacturers and service providers to use their open-door access to our membership to drive value around talent, operating models, technology, and data. These areas of focus provide rally points of success where true leaders at the Preferred Vendors and Starnet members can add value beyond their core product or service offering. Increasingly, Starnet’s role is to provide our members with a broad range of practical options as best practices in talent, operating models, technology, and data.

Value of Live Events

 In the academic description of value delivery above, what is missing are practical examples of execution. How is it done? So many of our members celebrate the value they get from interacting with other members and executive teams from the vendors during Starnet live events. At our annual spring and fall meetings, the entire network is immersed in a supercharged commercial flooring extravaganza. The intensity of these events can be overwhelming, but some pre-planning can unlock the value every attendee desires, leading to the powerful relationships celebrated by the members and backed up by positive financial results.  

Peer Activation 

As strange as it sounds, it is very unusual for professionals in our industry to have access to peers in their home markets. A peer target is an individual who is equal in rank, status, or age, and shares common interests or experiences with another person. This is especially challenging in our small industry when you are an example of a minority population. Early career associates, females, Gen X professionals, and associates who did not grow up in the commercial flooring business are all examples of peer scarcity. In the context of personal development, a peer is someone who can provide support, advice, or guidance based on their own experiences and perspectives. So many Starnet member offices mix grumpy male boomers with cheery early-career millennial females. These situations are not natural peer matches. Finding a peer with whom you can explore industry challenges can be a huge breakthrough for career satisfaction. Starnet events are a perfect place to create peer relationships which would be more difficult to generate in general industry tradeshows. Unlike an advisor or mentor, a peer typically does not possess a higher level of expertise or authority, and their role is more focused on sharing knowledge and offering camaraderie.

Advisor Activation

An advisor, on the other hand, is typically a more specialized expert who provides specific guidance and advice on a particular topic or issue. Advisors are easily discovered during the tradeshow or various workshops offered in the schedule. Legal, financial, or employee safety advisors can be easily accessed through one industry event. Quick connections provide actionable recommendations to address specific challenges or opportunities. For example, the safety processes to protect employees on a factory floor are highly relevant to protecting field labor on a job site. Advisors who know a topic can provide frameworks for decision-making that may be exponential in value to a member company. Developing advisors is important for effective leaders because they provide highly efficient access to insights and expertise. Advisors help leaders make better decisions and navigate complex challenges. Due to the scale of their enterprise responsibility, the executives from manufacturers often have recommendations or access to specialized advisors they are willing to share with members, especially if the request is in person.

Mentor Activation

A mentor is typically a more experienced and knowledgeable individual who provides guidance and support to help someone grow and develop in their personal or professional life. This relationship connection is often easier to develop in local markets, but not always. A mentor shares their wisdom, insights, and experiences to help the mentee navigate challenges and achieve goals. They often have a more long-term relationship with the mentee and provide holistic guidance on various aspects of life, including personal growth, career development, and leadership skills. A mentor, if asked, can help develop a person's ability by providing examples and support in areas such as communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution. These connections are vital in dealing with unusual situations where there is no MBA playbook, such as dealing with the death of a key employee or managing internal succession plans.

Using Live Event Structure To Activate 

Our industry enthusiastically celebrates relationships, and industry events are patterned to uncover opportunities to activate talent in peer, advisor, and mentor relationships. Starnet offers the committee structure, which can easily activate peer and advisor connections. Most industry tradeshows also make advisor connections easy and obvious. In a few minutes you can acquire advisors in moisture mitigation or transition accessory expertise. Mentor relationships might take a bit more discovery, but cooperatives are the best place to seek out wisdom. For example, in the 2024 Starnet Spring Annual Membership Meeting, we will be fortunate to have a joint panel of the Women in the Flooring Industry (WIFI) and the Women of Starnet. This event should activate peer, advisor, and hopefully mentor relationships for all of the attendees. In any Starnet live event, a single room includes hundreds, if not thousands, of years of relevant experience. There is always the generous spirit of sharing in the network as well. Any member or vendor that raises their hand will get sincere answers and legitimate options to resolve any challenge. This is the power of the talent in cooperatives and associations for our industry.