San Antonio—The 2023 FEI Group National Conference was held here against the backdrop of the group’s 25th anniversary, which led to reflection on the last 25 years for many in attendance. Through exponential growth, leadership changes and a new partner company in Nationwide Marketing Group, FEI Group has evolved greatly, but its mission has remained the same: to add value to their members businesses through business services, supply connections and networking.
“I think our founder, Dave Gheesling, said it best in his casual way: ‘When you get a group of really smart people together in a room, great things will happen,’” said Graham Howerton, FEI Group president. “And you know what? He was right, wasn’t he? You just look around at your table, look around at this room, and I think you’ll see what I see, that there just isn’t a room like this anywhere else in the country.”
What’s new
In the last handful of years, the group has undergone major changes. That includes a flurry of leadership changes—leading to new faces at convention this year touting excitement for the year to come.
The group also welcomed a new division in 2023: Traffic Safety Solutions. The latest includes large-scale highway and road-striping companies—all independent contractors.
And finally, the purchase of FEI by Nationwide Marketing Group, the independent retail channel’s largest buying, marketing and business support organization. This shift will bring a number of valuable assets to the group and its members in the coming years.
Services and networking
The group’s Supply Connect event again brought members together with FEI’s supply partners, including new additions this year.
FEI, known for its philanthropy, again held its No Child Hungry meal-packing initiative at the event. Last year saw 5,000 meals packed for children in need, and this year’s goal was to surpass that benchmark. When the dust settled, FEI members helped the pack more than 5,600 meals for the non-profit.
At the close of the show, FEI members were treated to a “good old-fashioned hoedown at Knibbe Ranch.” The event included live music by the Jody Jenkins Band and plenty of BBQ and fixins’. Ranger Creek was also be on hand with its whiskey tasting station. While cigar rollers and open firepits helped attendees toast the Texas sunset.
(Learn more about the FEI National Convention in the upcoming Oct. 31 issue of FCNews.)