Jeff McLendon

Join the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) for a state-of-the-industry panel discussion on the $8.7 trillion wholesale distribution industry. The panel, moderated by NAW President and CEO Eric Hoplin, will feature executives from top distributors supplying the specialty building products, facility care and foodservice packaging, and industrial automation and MRO industries. Each panelist brings deep sub-sector expertise, setting up a compare-and-contrast conversation that surfaces both shared trends and the unique factors shaping each corner of the industry.

Panelists will review the economic, technological, policy, and workforce developments that shaped distribution in 2026 and offer predictions for 2027. The conversation will combine panelists' direct, large-scale operating experience with NAW's view across its full membership, giving B2B Online attendees a detailed, cross-sector read on the forces shaping the future of distribution.

Learning Objectives:

    • Identify the economic, regulatory, and policy trends shaping wholesale distribution heading into 2027

    • Compare digital transformation and AI adoption across distinct distribution sub-sectors

    • Assess how industry consolidation is reshaping competitive dynamics within distribution

    • Apply a framework for evaluating workforce and talent trends specific to distribution operations