Beth Ladd Joins ASA as Vice President of Innovation
Press Release Summary:
The American Supply Association (ASA) announces addition of Vice President of Innovation, and subsequent hiring for this position. Beth Ladd will identify, and solve for, the technological trends and disruptions that will impact the future of the plumbing-heating-cooling-piping (PHCP) and industrial pipe-valvefitting industry. Ladd will play a vital role in establishing and managing projects and teams that will create solutions and opportunities for ASA’s industry partners.
Original Press Release:
ASA Hires New Vice President of Innovation
Itasca, IL – September 3, 2019 The American Supply Association (ASA) announced today the addition of a new position, Vice President of Innovation, and subsequent hiring for this position. Beth Ladd joins the ASA team effective immediately. In Ladd’s new role she will identify, and solve for, the technological trends and disruptions that will impact the future of the plumbing-heating-cooling-piping (PHCP) and industrial pipe-valvefitting industry.
A key-player in the recently announced D.NEXT platform, Ladd will play a vital role in establishing and managing projects and teams that will create solutions and opportunities for ASA’s industry partners. D.NEXT will provide comprehensive resources, enabling ASA members to invest in technologies that deliver customervalued solutions. Through this new program, members will develop the mindset, clarity and strategies to transform their businesses profitably. Central to the D.NEXT platform is the new ASA Innovation Lab that will open at Research Park in partnership with the University of Illinois.
The Innovation Lab will be a hub of industry, supplier, distributor and technology company alliances that fund prioritized digital innovations, available exclusively to ASA members. ASA members will have unprecedented access to technologists, data scientists, engineers and others focused on viable technology solutions for business. Additionally, ASA will collaborate with University of Illinois faculty and students to develop industryleading digital capabilities that strengthen our members’ supply-chain positions. The D.NEXT platform of services will provide ASA members with needed resources to guide them along their technology transformation journeys.
Building upon Ladd’s proven past successes in the areas of innovative research, including a role as a site director for an existing incubator lab at the University of Illinois, she will become a bridge between the leading firms in the industry and the talent that exists on the University of Illinois campus throughout the year. Ladd will be assisting in University recruiting activities while mentoring and guiding interns through the first steps in their career journey.
Ladd brings to the ASA organization a portfolio of research projects across multiple business domains as well as proven analytic leadership and concurrent managerial direction to teams of data scientists, engineers, business persons and ambitious emerging technologists.
With a very strong background in managing innovation teams and incubator labs with companies such as Caterpillar, Inc. Ladd will be responsible for defining strategy, exploring leading edge analytic capabilities and executing a portfolio of innovative research projects, while effectively managing a team of highly-skilled IT interns, in the new D.NEXT lab which will open in early 2020.
The American Supply Association is the national association for full-service wholesaler-distributors and their suppliers of plumbing-heating-cooling-piping and industrial pipe-valve-fitting products and related services. Learn more about ASA at www.asa.net.
EDITORIAL CONTACT:
Amanda Belknap
VP. Marketing & Communications
American Supply Association
630.467.0000, ext. 203
news@asa.net
