NETWORK Countdown: Six Weeks Out from Some of PHCP-PVF’s Most Valuable Conversations

Photo by Steve Woltmann

This year’s agenda reflects many of the same issues PHCP-PVF leaders are navigating every day, from workforce and economic uncertainty to changing customer expectations and business relationships.

Six weeks from now, hundreds of PHCP-PVF leaders will gather at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for NETWORK2026, happening November 10-12.

The speakers and sessions are a draw, but feedback from last year suggests something broader is behind the value attendees see in NETWORK. It’s the opportunity to bring a large cross-section of the supply chain together in the same place at the same time.

Of the attendees who responded to the NETWORK2025 post-event survey, more than 85% rated the conference’s overall value either “excellent” or “very good,” while nearly 98% said they would recommend NETWORK to a colleague.

The reasons people came also reflects what leaders in our industry value. Networking and supporting the industry were among the biggest draws, alongside featured speakers, educational sessions and dedicated opportunities for wholesalers, distributors and vendors to connect.

The emphasis on relationships showed up in what attendees themselves shared around last year’s conference.

Brian Tuohey of The Collins Companies described NETWORK as an opportunity for the PHCP-PVF community to engage, exchange ideas and strengthen the relationships that keep the industry moving. Merit Brass pointed to the chance to “align our strategies with our distribution partners, discuss market trends” and strengthen partnerships. United Pipe & Steel similarly highlighted the opportunity to spend time with customers, vendors and industry peers.

Distributors, manufacturers and reps are heading toward year-end amid continued questions around costs, economic conditions, workforce strategy, technology and changing customer expectations. The NETWORK2026 program reflects many of those priorities, with sessions designed around the issues shaping business decisions across the PHCP-PVF industry.

On Tuesday, November 10, the program includes a Voice of the Customer discussion built around ASA’s 2026 Voice of the Contractor results, along with a session on leading across remote and hybrid workplaces. Wednesday’s agenda includes ASA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl’s 2027 Industry Economic Forecast, a C-suite workforce roundtable and the conference’s wholesaler-distributor and vendor appointments.

NLF sideline reporter Erin Andrews will join Wednesday’s All Industry Breakfast for a moderated conversation covering her career, leadership in a highly competitive field and navigating high-pressure situations. On Thursday morning, Shark Tank’s “Mr. Wonderful,” Kevin O’Leary, will close NETWORK with Lessons from a Shark, including his perspective on business, the economy and innovation.

Even with an impressive speaker lineup, numbers from last year reinforce that NETWORK’s draw extends beyond any individual session or speaker.

When 98% of survey respondents say they would recommend an event to a colleague, it points to something that is difficult to capture on an agenda. The real value comes from bringing customers, suppliers, competitors and industry peers into the same conversations.

In six weeks, those conversations start again. Make sure you’re at the table.

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