Distributors Deliver

Episode 5: Jim Derry

In this episode, NAW CEO Eric Hoplin sits down with Jim Dery, CEO of Field Fasteners,. Jim offers candid takes on navigating tariffs, managing the pace of AI adoption, and why family-owned distributors hold a real competitive edge over private equity when it comes to acquiring businesses and taking care of people. It's a grounded, honest conversation about building something that lasts, passing the torch to the next generation, and what it means to lead with purpose in the distribution industry.

Episode 4: Kathy Mazzarella

In this episode, NAW CEO Eric Hoplin sits down with Kathy Mazzarella, Chairman, President and CEO of Graybar and Chair of the NAW Board of Directors. Kathy shares her grounded, people-first leadership philosophy including her concept of "human augmented AI" and how Graybar is in the middle of a bold multi-year transformation to disrupt itself before someone else does. It's a wide-ranging, engaging conversation on navigating macro uncertainty, the rise of private equity, building trust in a skeptical world, and what it really means to lead in distribution today.

Episode 3: Liz Uihlein

In this episode, Host and NAW CEO Eric Hoplin sits down with Liz Uihlein, President of Uline. Liz shares the unfiltered story behind Uline's growth, from mailing flyers at the dining room table to mastering catalog marketing, and opens up about the culture, work ethic, and hands-on leadership style that have defined the company for 46 years. The conversation also celebrates Uline receiving the 2026 Distributors Deliver Award, a well-earned recognition of a true American business success story.

Episode 2: Joe Tracy

In this episode, Host and NAW CEO Eric Hoplin sits down with Joe Tracy, Chairman and CEO of Dot Family Holdings. Joe shares candid insights on the biggest challenges facing distributors today, from AI and automation investments to the ongoing talent shortage, and offers straight-talk advice on what separates family businesses that thrive from those that become irrelevant. It's a compelling conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it really takes to keep a multigenerational business growing.

Episode 1: Brian Wild

In this debut episode, Host and NAW CEO Eric Hoplin sits down with Brian Wild, NAW's Chief of Government Relations, to break down a whirlwind year in Washington: from landmark tax wins and tariff chaos to major courtroom victories through NAW's new Legal Policy Center. Brian also looks ahead to 2026, flagging the policy battles distributors need to watch, from AI regulation and workforce challenges to the looming midterms. Essential listening for any distribution executive who wants to know how Washington is shaping their business.