Sonepar USA Celebrates 10th Anniversary With 3-Day Convention In Philadelphia

Conference Focused on the Distributor’s Past, Present and Future in the Electric al Distribution Market

PHILADELPHIA , Pa., May 20, 2008 – Sonepar USA recently held its first ever company-wide meeting to celebrate its 10th anniversary, May 1-3, 2008 in Philadelphia, PA. The event was attended by over 350 associates, representing all eleven operating companies that make up Sonepar USA, as well as top management from Sonepar.

There were several initiatives for the large company gathering, the most prevalent being Sonepar USA’s official commemoration of 10 years in the US, and the amazing growth it has experienced throughout those years via organic expansion and external acquisitions.

"Although our 10 th Anniversary is important, the central theme of the event was Passion Drives our Future” because it’s the passion of our associates for their business and their customers that will sustain our future,” stated Tony Burr, President and Chief Operating Officer, Sonepar USA. ”We gathered to celebrate our successes over the last decade and also to look towards the future and prepare our businesses for the next ten years.”

Tony Burr also highlighted an interesting link between Philadelphia and Sonepar USA in his opening speech. Philadelphia is the ‘true home’ of Benjamin Franklin, who was known for his discoveries and theories on electricity, and 250 years later in 1998 the city became the birth location and home to Sonepar USA. This “electric” connection was weaved throughout the event.

The 3-day event included presentations on the company’s future strategy and initiatives, best-practice workshops, vendor booth visits, employee networking activities, and guest speakers on market trends.

Ten workshops were conducted over the course of the conference, with content covering everything from energy savings to employee training practices to emerging LED technologies. The goal of these sessions were to allow attendees to learn best practices and share experiences with their Sonepar USA colleagues, as well as create awareness of the new market trends, opportunities, and the different initiatives deployed by other Sonepar USA businesses. The workshops were led by representatives from Sonepar USA operating businesses and experts from the industry.

Sustainable development and Sonepar’s Blueway program were also major focuses during the conference. This was evidenced by a number of vendor booths, which took place during scheduled lunches and downtime. Attending manufacturers included Cooper Lighting, Genlyte/Advance, Sylvania, GE, Legrand and Square D. Booth displays featured each company’s sustainable development concepts, and how these products can help distributors leverage the industry’s growing demand for sustainable business practices.

"The vendors provided great insight on the emerging products and technology that surround the electric al industry’s focus on sustainable development,” said Burr. "Attendees were able to visit each booth and see how manufacturers are positioning themselves and their products going forward.”

A number of guest speakers led discussions about market trends and technology, generation al leadership ch allenges, and E-business strategies.

Additionally, Sonepar Chairman and CEO Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette spoke about the 10 th Anniversary, her goals and ambitions for the Sonepar group moving forward.

The presentations were well-received, and offered associates practical, hands-on information to bring back to their respective branches.

"The goal of this conference was to bring the Sonepar USA businesses and associates together in one place, to show everyone the large and innovative company they belong to,” said Burr. “The networking and shared experiences that resulted from this event will have immeasurable benefits for each operating business.”

About Sonepar USA
Sonepar USA is made up of the finest electric al supply distributors in the United States. The company has 4,600 associates in 12 companies operating more than 253 branches in 35 states. In 2007, Sonepar USA achieved $2.9 billion in revenue. It is a member of the Sonepar group - the world's largest privately held electric al distributor. Worldwide, Sonepar employs over 25,250 employees, with 1,450 branch locations and 2007 annual sales of $15.3 billion.