Mike Nussman, President & CEO
American Sportfishing Association
ICAST Industry Breakfast
July 19, 2006
Las Vegas Convention Center
Good morning everyone. Thanks for being here for our 2007 Industry Breakfast in celebration of our 50th trade show. I’m Mike Nussman, President and CEO of the American Sportfishing Association.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and ASA’s staff, it’s a pleasure to welcome you to ICAST50 and to commemorate this historic milestone with you.
Because it’s such a special occasion, I’m going to forgo the traditional “State of the Industry” talk and instead, I’d like to use this occasion to honor our industry and the nearly two dozen companies who have been exhibiting at ICAST for the past 50 years.
You’ll see at your table a special commemorative calendar we created to mark these 50 years. This was a lot of work and I want to thank all of you that contributed! I also want to thank our sponsors for their generous support of ICAST.
We will also be honoring several industry icons that have joined us for our celebration. But more about them later.
Back to 1958. Of the 136 companies that exhibited at the first Associated Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Show, 22 of them, or that brand, are still exhibiting today. We’re recognizing these companies throughout the show because of their longstanding support. They are good ambassadors for all of us and they reflect what makes our industry special.
Some of them, like Sampo and The Worth Company are family-owned businesses that were passed on from one generation to the next.
Others like L&S Bait Company, Denison-Johnson and Ed Cumings, started out in someone’s basement or garage because of a love of fishing.
Still more were especially good at capitalizing on new ideas and paving the way through innovations. That could certainly be said for Bagley Fishing Products, Plano Molding Company and Penn, to name only a few.
And I should note that these qualities are seen in so many others in the industry, and in fact, they are a large part of our overall vitality and longevity.
It just goes to show that our commitment to fishing makes our industry so much more than a collection of businesses. It’s also a lively, creative, passion-driven community. For much, much longer than 50 years, we’ve all sustained one of America’s favorite pastimes. And that’s no small thing!
Our 50th trade show is great cause to celebrate all of that. Back in 1958, the show was made up lots of makeshift booths spread out into the garage of the Hotel Sherman in Chicago. It was actually much more of a regional show than a national one.
Who would have thought that one day our show would cover four football fields-worth of gear in one of America’s premier convention halls? Who would have predicted one day we’d attract more than 7,000 people, including visitors from 50 countries all over the globe?
Until relatively recently, of course, our industry, and our trade show, was mostly an American enterprise. But today, sportfishing is a global business. I want to take this opportunity to recognize our valuable international partners. Manufacturers and buyers from other countries have had an increasingly significant role in our industry’s evolution. Because of that, we’re glad to see the growth in international attendance here at ICAST.
In particular, I want to recognize our international association partners. Mr. Brooke representing the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association—Mr. Classon representing the Australian Fishing Tackle Association—Mr. Holloway representing the European Fishing Tackle Trade Association and Mr. Kojima, Mr. Ohmura and Mr. Shimano representing the Japanese Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association. Gentlemen, thank you for traveling so far to join us. We are honored to have you here with us.
I’d also like to thank our Board of Directors lead by our Chairman, Randy Lemcke. I’d like to thank Burt Steinberg and the members of the Show Committee and in fact, all of ASA’s committee members for their dedication and their work toward ensuring a successful show and a productive association.
We’re also privileged to have quite a number of past chairmen of ASA’s Board with us this morning. Peter Foley, Norm Gauch, Joe Hall, Dick Kotis, Darryl Lowrance, Mark Masterson, Dave Pfeiffer, Chip Powell, Jason Sauey, and Burt Steinberg. Gentlemen, thank you for all your efforts.
And within our past chairman, I understand several of you are celebrating 50th anniversaries yourselves. Mr. Hall, Mr. Lowrance, congratulations!
[comments by Randy Lemcke, ASA Board of Directors chairman]
I want to conclude by sharing a few thoughts to put this occasion into some perspective. In the early days of the show, we were truly a “mom and pop” industry, and proud of it. People didn’t travel nearly as much, there was no email or fax, and we didn’t have cell phones or blackberries to keep in touch. We had a show that brought everyone together under one roof once each year.
That’s how ICAST became the fishing industry’s gathering place. And that’s how the show became the event that sets the trends in our industry: there were many firsts here… from graphite rods…to super lines…they all started here.
In fact, all of the historic elements of this year’s show are actually meant to help us gain a fresh outlook for what’s ahead. Our history shows us what’s possible tomorrow. The vision and persistence of yesterday’s pioneers live on in our leaders of today.
That proof is all around us. We build on their innovations all the time, keeping the passion for our sport alive, making fishing more fun, and all the while contributing to our companies and society.
We are leaders in conservation, paying millions of dollars each year for fishery management. Our products help build lasting memories that keep families and friends together. That’s why it’s important to celebrate occasions like this.
The show has always brought us together in more than just a literal way. It’s one of the main reasons we have such a sense of community in our industry. And as I finish this morning, I want you to take a minute with me, well actually four minutes, to enjoy our past.
Have a great show!
