AWFS EVP Angelo Gangone
Remembering back to when I first joined this industry 30 years ago, one of the first thing I was required to do was to learn the competitive landscape and how it could impact my role within the organization and our company’s overall competitive position in the marketplace. Back then, it was easy to develop an “us vs. them” mentality since competitors presented the biggest obstacle between you and the goals that you (or in most cases), management, would establish for you. Then, in the summer of 2003, my circumstances changed dramatically. Overnight, like the flip of a switch, my perspective was transformed. As I began my new role as the Trade Show Director for AWFS®Fair, I suddenly went from wearing one team jersey to hundreds of them as past competitors were now being viewed as existing, or in some cases, potential allies.
Dan Hershberger
In retrospect, those early days were some of the best days of my entire career. The Great Recession wasn’t even on the radar, and the industry and our show represented a source of untapped potential, which made work challenging, but a lot of fun as well. During those days, I had the opportunity and good fortune to meet so many people, mainly at our show and during industry events such as IWF and the annual WIC. One of the meetings that I can remember leaving quite an impression on me was when I met a gentleman by the name of Dan Hershberger. I can recall meeting Dan and several of his colleagues, as he was setting up his booth and served as our primary trade show contact for Holz-Her. Besides being very impressed with Dan’s knowledge and professionalism, I left that encounter thinking that the Holz-Her guys were some of the nicest group of people that you would ever want to meet.
My encounter with the guys at Holz-Her became a precursor of things to come. As I continued to establish more industry contacts, I realized that the best part of my job was getting to know and to work with so many of the amazing people that make up this industry, which became a great way to find volunteers for committee and board positions. When it comes to associations, I cannot overestimate the importance of having the support of your board in helping to drive the success of your organization. In 2008, when I became the Executive VP of AWFS®, Dan was one of the first volunteers that I recruited to serve on the AWFS® Board of Directors and the AWFS®Fair committee, joining us just before an economic tsunami would hit the world economy and devastate our industry. As difficult as the 2009 events proved to be, I always appreciated the fact that Holz-Her stuck with us and supported the event, knowing that it would be far from the 2005 and 2007 Fairs, the two largest shows in AWFS® history.
When it comes to producing live events, uncertainty can cause a great deal of stress on any organization responsible for the planning and execution of the event. In 2020 and 2021, I was very fortunate to have Dan as our board president. During that time span, I communicated with him often as the staff and I were doing our best to navigate the challenges that were brought on by the pandemic. It may have been because of his easy-going nature, the experience gained through his 14 years of experience as a high school vocational educator or a combination of both, but through all our conversations, Dan remained steady, supportive, and most importantly, optimistic. This type of energy was infectious, and I could remember feeling better about our circumstances after every conversation we had. I will always be grateful for the support and leadership that he provided to our board and staff during that time and the contributions he’s made to our organization since he joined us as a volunteer way back in 2008. I will also remember how he made a point of acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the AWFS® staff and how our efforts, were contributing to the betterment of our industry.
Although Dan is currently serving his term as AWFS® past president, he recently retired from Holz-Her. He is looking forward to beginning a new chapter with his wife Carole, someone that I had the privilege of meeting and getting to know over the course of several AWFS® events. Dan shared his and Carole’s plans for the future during a call when he informed us about his retirement date. As much as I was saddened that our industry was losing an exceptional individual, I was also very happy for him and his entire family knowing that he was going to be spending more time with the people in his life that mean most to him. In the end, that is what truly matters. However, Dan also serves as a great example of what it means to give back to the industry that provides all of us the opportunity to take care of our families and the people in our lives that depend on us. He is also an example that the best gifts we receive in life are those that come to us as a result of giving selflessly to others.
In conclusion, the staff at AWFS® want to wish the Hershberger’s a happy retirement! May the road always rise up to meet you, and may your RV never run out of gas!
All the best to you, buddy!
