In the rapidly evolving landscape of professional development and organizational growth, access to high-quality learning resources and training materials is paramount. Recognizing this need, IMARK has launched the IMARK Learning & Resource Center, a state-ofthe- art platform designed to serve as a centralized repository for all learning management system (LMS) content, training resources and group-related information. This new resource center is set to revolutionize how IMARK members access, utilize and benefit from a wealth of educational content and collaborative tools.
John Aykroyd, president of IMARK, emphasized the importance of the new platform: “The IMARK Learning & Resource Center is a game-changer for our members. It not only consolidates a wealth of resources into one accessible location but also allows us to offer industry-leading educational content through strategic partnerships. This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our members with the tools they need to excel.”
Kaitlyn Martel, director of marketing at IMARK, added, “We designed the IMARK Learning & Resource Center with our members’ diverse needs in mind. Our goal was to create a userfriendly and comprehensive platform that supports continuous learning and development. By integrating customizable learning paths and allowing for company-specific content, we’ve ensured that our members can tailor their experience to meet their unique objectives.”
A Hub of Learning Excellence
The IMARK Learning & Resource Center stands out as a comprehensive hub for all things related to professional development within the IMARK community. Members can access a wide array of LMS content tailored to their specific needs and interests. This includes courses, training modules and educational materials designed to enhance skills, knowledge and competencies across various domains. The intuitive and user-friendly interface ensures that members can easily navigate through the vast repository of resources, making learning a seamless and engaging experience.
Diverse Training Resources
Understanding that different members have diverse learning needs, the IMARK Learning & Resource Center offers a rich variety of training resources. From video tutorials and webinars to interactive e-learning modules and downloadable guides, the center provides a plethora of options to cater to different learning preferences. This diverse range of resources ensures that every member can find content that suits their learning style, whether they prefer visual, auditory or hands-on approaches.
Collaboration with Industry Leaders
IMARK Group has gone a step further to enrich the Learning & Resource Center by incorporating 52 classes from the American Supply Association (ASA). These classes cover a wide range of topics relevant to supply chain management, distribution, and industryspecific best practices. This collaboration ensures that IMARK members have access to top-notch educational content that is both current and highly relevant to their professional needs.
Taylor Albano, ASA Education Foundation vice president of education & training said, “ASA University is delighted to partner with IMARK to bring best-in-class training and education to IMARK members. Part of the ASA Education Foundation’s core mission is to bring essential training to industry professionals across the spectrum. In partnering with IMARK, ASA University continues to carry this tradition forward by introducing a brand-new audience of industry professionals to these offerings.”
Using a behind-the-scenes technical integration, IMARK members will now be able to access ASA’s entire catalog of homegrown offerings directly from their IMARK Learning & Resource Center, including the well-known ProductPro and Essentials series. Each course is seamlessly delivered to IMARK’s learning platform, allowing members to explore a wide variety of topics related to our industry with minimal barriers to entry.
“Through this partnership, the ASA Education Foundation furthers its mission to bring critical educational resources to a wide range of partners across the PHCP/PVF wholesale-distribution spectrum,” notes Albano. “We are thrilled to expose our training to IMARK’s members via this partnership and provide collaborative support for training and education in our industry. As ASA University’s catalog grows, future course development will be added to IMARK’s library of offerings, ensuring that members stay up to date on the timeliest topics in our industry. ASA University is proud to partner with IMARK to the benefit of all with this initiative.”
In addition to the partnership with ASA, IMARK has teamed up with ITR Economics to provide members with exclusive financial resources. ITR Economics has created a special collection of financial insights, forecasts, and analytical tools tailored specifically for IMARK members. These resources are invaluable for members looking to enhance their financial acumen and stay ahead in a competitive market. ITR’s overall forecast accuracy since 1985 is an industry leading 94.7% at one-yearout projections
Building on this partnership, ITR Economics has provided IMARK members with vital monthly insight into the economic trends shaping eight industry-leading sectors through 2025. Including residential and non-residential construction. These exclusive forecasts shed light on key areas such as housing starts, multifamily construction permits, and overall construction growth. With the housing market facing continued pressure from elevated mortgage rates and economic constraints, the detailed analyses offer IMARK members the tools needed to strategically navigate potential challenges and capitalize on emerging opportunities within the industry.
The September 2024 issue of the IMARK Group Advisor includes economic insights from ITR Economics, covering a variety of industry trends and projections. Key takeaways include:
Macroeconomic Outlook: U.S. Real GDP is expected to experience slower growth for the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. Inflation has eased significantly, down to 2.5% in August from its peak of 9.1% in 2022. However, consumers are still feeling financial strain, especially those without assets like homes or stocks.
Retail and Housing: Retail sales are growing but at a muted pace, with consumers adapting to higher prices by seeking lowercost alternatives. Single-unit housing starts are declining slightly but are expected to recover by mid-2025 due to pent-up demand and limited supply.
Industrial and Construction Sectors: A slowdown in the industrial sector is anticipated for the next two to three quarters, while nonresidential construction is showing slowing growth. However, federal interest rate cuts may eventually stimulate these sectors.
Consumer Prices: Inflation has cooled, but cumulative price increases since the pandemic, particularly in areas like housing and food, continue to affect consumer spending habits. Businesses are advised to adjust to these trends by offering lower-cost alternatives and preparing for a more inflationary environment in the second half of 2025.
Residential Construction Forecast: U.S. Total Residential Construction was 3.2% above the previous year as of June 2024, with a tentative trend of accelerating growth. However, the single-unit housing sector signals potential limitations in growth due to rate pressure. In nonresidential construction, the outlook is more optimistic, with steady growth expected through 2025.
Non-Residential Construction Forecast: U.S. Total Nonresidential Construction in the 12 months through June was 12.3% above the year-ago level and is slowing in growth. Prior tightening in lending standards for commercial real estate loans will likely exert downward pressure on new construction. Decline is likely in the near term.
Executive Vice President of IMARK Group William Ward speaks to ITR Economics saying, “We’re committed to empowering our members with the best tools and insights available. The exclusive financial forecasts and resources from ITR Economics give our members a competitive edge by helping them stay informed and make strategic decisions that will drive success in the ever-evolving marketplace.”
Centralized Group Information
Beyond serving as a comprehensive learning platform, the IMARK Learning & Resource Center also functions as a crucial repository for essential IMARK program documentation. Members have convenient access to resources such as GainShare program planning documentation, Health Insurance and Retirement Plan information, as well as IMARK’s extensive Webinar library and additional training materials. This centralized hub not only ensures that members stay informed about vital group updates and announcements but also fosters enhanced communication and collaboration across the IMARK community. By providing easy access to critical documents and educational resources, the Learning & Resource Center equips members to remain engaged and aligned with the latest developments and initiatives within the group.
Uninterrupted Access to IMARK University
IMARK University, powered by BlueVolt.com, will remain a key component of the Learning & Resource Center, with uninterrupted access to the platform. Members will now access IMARK University, or IMARK U, via the Learning & Resource Center, as opposed to navigating to a separate site through the IMARK portal. IMARK University provides IMARK member employees with access to high-quality learning materials regarding the products and applications of major commodity groups in the plumbing, irrigation, waterworks, and PVF industries. The IMARK University catalog of courses includes more than 800 courses provided by 28 leading IMARK supplier partners. IMARK University has proven to be an indispensable resource that better enable IMARK member employees to recommend product solutions and help solve customers’ problems.
Enhanced Membership Benefits
The launch of the IMARK Learning & Resource Center underscores IMARK Group’s commitment to enhancing membership benefits. By providing a centralized, accessible, and well-organized repository of learning and training resources, IMARK ensures that its members have the tools they need to succeed. This initiative reflects a forward-thinking approach to professional development, where continuous learning and skill enhancement are prioritized to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.
In addition to offering a wealth of shared learning resources, the IMARK Learning & Resource Center empowers members to create their own custom Learning Management System (LMS) tailored specifically for their business needs.
In the early stages of the IMARK Learning & Resource Center’s development, IMARK member Central Arizona Supply, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona, played a crucial role in testing and building out their own customized template. By collaborating closely with the IMARK team, Central Arizona Supply was able to create a tailored solution that met their unique training requirements. This partnership provided valuable insights into the flexibility and adaptability of the platform, ensuring that center would be capable of offering highly customized solutions for other IMARK members as well.
Wendy Asmus, Central Arizona Supply showroom sales manager and training lead, said “The tailored customization options offered by IMARK Learning’s Solutions Management system have enabled us to optimize our training processes and adapt the system to our specific needs by adding relevant and accessible training solutions for our employees. Working with Kaitlyn has been an absolute pleasure-her expertise and professionalism have been invaluable throughout the entire process.”
By setting up a consultation with Kaitlyn Martel, IMARK Plumbing director of marketing, at kmartel@imarkgroup.com, members can develop personalized course content to train their employees on topics relevant to their operations. This custom LMS also provides a robust admin dashboard, allowing businesses to upload and manage courses, track employee progress, and generate detailed reports on course completion. This level of customization offers business owners the opportunity to deliver targeted training, monitor performance, and ensure their workforce is up to date on essential skills, all within the framework of the center.
Easy Access, Navigation and Enrollment
Members can easily access the IMARK Learning & Resource Center by clicking on the Learning & Resource Center icon located on the homepage of the IMARK portal. The platform’s user-friendly dashboard provides a seamless navigation experience, allowing members to quickly find and engage with the content they need. Whether it’s enrolling in a new course, accessing training materials, or staying updated with group information, the Learning & Resource Center makes it all possible with just a few clicks.
To enroll learning-only users in the IMARK Learning & Resource Center, company admins or navigators can create learner-only profiles in the IMARK system. These profiles will grant users access exclusively to the Learning & Resource Center without access to other areas of the IMARK portal. It’s crucial that profiles are created in the IMARK portal first to ensure the single sign-on functionalities work correctly. For convenience, company admins can also send a list of users they would like to enroll to Kaitlyn Martel. Be sure to include each user’s first and last name, company title and email address, and she will handle the account creation process.
Conclusion
The IMARK Learning & Resource Center is more than just a repository; it is a transformative platform that empowers IMARK members with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to excel. By centralizing training content, resources, and group-related information, IMARK Group has created an asset that supports continuous learning, professional growth and collaborative success. Explore the IMARK Learning & Resource Center today and unlock the full potential of your membership. Lastly, the Learning & Resource Center is another example of IMARK’s commitment to delivering innovation programs and resources to spur mutual sales growth among the IMARK membership and supplier partners.