Develop your future.
Development programs in the CIDL provide coaching for key disciplines that impact the success of independent distributors. Today, the CIDL offers the Distribution Manager Development Program, the Financial Leader Development Program, and the Distributor AI Development Program.
The Distribution Manager Development Program provides emerging and existing managers a comprehensive overview of the financial, operational, and sales disciplines required for success as an independent distributor. Participants enhance their coaching and team development skills while gaining the fundamental distribution acumen to better contribute to the success of the business.
The curriculum is developed in collaboration with Texas A&M University’s Industrial Distribution Program in the College of Engineering, which is widely recognized as the leading distribution program in the field.
The Financial Leader Development Program offers controllers and financial leaders the distribution financial acumen and insights necessary to enhance their contributions to the profitable and sustainable growth of their distributorships. Participants will improve their financial analysis and communication along with techniques to drive performance and decision-making.
The curriculum is taught by an instructor specializing in distribution financials, who is part of Texas A&M University’s Industrial Distribution program and has significant industry experience, including serving as a President of an independent distributor.
The Distributor AI Development Program is designed to equip members with conversational competence in AI and inspire practical applications within distribution.
The curriculum is developed in collaboration with Villanova Executive MBA instructors who have expanded their specialization to Artificial Intelligence. This course was originally introduced in the CIDL’s Leadership Experience program and received rave reviews. The cohort encouraged making the course available as a standalone opportunity to help members enhance their AI strategy and utilization.
Learning objectives include:
- Innovation – Building a Resilient Business Model
- AI Landscape – Models, Tools, and Agents
- AI Utility – Security, Policy, and Prompting Best Practices
- AI Application – Distributor Specific Use Cases
Available Courses
Distribution Manager Development - May 2025
The Distribution Manager Development Program provides instruction in areas of expertise that are essential for successful independent distributor leaders. Key curriculum topics include financial management, consultative selling, coaching, leadership, customer service, and inventory management.
View DetailsDownload Program Agenda
Why your company should participate
To help you develop and retain key people who are going to help you grow your business and prepare for the future.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Branch and People Managers, Emerging Managers and Leaders, and High Potential Candidates.
What makes this program unique
- Custom program built for and exclusively available to AD members.
- Networking and relationship building opportunities with top talent at AD independent distributors across multiple divisions.
- 30/60-day coaching component to help the learning “stick”.
- Instructors are forward-thinking academics and distribution industry practitioners from the top industrial distribution program in the U.S.
- Discounted pricing (a program like this on the open market would likely cost >$5K/person).
Cost
$3,750/attendee
Instructors
This program will be taught by Dr. Norm Clark, Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, Bob Borsh, Associate Professor of Practice, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, and Jay Johnson, Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program.
Dr. Norm Clark
Instructional Associate Professor
Bob Borsh
Associate Professor of Practice
Jay Johnson
Senior Lecturer
Certificate
Completing the course earns a certificate from Texas A&M and AD.
Financial Leader Development Program - June 2025
The Financial Leader Development Program offers coaching on the essential financial best practices required to manage a successful distributorship most effectively. Key topics covered in the curriculum include distribution financial drivers, strategies for profit optimization, cash flow management, valuation techniques, and capital investment analysis.
View DetailsDownload Program Agenda
Why your company should participate
To support the development and retention of key people who will lead your company’s strategic financial decision-making related to sustainable business growth.
Who Should Attend
CFO, Controller, Vice President of Operations, Director of Finance, Director of Operations, and Financial Analysts.
What makes this program unique
- Built exclusively for AD Members.
- Instructor with extensive industry experience who specializes in distribution financials and teaches at the renowned Texas A&M University Industrial Distribution program.
- Networking and relationship-building opportunities with top talent at AD independent distributors across multiple divisions.
- 30/60 day coaching component to help the learning “stick”.
- Discounted pricing (a program like this on the open market would likely cost >$4,000).
Cost
$2,750/attendee
Instructor
This program will be taught by Jay Johnson, Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M University, College of Engineering Industrial Distribution Program.
Jay Johnson
Senior Lecturer
KEY LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Learn Best Financial Practices to Optimize Profitability of a Distributorship
- Gain Sharable Lessons to Enhance Team Member’s Financial Acumen
- Understand Critical KPI Analysis and Subsequent Decision Making
- Learn Valuation Techniques
- Use Financial Analysis Tools for Capital Investments and New Locations
- Coaching on P&L and Balance Sheet Management
Certificate
Completing the course earns a certificate from AD.
Distribution Manager Development - August 2025
The Distribution Manager Development Program provides instruction in areas of expertise that are essential for successful independent distributor leaders. Key curriculum topics include financial management, consultative selling, coaching, leadership, customer service, and inventory management.
View DetailsDownload Program Agenda
Why your company should participate
To help you develop and retain key people who are going to help you grow your business and prepare for the future.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Branch and People Managers, Emerging Managers and Leaders, and High Potential Candidates.
What makes this program unique
- Custom program built for and exclusively available to AD members.
- Networking and relationship building opportunities with top talent at AD independent distributors across multiple divisions.
- 30/60-day coaching component to help the learning “stick”.
- Instructors are forward-thinking academics and distribution industry practitioners from the top industrial distribution program in the U.S.
- Discounted pricing (a program like this on the open market would likely cost >$5K/person).
Cost
$3,750/attendee
Instructors
This program will be taught by Dr. Norm Clark, Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, Bob Borsh, Associate Professor of Practice, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, and Jay Johnson, Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program.
Dr. Norm Clark
Instructional Associate Professor
Bob Borsh
Associate Professor of Practice
Jay Johnson
Senior Lecturer
Certificate
Completing the course earns a certificate from Texas A&M and AD.
Distributor AI Development Program - November 2025
The Distributor AI Development Program is designed to equip members with conversational competence in artificial intelligence and inspire practical applications within distribution. Developed in collaboration with Villanova Executive MBA instructors who have expanded their specialization to AI, this course builds on its highly rated debut in the CIDL Leadership Experience program—now available as a standalone opportunity to help members enhance their AI strategy and utilization.
View DetailsDownload Program Agenda
Why your company should participate
To help your team understand, adopt, and strategically apply AI tools and concepts—empowering your organization to innovate, strengthen its competitive advantage, and address real-world distribution challenges.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Executives, Managers, and High-Potential Leaders who are responsible for innovation, strategy, marketing, operations, or technology adoption within their organizations.
What makes this program unique
- Custom program built for and exclusively available to AD members.
- Curriculum developed with Villanova Executive MBA instructors, blending academic insight with practical AI expertise.
- Hands-on learning with distributor-specific AI applications.
- Topics span innovation strategy, AI tools and agents, security and policy considerations, and best practices for prompting.
- Direct application to real-world distribution challenges such as marketing plans, business planning, and operational improvements.
- Interactive learning environment fostering peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
Cost
$2,750/attendee
Instructors
Russ Kliman
Head of Innovation, Strategy, and Technology, AIM
Adjunct Professor at Villanova University, Executive MBA Program
Adjunct Professor at Drexel University, Doctorate in Business Administration Program
Al Chiaradonna
Executive Vice President at SEI Investments (Retired)
Adjunct Professor at Villanova University Executive Business School
MBA, Harvard Business School
Certificate
Completing the course earns a certificate from Villanova University and AD.
Distribution Manager Development - December 2025
The Distribution Manager Development Program provides instruction in areas of expertise that are essential for successful independent distributor leaders. Key curriculum topics include financial management, consultative selling, coaching, leadership, customer service, and inventory management.
View DetailsDownload Program Agenda
Why your company should participate
To help you develop and retain key people who are going to help you grow your business and prepare for the future.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Branch and People Managers, Emerging Managers and Leaders, and High Potential Candidates.
What makes this program unique
- Custom program built for and exclusively available to AD members.
- Networking and relationship building opportunities with top talent at AD independent distributors across multiple divisions.
- 30/60-day coaching component to help the learning “stick”.
- Instructors are forward-thinking academics and distribution industry practitioners from the top industrial distribution program in the U.S.
- Discounted pricing (a program like this on the open market would likely cost >$5K/person).
Cost
$3,750/attendee
Instructors
This program will be taught by Dr. Norm Clark, Instructional Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, Bob Borsh, Associate Professor of Practice, Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program, and Jay Johnson, Senior Lecturer at Texas A&M University, College of Engineering, Industrial Distribution Program.
Dr. Norm Clark
Instructional Associate Professor
Bob Borsh
Associate Professor of Practice
Jay Johnson
Senior Lecturer
Certificate
Completing the course earns a certificate from Texas A&M and AD.