Andy Polk is currently the Senior Vice President at Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA), where Andy leads the development and implementation of strategies to accomplish the organization's mission. As the Co-Founder of Material Exchange, Andy works to help companies optimize their material selection and sourcing processes. Andy is also the Founder and Director of Advocacy Help Desk, providing personalized support to associations and advocacy professionals. Previously, Andy served as a Senior Policy Advisor and Director of Communications and Public Affairs at the U.S. House of Representatives. Andy holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Affairs from The London School of Economics and Political Science.
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA)
Founded in 1944 by the footwear industry, the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) is the oldest and largest footwear trade association in the US. It represents and serves 95% of the footwear industry from small family owned footwear businesses to global footwear companies. It also represents and serves the full supply chain of the footwear industry from research, design and development, to manufacturing and distribution, to retailers selling to consumers all over the globe. It supports more than 100 companies and over 200 brands. FDRA is the footwear industry’s intelligence hub. It helps its members understand and navigate the increasingly complex world of customs classifications, intellectual property issues, and product safety regulations. It produces weekly sales reports to help the industry follow retail trends, and monthly commodity reports to keep companies updated on the base costs of their products. Likewise, it informs the industry of global footwear sourcing trends and issues that may affect shipping and distribution. This is all done through a variety of groundbreaking reports and surveys, in-depth newsletters, and world-renown conferences.