Kenneth Andres - Event Director
Over the coming months, we will be shining a light on the hardworking staff at AFFTA to give members a better idea of all that goes into growing the fly fishing industry and advocating for our fisheries. This week, we’ll hear from our Event Director, Kenneth Andres, about what makes Confluence 2023 such a unique and important event for the fly fishing industry.
Who are you and what is your role at AFFTA?
Kenneth: My name is Kenneth G. Andres and I am the Event Director for AFFTA. I live in Mobile, Alabama with my wife Margaret and pets Chalmers (dog) and Adgers (cat). I grew up hunting and fishing in Roanoke, Virginia which is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
How did you find yourself working on AFFTA events? Do you fish yourself?
Kenneth: I began working with AFFTA during my tenure at the American Sportfishing Association running ICAST in 2007. I volunteered to help with Casting Call which was an AFFTA led event at Fletcher’s Cove in Washington DC. The next year I was on the committee and board in helping to grow the event which became the Jim Range National Casting Call, and the Family and Youth Casting Call. In 2012, I worked with AFFTA to co-locate the IFTD show with ICAST beginning in 2013.
I am a life long fisherman. I guided fly fishing trips for Orvis out of the Roanoke corporate store and surrounding dealer stores from Charleston, SC to Foscoe, NC. I am an avid upland bird hunter as well.
How long have you been with AFFTA and what do you enjoy about your current role?
Kenneth: I have been with AFFTA since April 2021 but have been working with AFFTA since 2007. I love all the relationships that I have made over 15 years in the fishing industry. I have many professional relationships that have turned to personal ones and I enjoy spending time with everyone.
Why is attending Confluence 2023 important and what is different about this year's Confluence show when compared to previous IFTD events?
Kenneth: It is important to attend and be a part of the AFFTA Confluence because it is the fly fishing industry’s largest trade gathering. It’s where manufacturers and retailers can come together to share their thoughts and ideas on how to improve their business and the fly fishing industry. It’s where the media comes to see some of the latest and greatest products.
The AFFTA Confluence is different in many ways. During the co-location of IFTD starting in 2013, I had worked with AFFTA to help build the show and membership. While it met the needs of the membership then, it does not meet the needs for today’s members. Today’s members want a curated experience with a blend of new networking engagements. IFTD did not evolve to meet those needs.
In my time running ICAST, we created a fishing tournament, outdoor demo day, a golf tournament, trip giveaways and dealer incentives, plus even a country music concert to get retailers and media to the show. We won’t do all those things here but we will create new a space to re-energize the fly fishing base. We are just getting started with growing this event and the association.
What can attendees and exhibitors expect from Confluence 2023?
Kenneth: Attendees and Exhibitors at the AFFTA Confluence will feel a different vibe. The show will move at a different cadence. Every moment of the event has been thought through and crafted to create an experience that will better serve our membership and the industry. With input from industry and AFFTA members alike, we will continue to shape this event as a can’t miss opportunity for the fly fishing industry.
Anything else you’d like to add about AFFTA, the fly fishing industry, or the upcoming AFFTA Confluence event?
Kenneth: I think it’s important for AFFTA members to know that this is their trade association and trade event. This is their voice and more importantly, this is their community. We are a proud and strong group that can stand for what we believe in which is advocacy, conservation and trade in fly fishing. Our strength comes from a unified voice, not a single person or single brand. Join us in the conversation to help move AFFTA in new directions that best serve our industry!
Stayed tuned for our upcoming “Staff Spotlights” to learn more about the team at AFFTA. If you have any questions for Kenneth, please feel free to send an email to kenneth.andres@affta.org.