Emotions were running high on the last day of Connect 2018, held Nov. 15-17 at a resort in Marco Island, Fla. At the awards banquet, speeches were made, videos watched and the always anticipated reveal of where next year’s event would be held was unveiled. But this year was different. This year, there were two dates — and locations — announced: one for Honeywell (Miami) and another for the recently spun-off independently run Resideo (Phoenix). Friends and former colleagues sought each other out for one last hug, unsure when they might see each other at another event like this. Despite some tears, however, there was a strong feeling of optimism in the room, both that day and in the previous days, filled with lots of informative sessions, general sessions, motivational speakers — and even a camel.
Previously called Honeywell Connect, this year’s Connect 2018 was an opportunity for attendees to learn what the spinoff would mean going forward and for both the Resideo and Honeywell staff to get dealers excited for the coming year. Attendees learned the thought processes behind the spinoff and why and how it would benefit them. Most of all they got reassurance that the things they like about being a Honeywell dealer — including the name — will not be going away; while the challenges will be addressed in a more micro-focused way than was previously possible.