TWICE had the opportunity to attend the Azione Unlimited “Syzygy In San Diego” conference October 21-23 in San Diego, CA, and we were able to catch up with Patrick McCarthy, the new Executive Director for Azione between the myriad of one-on-one member meetings, motivational speakers and top-tier educational sessions.
McCarthy, who previously served as the interim director after Azione Founder and chairman emeritus Richard Glikes stepped aside earlier this year, brings a unique perspective and collaborative approach to the organization. With an extensive background in member services and business development, McCarthy has played a pivotal role in Azione since joining in 2019 and looks forward to forging ahead into 2025 and beyond.
“My job is to listen more and bring good ideas from the people that are mentoring and around me and put them back out into their world and activate on them,” said McCarthy. “But I can’t do that alone. We have a great team, advisory education, and in-house, to help me get there. If I can listen and take your notes and give them to somebody else, and make that connection, our community will thrive. And that’s where we are, we are a thriving community. I think that’s what makes Azione so unique right now.”
Under McCarthy’s leadership, Azione remains firmly committed to its mission of putting “the right people in the right seats.” His approach reflects a “nurture mode,” emphasizing the importance of supporting each member’s individual journey while fostering a sense of community and shared purpose. “We have a great core of dealers…with specific needs and desires,” McCarthy explains. “Our goal is to provide resources and opportunities that address those needs and help members grow in ways they hadn’t imagined.”
Azione members gathered together at Syzygy In San Diego, rekindling friendships, establishing connections, and welcoming newcomers into their buying group community. The conference also provided dedicated occasions for members and vendors to connect to better understand the needs and challenges they face on a daily basis, and how they can cooperate for maximum returns in their markets.
In a rapidly changing industry, Azione is keen to help integrators explore new avenues for growth. Many of its members have progressed from small startups to larger entities, and are facing questions of scalability and long-term strategy. “Where do I go from here?” McCarthy posits, speaking to the crossroads many integrators face. “It has to be more than just project-based revenue.”
To this end, the majority of the sessions at the conference emphasized the importance of effective business management, with Azione offering members a blueprint for future success through structured resources and educational initiatives. The goal is to help members grow not just year over year but in ways that align with their ambitions—whether through expansion, acquisition, or building a sustainable lifestyle business.
One unique element of McCarthy and the Azione team’s approach is the emphasis on the “why” behind business. Azione’s leadership symposiums, held multiple times throughout the year, have become a space for both owners and emerging leaders to dig deep into their motivations. “The coolest thing we do at our leadership symposiums is spend a lot of time on the why,” McCarthy said. “So for Azione, nurturing that momentum is what dictates our education, our initiatives, and our symposiums and conferences. Let’s bring them [members] up and build better mentors.” This introspective approach helps emerging leaders and non-owners alike to understand their motivations and reimagine their impact within their organizations, fostering a renewed sense of purpose and direction.
Continuing their commitment to giving back to the community, Azione members broke into groups on Tuesday evening to showcase their artistic talents with a painting activity while raising funds for the Michelle Benaim Memorial Fund, which supports low and no-cost colorectal cancer screening for people who could not otherwise afford or would not have access to screening.
Screening is the primary way to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, and under the leadership of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and with the help of those who love and miss Michelle, the Michelle Benaim Memorial Fund has already provided local access to screening for symptomatic patients and generously raised more than $1 million to support Colorectal Cancer Alliance’s programs.
To learn more about how you can help fight colorectal cancer and to donate, visit The Colorectal Cancer Alliance at bit.ly/4e4EAe7.
On the final days of the conference, Azione members were able to tour the Nice and Sonance headquarters to get an in-depth look into their processes, learn more about each company’s offerings and outlook for the future of the industry, and connect with leadership. The next conference for the buying group is the Azione Spring National Conference, held May 5-7, 2025 in Indianapolis, IN.
See also: World4Solar Partners With Azione Unlimited To Bring Solar To The CI Industry
