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PPAI News: North American Leadership Conference Examines Business From Several Angles
Issue: 2009aug
Above: Bob Hechler, CAS, and Lynda Gallant, CAS, chat during one of many social opportunities the conference offered in addition to thought-provoking sessions and lively discussions.
PPAI’s North American Leadership Conference opened Sunday at the Hilton Indian Lakes Resort near Chicago with a record attendance of more than 100 industry participants. For the first time the event is co-hosted by Promotional Product Professionals of Canada (PPPC) and Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales de la Promoción, A.C. (AMPPRO).
Launched nearly 20 years ago as Presidents’ Forum, this year’s program has been restructured and rebranded to include a wider variety of relevant topics, plus choices on breakout sessions including open discussions. And, through the name change, the event opened its doors to a broader audience to include not only business owners and company presidents, but interested professionals at all levels.
“We designed the content for NALC to provide our industry leaders with an increased awareness of their potential to make profound changes and inspire transformation to lead in a competitive and rapidly evolving marketplace,” says Kip Eads, CAE, senior manager of professional development.
Following a Sunday afternoon golf tournament, and reception and dinner Sunday night, the conference kicked off on Monday morning with a general session titled “Building a Corporate Culture Of Straight Talk and Integrity” led by professional speaker and author, Larry Johnson, CSP. A second afternoon general session gave participants a fascinating lesson on predicting economic cycles with economist Alan Beaulieu. He stunned his audience by predicting their investment portfolios wouldn’t be back up to late 2007 levels until 2020 but offered 12 industries he believes will be largely unaffected by the recession including energy, pets, alcohol and security.
The power-packed education programming continued today with a highly interactive six-member panel discussion moderated by PPAI President Steve Slagle, CAE which focused on key issues including the economy, credit, product safety and workforce issues. Panelists included Paul Lage, MAS, Norwood; Jeff Lederer, Prime Resources Corporation; David Nicholson, Polyconcept North America; Marc Simon, HALO; Michael Emoff, Shumsky Enterprises; and Mark Wingrove, CAS, BIC Graphic Canada.
“I’ve wanted to attend for a number of years and now that I’m a business owner, I couldn’t afford not to be here,” says Mike Schenker, MAS, president of Custom InterSource, LLC.
“I’ve wanted to attend for a while now,” says Debra Mann, CAS, who recently formed her rep firm, D Mannding Results, Inc./DMH Marketing. “As a multi-line rep, it gives me a unique perspective on the industry.”
Herb Nelson, president of supplier MMI, who also attended last year’s program, came looking for some insight from his peers. “I feel like I’ve survived a train wreck over the past few months,” he says. “I want to find out if anyone has made significant changes in their businesses and been successful.”
On the agenda this afternoon are sessions on social media marketing, an international panel discussion moderated by Michael Woody, CAS, president of International Marketing Advantages, Inc., which features business leaders from across North America and a series of breakout sessions talking social media and international trade plus an open discussion. The conference wraps up this evening. Be sure to read NALC tweets at www.twitter.com, #ppainalc, and read more about NALC in an upcoming issue of PPB magazine.
 
Above Left: Kevin Flynn, CAS, Carol Gauger and Bruce Perryman, CAS, at NALC. Above Right: PPAI President and CEO Steve Slagle, CAE (right), speaks with Donald O'Hara, president of PPPC.
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