“Shared ideas, shared concepts, and tapping into new thinking is what HARDI’s fall conference is all about,” said the association. “It’s important to distributors and their business not to miss this once a year opportunity to find out what’s happening in their industry, to find out what others are planning as their next big move, and to re-energize their efforts to meet the next round of business.”
IN SESSION
To help attendees prepare to meet their next round in business, HARDI is offering many diverse educational and committee sessions during the conference. Monday, Nov. 2, the concurrent committee meetings and council sessions begin. These meetings are networking opportunities and information sharing events. They allow participants to discuss the individual issues facing the distribution and supplier industry.Tuesday hosts an educational focus, kicking off with the opening keynote workshop, “Strategic Acceleration – Succeed at the Speed of Life,” presented by Tony Jeary, founder of Tony Jeary International/High Performance Resources. According to Jeary, acceleration is about improving clarity, focus, and execution to produce superior results faster. As an executive coach to Fortune 500 companies and an author, Jeary is bringing his successes and failures to the conference to equip attendees with new tools for success.
“The speed of life combines excessive amounts of unrefined information with a glut of choices and opportunities and presents itself in the form of confusion and distraction,” said Jeary. “How well leaders function with this constant condition determines value, competitive advantage, and the ability to create results that will convert a vision or a dream into reality.”
The afternoon hosts five concurrent educational sessions that repeat once, providing opportunity for participants to attend multiple sessions. One of the premier sessions is the launch of the HARDI Distributor Learning Network (DLN). Chris Compton of HVACReducation.net will present an overview of the new member benefit and will be joined by two systems users who will explain how this benefit can be managed within a distribution company.
Other sessions include Beaulieu’s “Economic Recovery - Good Times Are Ahead.” It will provide an in-depth look at the near and far term forecasts of the economy, the recovery effort, and how these will affect distribution business. Rick Johnson, CEO Strategist LLC, will cover the basics of leadership strategies and attitudes that will best thrive in an economic recovery in his session, “Leadership Techniques in an Economic Recovery.”
“Top 10 Technology Priorities For Distributors” will be presented by Rick Sundahl, Grey Wolf Systems, and “Selling Has Nothing to do With Selling” will be presented by Rick Farrell, Tangent Knowledge Systems.
Wednesday hosts the conference booth program and the closing keynote workshop.
“The conference booth program is designed to provide an opportunity for meaningful talks between distributors and policy-level executives of supplier member firms,” said HARDI. “The program gives distributors and their suppliers the opportunity to establish face-to-face relationships that are very important to the success of their business dealings.”
There are approximately 200 booths currently scheduled for this event.
Mike Workman of Michael E. Workman Associates, will wrap up the afternoon with “Opportunities For Innovative Distribution, From Survive to Thrive,” the closing keynote workshop session. His program centers on focusing attendees on opportunities despite the economic situation and current posturing of the government towards business.
ENTERTAINMENT NETWORKING
What fun would a trip to Orlando be without a little entertainment? HARDI has many plans to work, network, and learn, but there is also some fun on the agenda, including a performance by John Charles. Saturday, Oct. 31, hosts the president’s reception dinner, the former president’s reception dinner (both by invitation only), and the optional Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. On Sunday, the HARDI Foundation golf outing will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club®. Designed in partnership with two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman, the course will host 144 golfers in a scramble format.The Heating, Airconditioning, Ladies Organization (HALO) will host a variety of activities including its traditional silent auction on Sunday, Nov. 1. Last year’s funds went primarily to fund scholarships, grants, and community outreach. This year, HALO has taken a special interest in the American Cancer Society (ACS). Along with the auction, the ladies organization is having a one-hour walk for cancer to benefit ACS. There will be a ladies welcoming reception, a ladies friendship breakfast, and an optional trip to the Truffles & Trifles cooking school for cooking lessons.
“The very nature of why HARDI exists - as a network of wholesalers who professionally interact with one another - is the very heart of this meeting,” said HARDI. “It is the one place where the educational program is targeted just for the wholesaler; where cutting-edge information on financial trends will be available; where professionals can hone their leadership skills; where distributors can scope out the future to plan the next strategic move.”
The closing festivity is a suit and tie, tuxedo optional affair with dinner and entertainment planned for the evening.
For more information, visit www.hardinet.org/conference.
Publication date:10/26/2009
