COLUMBUS, Ohio — In committee meetings held during theHARDI Fly-In, Emily Saving, director of education and research for HARDI, announced the keynote speakers for the HARDI Annual Conference. To be held from Dec. 7-10 in Phoenix, speakers include Michael Marks, managing partner of Indian River Consulting Group; Clyde Fessler, former vice president of business development for Harley-Davidson Motor Co.; and Alan Beaulieu, CEO of ITR Economics.

The annual conference — Evolve ’13: New Pathways to Success — will focus on the importance of embracing new methods and technology in conjunction with time-tested practices in order to achieve success.

“The old school and new school are starting to blend together,” said Cameron Perkins, chair of HARDI’s Supply Chain Technology Committee and vice president of marketing and vendor relations for Johnstone Supply. “We want to bring in a more progressive contractor who is using apps, social media, etc. to enhance business.”

Perkins added, “If you don’t jump onboard, you’re going to get left behind.”

Other announcements came including the soft launch of HARDI’s Emerging Leaders Program, which aims to “bring together those sharing the experience of growing into a business leader to earn and develop relationships,” according to the program’s mission statement. The program, which will officially launch this summer, pairs up-and-coming leaders, including business successors, with established mentors in order to cultivate their leadership skills.

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