AMTDA '98 drawsnear-record crowd
By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 6/1/1998
Scottsdale, Ariz.--The 73rd Annual Meeting of the American Machine Tool Distributors Assn. drew a crowd of 458 attendees representing 102 distributors. The large turnout was second only to the record-setting 1996 meeting held in Maui, according to AMTDA officials. This year's meeting was held at the Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz., April 16-19."The meeting was a qualified success for the association and those participating," said AMTDA incoming chairman Allan Chartier, president and CEO of Midwest Industrial Tools, Inc. in Omaha, Nebr. "The speakers understood our industry and the challenges we face, and their comments and recommendations were on the mark."
Titled "Innovate '98" the meeting focused on new techniques, tools and processes to help machine tool distributors succeed in the future. In addition to a host of educational sessions, task force meetings and social events, members had the opportunity to network with peers and business partners throughout the meeting.
Speakers included Mike Vance, chairman of the Creative Thinking Assn. of America, who gave the keynote address; Alan Webber, former managing editor of the Harvard Business Review and founding co-editor of Fast Company magazine; Robert Segal, of Frank Lynn and Associates; Dr. Robert Eggert, founder and editor emeritus of the Blue Chip Economic Indicators newsletter; and Jim Gibson of Arthur Andersen.
Vance, who has been referred to by USA Today as one of the most requested speakers in the United States, talked about abandoning old thought patterns for new and innovative thinking habits. According to AMTDA officials, he "explored how to bring creativity and passion into corporate cultures and how to harness the full potential of company personnel."
Segal focused his presentation on integrating technology into distribution, while Webber talked about the changes occurring in the overall business environment. Eggert provided a report on the U.S. economy through 1999, and Gibson focused on profitability, touching on such issues as activity-based management and identifying redundant costs and activities in internal operations.
AMTDA members and staff alike are calling this year's meeting a huge success and look forward to next year's annual event, to be held at the Walt Disney World Swan in Orlando, Fla. The 74th Annual Meeting will be a joint meeting of AMTDA and The Assn. for Manufacturing Technology and will be held April 11-14, 1999.
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