NWSA gears up; for annual meeting
By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 10/1/1998
San Diego, Calif.--Welding distributors and their manufacturer partners will focus on change and the future when they meet for their 54th Annual Convention this month at the Marriott Hotel & Marina. The five-day event will be held from Oct. 10-14 and is themed "Change & Opportunity in Our Industry.""We expect a very healthy attendance," says NWSA executive director John Derrickson, who predicts a turnout in the area of 1,100 attendees. "It's a dynamite program and San Diego is a big draw. But it's really the opportunity to network, the quality of the speakers, and the chance to network and exchange ideas, and that's what our members like."
In his presidential address, NWSA president Chip Valentine will illustrate why welding distributors must adjust to change. Valentine, president of nexAir, LLC, will emphasize that if distributors don't embrace change, your competition will change your business for you. Valentine speaks from experience. Realizing the tremendous ongoing consolidation in the welding industry, Valentine merged his firm with Standard Supply and Mid-South Oxygen Co. two years ago.
One of the event's most well-known keynote speakers is Lamar Alexander, a 1996 Presidential candidate and former governor of Tennessee. Admired for turning new ideas into real solutions, he is well known as an advocate for revitalizing schools. While governor of Tennessee, the state became the fastest growing for family incomes.
His address is titled, "The Year 2000: Dawn or Dusk." Alexander is expected to be a candidate for president in 2000. He will speak on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Other keynote speakers include Oren Harari, a best selling author and business visionary whose speech is titled "Leapfrogging the Competition;" Daniel Burrus, who will talk about applying advances in technology and trends in "Futureview: a Look Ahead;" Dr. Will Miller, a stand-up comedian whose talk is titled "Live Long And Prosper -- A Guide to Working at Full Power Without Blowing A Fuse;" and, "Fast Forward, Embracing the Challenges of the 21st Century," delivered by Rick Barrera, who will examine how rapidly changing economic cycles have caused management, sales and marketing functions to fall behind the times.
Aside from the usual social activities, a full slate of workshops is on tap, most notably a presentation by Susan RoAne, a best selling author who teaches people how to take control of business and social events.
Her session, titled "Schmooze or Lose: How to Work a Room," will be held Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Other topics on the docket include "Risk Management --Everything You Need To Know;" by Mike Lopez, "The Good, The Bad and the Terminated -- Avoiding Employee Discipline Dilemmas," by Dan Golombieski; "Tax Laws -- Don't Pay Too much," by Bart Basi; "Fast Forward," by Rick Barrera; "Succession Planning," by Bart Basi, and "Moving into the Electronic Commerce Environment," by Steve Epner and Peggy Austermann.
NWSA has arranged a wide variety of social events to take advantage of the San Diego location. Among them are a Baja Adventure to Mexico, a Winery Adventure in Temecula, a Photo Caravan Tour at the Wild Animal Park, and Sand Diego Highlights, a guided tour of the city. All of the above events will be held on Saturday, Oct. 11. Sunday's lineup includes a San Diego By Land and Sea Tour, History in the Making, and Seaside Adventure in La Jolla.
Included on Monday's docket are Safari at the Wild Animal Park, Pleasure Sailing, and An Old Town Afternoon, which will explore the history of early California.
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