Palm Desert, CALIF.—If you're ready for some hot weather when the end of February rolls around, the Fluid Power Distributors Assn. Annual Convention will hit the spot.

The convention will be held at the Marriott Desert Springs in Palm Desert, Calif., Feb. 27 to March 3.

This year, a new feature has been added to the five-day event: the Sales Automation Expo. The Expo features tools to help companies automate their sales force. Vendors will display contact management software, personal digital assistants, sales software and marketing software.

The theme this year, Turnaround Tactics: Mapping a Road to Recovery, focuses on helping distributors chart the best course to financial improvement in 2002 and beyond. The association has tried to put together a more powerful lineup of speakers and seminars than in prior years, according to FPDA director of communications Kathy DeMarco.

"I got a call from a member and gave him the itinerary and he agreed the program is very timely and meatier than we've had in the past," she said.

Speakers were chosen to give talks reflecting the fiscal-and-training theme, DeMarco said. Scheduled speakers include: Rick Johnson of Indian River Consulting Group; Dr. Al Bates of Profit Planning Group; Dr. James Melton of The Melton Corp.; Anthony Pantaleone, Ph. D.; Dr. William McCleave of W.R. McCleave and Associates; Tom Reilly of Tom Reilly Training; Henry Federal of Findley Davies; Mac Anderson of Successories; and Bruce Kasten, Esq., FPDA legal counsel.

Other highlights include these seminars: Executive Leadership in Turbulent Times; Reward Management — the Total Compensation Plan; Planning Your Cash Position; Sales Odyssey; and A Financial Tune-up — Cash Management and Expense Control.

"We hope to have about as many companies attend as in the past, but perhaps they won't each have as many people attending. We're doing everything we can to bolster attendance," DeMarco said.

FPDA management didn't leave the fun out, said DeMarco. A Jeep adventure, a hot air balloon ride, golf and tennis are on the agenda.