The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. will host its 2004 Industry Summit (formerly Annual Convention), themed "Distribution: What Do You Do Again?" in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 13–16. Industry trends to be addressed at the Summit include growing in industrial markets, using technology to increase sales, developing a fee-based services strategy, and manufacturing's migration offshore.

Keynote presentations include the opening keynote and business session on Fri., Oct. 16, which will include a presentation by Howard Putnam, former CEO of Southwest Airlines and co-founder and chairman of AIR (Aircraft Interior Resources), in which Putnam will draw from his personal experience to discuss transforming businesses into a "flow state" organization that is focused, nimble, flexible and cost effective. PTDA will unveil its new logo and tagline, and kick off a campaign to strengthen the association's brand identity at the Annual Business Session. Saturday's keynote speaker, Mary P. Flynn of the Disney Institute, will showcase how Disney's infrastructure, standards and attention to detail create a service culture.

Workshops include "Roads to Opportunity," a session led by Pembroke Consulting's Mark Dancer, who will discuss four trends impacting the distribution channel: customer self-service, strategic sourcing, fee-based services and pricing, and logistics and fulfillment; and "Growing in Industrial Markets," a presentation by Bill Hodgdon of Hodgdon Consulting, that will explain right-sizing a business plan's target spend and number of accounts, segmenting potential markets, and assessing strengths. Other workshops include Prophet 21 executive vice president Doug Levin's session on "Using Technology to Increase Sales;" Dancer's second session, titled "Developing a Fee-Based Services Strategy;" and a presentation by Daniel Mechstroth, Ph.D., chief economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, called "Manufacturing's Migration Offshore: Realities and Myths," which will provide an overview of the offshore movement and how to predict when customers are most likely to be affected.

The Summit's member forums include the independent distributor forum, "Getting What We've Earned," facilitated by Dancer, and featuring panelists Steven Crain of Apache Hose & Belting, Dan Kazmierczak of Binkelman Corp., and Jeff Pickelman of Northern Industrial Supply, Inc. The manufacturer forum, "The Future of Manufacturing in North America," will be hosted by the National Assn. of Manufacturers' Stephen Gold, who will lead round-tables designed to provide peer-to-peer networking and discussion of challenges among members.

As for networking lunches, distributor attendees are invited to a distributor lunch on Fri., Oct. 15, hosted by the Board of Directors, where they will find out about PTDA's recent initiatives and meet the directors of the board. The manufacturers' lunch, also on Friday, is hosted by the Manufacturer Council, and manufacturer attendees will elect new leaders, hear PTDA updates and listen to NAM's Gold provide an update on manufacturing trends.

PTDA's popular Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange (MD-IDEX) has undergone a refinement, but still is a series of one-on-one business meetings between distributor and manufacturer senior executives. Highlights of the improved event include expanded open time, a refined scheduling process, limited tabletop displays, and controlled access to exhibiting manufacturers and all distributor attendees.

Networking opportunities include the Summit's welcome reception, an off-property dinner at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom, and a golf outing.