Members of NIBA-The Belting Assn. met for their 2004 Convention at the Marriott Hotel & Marina in San Diego, Sept. 15–18. Convention planners said they were pleased with the turnout of 491 people, which included members, spouses and guests. The convention also saw the highest percentage of distributor attendees—63 percent—since the Orlando, Fla., convention in 1999.

Among the convention's highlights were the Conference Booth Program, a keynote address by consultant Bill Hodgdon, and a presentation by the San Diego Zoological Society's Joan Embery. NIBA's annual golf tournament, welcome reception and closing farewell dinner were some of the social highlights of the four-day meeting.

NIBA president Bruce Dieleman of Sparks Belting, Grand Rapids, Mich., welcomed members to the event during the opening ceremonies on Thursday, Sept. 16.

"It's been a quick nine-and-a-half months," he said, referring to his tenure as NIBA president. He pointed to a few of the milestones achieved during the last year, including the forming of a new marketing committee and the launch of some industry-specific training modules.

Dieleman also spoke of the importance of NIBA to the belting industry, and emphasized the need for manufacturer and distributor members to work together to serve end users.

"Our collective focus needs to be on providing value," he said. "We need to focus on the customer."

Dieleman went on to say that, "This is an outstanding association. We're in an important industry," and, "I've enjoyed serving you; it's sincerely my privilege to do so."

Dieleman thanked NIBA's board of directors, committee members, and staff for their hard work throughout the year, and introduced the executive committee for the 2004-2005 year. The new president is Ted Lushch of Jerry Bros. Industries in Richmond, Va.; first vice president is Tom Richardson of Conveyor Accessories, Inc., Burr Ridge, Ill.; second vice president is Rene Morf of VIS USA LLC, Branchburg, N.J.; treasurer is Jackie Britt of Rubber & Accessories, Lakeland, Fla.; and Dieleman will serve as the immediate past president.

Britt is the first woman to serve on NIBA's executive committee, and the first to follow in the footsteps of a parent. Her father, Harry Robb, Jr., was NIBA president in 1986.

Following Dieleman's presentation on Thursday, Embery introduced members to some of the inhabitants of the San Diego Zoo, explaining their history, habits and status in the world today. Among the animals she brought to the Marriott ballroom were an Andean condor, a barn owl, a California king snake, a kangaroo, an anteater and a cheetah. Embery is known as the San Diego Zoological society's official hostess, and her work includes television appearances, radio interviews, speaking engagements and animal presentations.

Bill Hodgdon's presentation was titled, "Causing Growth in No-Growth Markets: Every business plan can be improved—here's how to do it." The session targeted companies' sales strategies, explaining how to implement a rapid-growth plan. Hodgdon has been an operations manager and engineering manager at a Fortune 100 electronics company, president and owner of a manufacturing firm, and founder of Hodgdon Consulting Services.

Next year's NIBA convention will be held in New Orleans, Sept. 17–20, 2005.