NIRA—The North American Industrial Representatives Assn. will hold its ninth annual Management & Marketing Conference on Feb. 24–26 at the Radisson Hotel Miami.

Kristin Thompson, director of communications and conferences for NIRA, said that early registration and enthusiasm for the event was strong.

There are several scheduled workshops and presentations that Thompson expects to be popular.

Aware of the growing importance being placed on overseas business, especially as it relates to China, NIRA planners have scheduled Jack Hurley of Jackson Sales/New England Twist Drill Co., Inc. and Mack Sorrells of Mack W. Sorrells Co. to talk about "The Chinese Connection."

In this session, they will discuss potential opportunities as well as pitfalls to be aware of when doing business in China. Sorrells recently returned from a trade mission there, while Hurley is involved in importing materials from China. Both will discuss their experiences in conducting business with Chinese manufacturers and trading companies.

"The international aspects are going to be very interesting, and the presenters will be talking about the nuts and bolts of it," Thompson explained. "It should be very interesting for people who are seriously thinking more and more about [China]."