The Assn. for Operations Management announced its general and featured speakers for the 2005 APICS International Conference and Exposition, held Oct. 16–18 in New Orleans.

Mike Ditka, former head coach of the National Football League's Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, and Ken Schmidt, former Harley-Davidson Motor Co. director of communications, will be speaking at the general session. Featured speakers include Norman Bodek, president of PCS Press, a publishing, training and consulting company, and author of Kaikaku: The Power and Magic of Lean; and Gary Maxwell, senior vice president, merchandise and replenishment, United States Wal-Mart Stores division.

For more information, visit, www.apics.org.

Members of the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors have elected their new officers for 2005.

Officers include Sydney "Tucker" Jones III as chairman of the NAW Board of Directors; Robert Reynolds as chairman-elect; Raymon A. York as first vice chairman; C.S. "Chip" Hornsby as second vice chairman; Randy Lindberg as secretary; and Dirk Van Dongen as president and CEO.

Completing the Board of Directors are chairman of the NAW Assn. Executives Council, Henry W. "Rick" Doyle, III; Don Frendberg as chairman-elect of the AEC; and John P. Garfinkel as past chairman of the AEC.

For more information, visit, www.naw.org.

The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. launched a new, state-of-the-art Web site, that now features: a new and improved design with bold colors and images to capture the strength of the industry; improved navigational tools with drop-down menus, user portals, Quick Tasks, and search function; easier access by logging on with an e-mail address and password; more news; and exclusive downloads and tools for members. The members-only content includes the latest Market Outlook Report; handouts from the most recent PTDA Industry Summit; research on how customers buy; worksheets for partnership planning; library of best practices; sample and template sales job descriptions; and online Employee Retention and Motivation Source Guide.

For more information, visit, www.ptda.org.

The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Assn. announced the selection of former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell as the General Session keynote speaker for the association's convention this November in Baltimore.

The convention, STAFDA's 29th Convention and Trade Show, will host Powell, who will be speaking on "Leadership: Taking Charge," Nov. 7. Powell's background includes being unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 65th Secretary of State in 2001; serving as chairman of "America's Promise—The Alliance for Youth," a national nonprofit organization; serving as a professional soldier for 35 years; and receiving numerous national and foreign military awards and decorations.

For more information, visit, www.stafda.org.

kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com