ISA Conference & Trade Fair May 19–22

Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 4/1/2006

The Industrial Supply Assn. will host its first annual Conference & Trade Fair in San Antonio May 19–22.

This is the first time ISA will host just one national meeting per year, and the format has changed to mark the milestone. A new track-based education program encourages members to bring additional layers of management to the show, and the trade fair format allows for product displays, demonstrations and "show specials." In the past, the show was aimed at top management, and a smaller scale conference booth program was the highlight of the event.

"This is our first annual ISA convention, and hopefully we'll continue with a string of 100 more," said ISA president Tim Tevens of Columbus-McKinnon Corp., emphasizing the one-convention format. Previously, ISA held two annual conventions, one in the spring and one in the fall.

"This is the opportunity for trading partners to get together," Tevens said. "So, this is one not to miss."

The education program focuses on operations, leadership, and sales and marketing, allowing attendees to meet and network with peers and discuss areas of mutual interest and concern. The sessions will kick off on Saturday with Strategic Partnerships in a Changing Marketplace: How will we do business together in the future?, under the Sales & Marketing banner; Developing a Successful Transportation Strategy, under the Operations banner; and From Generation to Generation: Ownership and Management Succession for Owner-Managed Companies, under the Leadership banner.

In addition, two pre-convention workshops are open to all registrants, and a special session on small business and emerging markets will be offered.

Conference speakers include Michael Marks and Steve Deist of Indian River Consulting Group; Bill McCleave of W.R. McCleave and Associates; Dr. F. Barry Lawrence of Texas A&M University; and Dr. Deborah Riner of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico, A.C.

The keynote speaker is David Stillman, co-author with Lynne Lancaster of the book When Generations Collide: Who they are. Why they clash. How to solve the generational puzzle at work. His address is titled, Leadership: Bringing out the Best in Every Generation.

As of mid-March, convention registration was running ahead of where it was at this time last year, Tevens said.

"We are tracking substantially ahead of last year, in all [membership] categories," he said, referring to manufacturers, distributors, manufacturer's representatives and associate members. "We need to keep that momentum going up until May."

For more information on the ISA Conference and Trade Fair, visit www.isapartners.org.