The Fluid Power Distributor Assn.'s annual meeting will be held April 27-30 at the Saddlebrook Resort in Tampa, Fla.

“Leadership in Motion: The Adventure of Change” will be this year's theme. FPDA president Boyd Barnwell advises attendees not to take the “change” part of that slogan lightly.

“After two years of member and market research, analysis, discussion, debate and strategic visioning,” he recently wrote to FPDA members, “there are now some pretty significant changes on the way for FPDA and the way we serve our members. These changes will be unveiled [in Tampa].”

Marketing your business during unsettled economic times will be the focus of many of the scheduled presenters.

Marketing consultant Max Carey of Corporate Resource Development will give the keynote address on “The Five Manageable Marketing Truths: Our New Rules of Engagement.” Carey will provide case study examples to illustrate how implementing these marketing truths can help FPDA members create a more stable future for their companies.

Other speakers include Ernan Roman of Ernan Roman Direct Marketing, who will present “Transforming Customer Engagement.” Roman will also conduct a follow-up session for FPDA members.

Bruce Kasten, an attorney with FPDA's legal counsel Duane Morris LLC, will lead a session on “Protecting Your Intellectual Capital: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Competitive Advantages.” Kasten and his session colleagues will discuss ways to identify and manage intellectual capital and how FPDA attendees can protect their competitive advantages.

FPDA's Networking Breakfasts are back this year with a new format. Industry representatives will offer information and forecasts on “New Opportunity Markets” (Monday, April 28) and “New Opportunity Products” (Tuesday, April 29).

Attendees are asked to select one “New Opportunity Market” discussion area (including energy and power generation, life sciences and healthcare, among others); and one “New Opportunity Product” discussion area (such as pneumatics or sensors and photo-electrics, among others).

After each presentation, participants will be able to discuss the information with their peers and exchange ideas.

For more information, go to: www.fpda.org.