The most successful companies in the industry belong to AHFA, and the most successful companies within AHFA have at least one thing in common: they take advantage of educational programming designed to keep their top executives up to date on key issues.

AHFA’s 2007 summer conferences will bring an extraordinary range of expertise to members during three information-packed events designed to offer unparalleled professional enrichment and networking opportunities.
 

Finance Meeting
Features China Expert

	Albert Keidel TITLE: Senior Associate Carnegie Endowment for International Peace EDUCATION: B.A. Princeton University; Ph.D., Harvard University; Post-doctoral fellow, Faculty of Economics, Tokyo National University LANGUAGES: French, German, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese   Albert Keidel joined the Carnegie Endowment in September 2004 after serving as deputy director of the Office of East Asian Nations at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. His work at the Endowment focuses on issues relating to China’s economic system reforms, macroeconomy, regional development and poverty reduction strategy.      Before joining the Department of the Treasury in 2001, he covered economic trends, system reforms, poverty and country risk as a senior economist in the World Bank office in Beijing. Keidel has worked in China, Japan and Korea and has taught graduate economics courses on China, Japan and development.

First up is the June 14-16 Annual Finance Meeting at the oceanfront Hilton Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The broad-based program touches on the economy, China, management issues, trends in information technology and global logistics. The keynote presenter is Dr. Albert Keidel, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a widely-recognized expert on issues relating to China’s economic system reforms and regional development. He will open the program with an overview of China’s economic and financial prospects.

Keidel, who earlier this year presented testimony before Congress on the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue, will review China’s remarkable economic record – both domestically and globally – but will also examine possible future patterns for China’s economy and how these might impact the United States.

Also on the agenda are Jack Cathey, Ph.D., CPA, from the University of North Carolina-Charlotte Department of Accounting, and Brian Allison, a technology industry consultant. Together they will present a session on current trends in information technology, addressing the interrelated topics of microcomputer technology developments and enterprise technology developments.

A panel of industry executives is slated to discuss the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program, more commonly known as C-TPAT. Panelists include Robert Pisani, an international trade lawyer with over 25 years of government and industry experience; Bill Geib, director of logistics for Schnadig Corp.; Jim Chase, director of logistics for Hooker; and Cam Smith director of logistics at Klaussner Furniture. These executives will discuss how to gain management support for joining C-TPAT and the costs associated with supply chain security and C-TPAT membership.

Addressing the important issue of obstacles to U.S. competitiveness will be Jeremy Leonard, economic consultant for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Inc., a business research organization located in Arlington, Va. Leonard will examine the degree to which nonproduction costs, such as health care, taxes, litigation and regulatory compliance, are eroding the competitive edge of America’s factories relative to developed and emerging trading partners.

The two-day Finance meeting also includes a session on how to build a stronger management team facilitated by Dave Allison of Allison & Associates.

The Finance Meeting will open with a reception the evening of June 14. Business sessions will run from 8 a.m. to noon on June 15, followed by an optional golf outing at Arcadian Shores. The June 16 sessions are slated from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

For hotel accommodations, call the Hilton Myrtle Beach resort directly at 843/449-5000 and mention the group code “AHF.” The cutoff date for reservations at the discounted group rate of $175 per night is May 15.

Registration is $425 for AHFA members. The golf outing is an additional $62 per golfer. A complete agenda, as well as online registration forms, can be found here.

Supply Chain Conference Presents Global Perspective

Establishing clear supply chain strategies for 2008 will be the focus of the Global Supply Chain Management Conference July 12-14 at the Embassy Suites Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Navigating the murky waters of global sourcing, identifying the next generation of domestic supply chain solutions and, for some companies, merging the two – these are the challenges for today’s supply chain managers. Home furnishings companies striving to find the right supply chain strategy for 2008, as well as the “best practices” to support that strategy, are urged to attend the July conference.

Kurt Cavano, chairman and CEO of Tradecard Inc., will open the conference program on July 13 with “Sourcing as a Competitive Advantage.” In addition to addressing best practices for strategic sourcing, Cavano will discuss the key advantages of product cost and customization.

A new wave of customs enforcement initiatives have kept compliance issues at the forefront of supply chain management in the home furnishings industry. AHFA has secured Robert Pisani, a nationally known international trade lawyer with more than 25 years of government and industry experience, to provide its customs update at the 2007 conference.

Also on July 13, Jeff Heller, assistant vice president of international marketing for Norfolk Southern, will provide attendees with an update on capacity issues in the intermodal system. With 25 years in international transportation, Heller will bring a wealth of insider expertise on issues such as rail capacity constraints and legislative issues impacting U.S. intermodal systems.

Whether sourcing from domestic factories, overseas factories or a combination of the two, U.S. furniture companies must develop concrete strategies for positioning inventory in the supply chain. Addressing this issue will be Cecil Bozarth, professor in the College of Management at North Carolina State University and a recognized expert in the area of supply chain management.

Concluding the information-packed agenda for this first day of the conference is Gene Winters, vice president of sales for Global Link Logistics. His presentation, “Next Generation Supply Chain Solutions for the Furniture Industry” covers strategic use of less than container load shipping; cost effectiveness of consolidating orders, reducing inventory and increasing procurement flexibility; and improving product visibility in transit.

Three more hard-hitting sessions are planned for the half-day agenda on July 14. They include:

• “Specialized Furniture Carrier Panel: Evolution Through Change.”
• “This Is Not Your Grandfather’s Home Delivery Service,” Maury Mussa, president and CEO of Mainstreet Delivery.
• “The West Coast Review: What Does the Future Hold?” David Bennett, vice president of sales and development for Globe Express in Charlotte, N.C.

This three-day event includes an optional golf outing at Arcadian Shores at 8:30 a.m. July 12, and an opening reception that evening at 5:30 p.m. Registration fees also include lunch on July 13 and a second reception after the business program that same day.

Hotel accommodations should be arranged directly with the Embassy Suites by calling 843/449-0006 or 800/876-0010 and mentioning the AHFA group code “AHT.” Cutoff for reservations at the group rate is June 11.

Meeting registration is $350 for AHFA members. The optional golf outing is an additional $62. Online registration and a complete agenda are available here.

Finally, in August, marketing executives will convene in Baltimore, Md., to discover new ways of connecting with today’s diverse marketplace. “Breakthrough Marketing” is the theme for the August 15-17 event, to be held at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel.

Among key presenters is Andy Hines, director of consulting for Social Technology, a global research and consulting firm “specializing in the integration of foresight, strategy and innovation.” Hines recently co-edited the book, “Thinking About the Future: Guidelines for Strategic Foresight,” which takes insights from 36 senior foresight professionals and distills them into strategies for action. His presentation to AHFA marketing executives will highlight the “Top 20 Trends Transforming the Lives of the World’s Consumers.”

Making his third appearance as a key speaker at the Annual Marketing Meeting will be Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of social trends for DYG Inc., Danbury, Conn. Kennedy was among the highest rated speakers at both the 2005 and 2006 marketing meetings. His presentation this August will turn the spotlight on the nation’s “exhausted affluent” – a unique consumer group with special significance to the home furnishings market.

Also on the agenda is Kate Alini, marketing communications manager for MiniUSA, who will describe how Mini Cooper creates a “zero-to-smile-in-under-two-seconds” online consumer branding experience. The latest marketing innovation at Mini is the “Mini Motorby,” a unique, personal and unexpected billboard message targeted to and triggered by Mini drivers. The illuminated messages were launched in January on billboards in New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Miami.

Continuing on the “Breakthrough” program theme will be Tracy Chapman, an expert marketer credited with having snooped in strangers’ closets, medicine cabinets, refrigerators and even under beds for the real scoop on what makes consumers tick. She is the co-director of brand insights at Just Ask A Woman. This unusual marketing firm touts its ability to uncover women’s hidden agendas and translate what they hear into actionable business strategies.

Her presentation for AHFA marketing executives is titled, “Whole Truths and Half Truths About What Women Want.”

Sean Wargo is the senior industry analyst with the Consumer Electronics Association. He is on the August agenda to share important insights for the home entertainment market for 2008 and beyond.

AHFA also has invited Michelle Moore, vice president of communications for the U.S. Green Building Council to present, “The Future Is Now: Environmentally Friendly Homes.” She will bring companies up to date on the USGBC’s progressive new environmental design standards for residential homes.

A bonus public relations workshop is planned in advance of the Marketing Meeting. The 1-5 p.m. session on Wednesday, August 15, will feature the widely acclaimed “Editor’s Roundtable.” There is no charge to attend the PR workshop for those attending the Marketing Meeting. For those who wish to attend the workshop only, the registration is $100.

Members registering prior to June 1 will save $100 on the $650 marketing meeting registration. As with all other AHFA meetings, online registration is available at AHFA Home on the EVENTS page, which you may access here.

Executives are urged to make hotel reservations promptly by contacting the Baltimore Waterfront Marriott at 410/385-3000 or 800/228-9290. Mention the AHFA meeting to receive the group rate.

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