AHFA Offers Opportunities
For Professional Development
AHFA has several remaining professional development opportunities slated for 2006. These events are designed to help member companies keep their top executives connected with industry colleagues and up-to-date on emerging issues in their professional focus areas. Supplier Division members are invited to all meetings and are urged to take advantage of these networking opportunities.
Keeping members on the cutting edge of marketing trends is the objective of the Annual Marketing Meeting August 2-4 at the Westin Savannah Harbor in Savannah, Ga. Key presenters include:
- Carl Nichols Jr., co-author with Bill Schley of “Why Johnny Can’t Brand: Rediscovering the Lost Art of the Big Idea.” Nichols is one of the founding partners of an international brand consulting firm headquartered in Connecticut that has worked for global giants, as well as for many small, start-up companies.
- Jim Mountjoy, executive vice president and creative director at the Charlotte, N.C.-based advertising and public relations firm, LKM. Mountjoy has produced award-winning campaigns for North Carolina Travel and Tourism, Verbatim Corporation, Outward Bound, Hunter Douglas, Georgia-Pacific and Dow Chemical, among others. He has twice been named by ADWEEK magazine as the Southeast’s top creative director and was a finalist three times for the Stephen Kelly Award for the best magazine ad campaign in America.
- Charles Kennedy, senior vice president of social trends for DYG Inc., Danbury, Conn. Kennedy was one of the top-rated speakers at the 2005 Marketing Meeting and the 2005 Annual Meeting. His presentation this August will highlight an important new target demographic group for today’s home furnishings brands: the YOCOs, or Young Cosmopolitans.
- Georganne Derick, founder and president of Merchandising East and president of its parent company, MS Interior Design Inc. Her companies have installed the interiors for over 4,000 model homes and have won over 90 regional design awards. She will explore the home design trends preferred by Generation “Y” and Baby Boomers – the two consumer groups that will dominate by the year 2010.
- Jeremy Fox, associate professor of management for the John A. Walker College of Business at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. Fox, who taught Chinese MBA students during a two-semester assignment at Fudan University in Shanghai, will present, “China Today: Opportunities and Challenges of Globalization.”
The marketing meeting will once again be preceded by a half-day Public Relations Workshop that will feature insightful discussions with magazine and newspaper journalists. Participating companies also will receive valuable tips on maximizing publicity opportunities during the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point. The workshop is slated from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 2. The Marketing Meeting will open with a 6:30 p.m. reception the evening of August 2 and will conclude at noon on Friday, August 4.
The convergence of global sourcing, changing business models, new competition and shifting channels of retail distribution is creating “perfect storm” conditions for many home furnishings manufacturers. For help in navigating these stormy waters, AHFA will offer its first Global Supply Chain Management Conference August 10-12 at the Embassy Suites, Kingston Plantation in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Key presenters for this conference include:
- Donovan Favre, assistant professor at North Carolina State University, on “The Seven Principals of Supply Chain Management.”
- Rob Pisani, partner with the international trade and customs law specialists, Pisani & Roll. His “Customs Update: Integrating Compliance and Security” will be a must-attend session for any company involved in importing.
- David Bennett, vice president of sales for Globe Express Services, who will discuss “The West Coast: An Insider’s View of the Challenges Affecting Today’s Furniture Supply Chain.” He will cover anticipated terminal and rail congestion on the West Coast, labor issues and controversial California legislation impacting the flow of goods from the West Coast.
- Christopher Norek, Ph.D., senior partner with Chain Connectors Inc., an Atlanta-based supply chain consulting firm. He will discuss major supply chain technology solutions and common mistakes made in technology implementation.
- Karin Bursa, vice president of marketing for Logility. She will present, “Navigating a Perfect Storm in the Furniture Industry,” focusing on how collaboration with sourcing partners worldwide works to maintain quality and satisfy demand.
- Chip Sheely, purchasing manager, Southeastern Freight Lines; Bill Beckman, territory manager for Cummins Atlantic; and Scott Weyant, national account manager, Caterpillar Truck Engines, who will all address emission solutions.
- Dave Brenner, Caldwell Freight; Ed Massood, MGM Transport, and Rowland Branham, Palmer Transport, who will together offer an overview of “Mega Trends from a Specialized Furniture Carrier Perspective.”
An optional golf outing at Arcadian Shores is planned at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 10, for those who wish to network in advance of the conference. The opening reception is slated for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 10. General sessions will begin at 8 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11, and adjourn at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Sessions resume at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and the meeting will conclude at noon.
For hotel reservations, contact the Embassy Suites, Kingston Plantation directly at 843/449-0006. The cutoff date for room reservations at the group rate is July 10.
Registration forms for both the Marketing Meeting and the Global Supply Chain Conference are available under EVENTS.
Watch your mail for details on the September Financial Management Conference and Economic Outlook Conference.
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