AVDA’s 2006 Annual Conference held April 23-25 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort in Rancho Mirage, California was a huge success. Over 135 AVDA members and spouses attended this annual business meeting and networking event. Attendees came away with great take-home content from dynamic speakers on such topics as how to grow their businesses in the 21st century, how to get and keep customers, how to be more in tune with people by learning to read their faces, and how to prepare for legislative changes throughout the US affecting the way veterinary distributors do business.

Outstanding networking opportunities like the Annual Scramble Golf Tournament, Welcome Reception and Awards Banquet & Reception allowed distributors and manufacturers to talk one on one about their business challenges and their growth ideas. Many attendees said the speakers were the best in years and that their return on investment in attending the meeting was immeasurable.

Here are some comments from members about the Best Idea they took home from the meeting and the dollar value they would assign to that idea:

• Retaining talented people is the key to success in any business....priceless confirmation. The pedigree issue will have a significant impact on our market....price unknown

• Execute, Execute, Execute! Tough to put a dollar figure on, but disappointing customers by not following through on your promises is very expensive in terms of losing future business.

• Comparison models from the PAR review. $100,000.

• Slow to hire, quick to fire. $5000

• Get involved in Pedigree or face problems later.

• Take some time reflecting on general business and socio-economic conditions, not only veterinary marketplace, when planning future business activity in our own market.

• Amazing Face Reading

• Steve Little- Once you realize you made a hiring mistake move on quickly rather than trying to fix it for two years. Given the training period of a hire it could easily cost $20,000 to make a hiring mistake. Ann Marks talk added some insight to what to look for in the interview that could save you from making a mistake as well.

Next year’s conference promises to offer the same kind of value to attendees, so mark your calendar for AVDA’s 2007 Annual Conference to be held April 29 – May 1 at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa in Savannah. More information about the meeting will be posted on the AVDA web site, www.avda.net.  Promotional and registration materials will be mailed to attendees in January 2007.