December 2005                return to newsletter contents page

NAW Executive Summit Set for January 31

An improving economic forecast should provide for excellent navigation for the wholesale distribution industry in 2006. This means that winning wholesaler-distributors will be poised in the driver’s seat to capture the best customer market opportunities.

If you view 2006 as this decade’s finest potential business environment, then NAW’s Executive Summit, January 31- February 2, 2006, at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C., will help you capitalize on maximum profits for your company. Our program features outstanding speakers and peer networking opportunities for DRIVING PROFITS in 2006. Our program is all about driving profits, increasing sales, and maximizing margins.

The program features a growing roster of experts from the wholesale distribution industry, the public policy sector, and the media. You’ll hear from Washington insiders on key public policy issues before the U.S. Congress. And, you’ll also hear from leading thinkers who will offer opinions on where the domestic economy and our industry are headed. All the speakers are focused to help you stay in the driver’s seat and continue to provide outstanding value for your suppliers and customers.

Register now at the Early Bird price!

New Publication from NAW

NAW/DREF is pleased to release this new book: Outlook 2006: An Executive's Companion to Facing the Forces of Change -- an all-new executive's companion to Facing the Forces of Change: The Road to Opportunity.

Outlook 2006 is a diverse collection of insights from a power-packed group of 10 wholesale distribution analysts, authors, educators, and consultants. Each contributor uses Facing the Forces of Change as a starting point for analyzing the year ahead, and provides his own assessments and predictions about a particular topic, along with specific action steps and recommendations, to help your company thrive in 2006 and beyond.

Topics include:

• Preparing for the future of wholesale distribution

• Increasing your company's value to potential investors

• Creating momentum and positive strategic change for your employees

• Reinvigorating business relationships with your key suppliers

• Transforming your sales system and salesforce

• Building and defending your corporate brand

• Using strategic communications to create and shape the attitudes of your customers, employees, and suppliers toward your brand

• Employing technology more efficiently and effectively

• Applying customer profitability data to better respond to industry trends

• Evaluating whether establishing or acquiring outsourced logistics services is right for your company

The contributing authors to OUTLOOK 2006 are:

• Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., President, Pembroke Consulting, Inc., and Executive Editor

• Ken Ackerman, President, The Ackerman Company

• Mark Dancer, Vice President and Principal, Pembroke Consulting, Inc.

• Thomas P. Gale, President, Gale Media

• Brent R. Grover, President, Evergreen Consulting

• Dave Kahle, President, The DaCo Corporation

• F. Barry Lawrence, Ph.D., Industrial Distribution Program Coordinator and Director of the Thomas and Joan Read Center for Distribution Research and Education at Texas A&M University

• J. Michael Marks, Principal and Managing Partner, Indian River Consulting Group

• James C. Miller, Managing Director and Principal, Brown Gibbons Lang & Company

• Randolph P. Ryerson, Vice President and Principal, Pembroke Consulting, Inc.

The book is now available to AVDA members for $89.  To order, click here. For a list of other NAW publications, visit www.nawpubs.org.