AVDA 2010 Annual Conference: Powerful Positioning

AVDA will convene its 2010 annual conference in Napa, California April 18 - 20 at the Silverado Resort. This year’s AVDA Annual Conference is designed for those business leaders who embrace Powerful Positioning in today’s economic climate. DETAILS

AVDA 2010 Conference Location: Silverado Resort in Napa, California

Set upon 1,200 beautiful acres, in the heart of the world-famous Napa Valley, the Silverado Resort is one of the nation’s most captivating and highly rated group destinations. A treasured California landmark for over 140 years, Silverado’s rich history began in the 1870s as the residential estate of a Civil War General. DETAILS

AVDA 2010 Spouse Events

The 2010 AVDA Spouse Event will be one for the scrapbooks, have your camera ready. On Monday, April 19, AVDA spouses will travel to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) to attend a cooking demo and indulge in a legendary lunch. Spouses will also be introduced to shopping, Napa style in picturesque St. Helena. DETAILS

AVDA 2011 Annual Conference to be Held at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club

The AVDA board of directors recently announced that the 2011 Annual Conference will be held at the AAA Four Diamond Ponte Vedra Inn and Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, May 1-3, 2011. DETAILS

AVDA to Co-Sponsor Brakke Networking Reception During NAVC

AVDA will once again co-sponsor the Brakke Consulting, Inc. Networking Reception with the KC Animal Health Corridor on Monday, January 18 immediately following the Brakke Consulting US Animal Health Industry Overview at the 2010 North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, FL. The reception will be held from 4 to 6 pm at Auggie’s Jammin’ Piano Bar in the Gaylord Palms Resort. DETAILS

AVDA Government Affairs Listserv Moving to LinkedIn

The AVDA Government Affairs Listserv will merge with the AVDA LinkedIn group. All future postings regarding legislative or government issues will be posted to the LinkedIn group. All listserv participants have been preapproved for membership in the AVDA LinkedIn group. If you are not already on LinkedIn, click here to get started.

TRAINING

University of Industrial Distribution Celebrates 17th Anniversary

AVDA is a proud co-sponsor of the University of Industrial Distribution (UID) celebrating 17 honored years of education in the distribution industry. This means that, as an AVDA member, you can register for the program at the Association Member price—a savings of $470 per person. The 2010 course will be held March 7 - 11 at Indiana University/Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  DETAILS

Webinar on Regulatory Issues Impacting Animal Health Industry a Big Success

AVDA members participated in a webinar sponsored by Cegedim Dendrite, providers of the AVDA State Monitor Service, on October 6. The webinar included a review of DEA, FDA and state regulations and proposed legislation impacting veterinary drug distributors and manufacturers. Click here for copy of the handouts from the presentation.

FINANCIAL NEWS

Financial Trends in Distribution

The sales challenges associated with the recession have caused most firms to take a serious look at their operating expenses. Obviously, most of the effort has focused on cutting expenses. While that is an important task, a more fundamental issue is determining the nature of the firm’s expense structure. That is, deciding whether the organization should build a heavy fixed-expense structure or whether it should rely more on variable expenses. DETAILS

The Problem That Will Not Die

The PPR is one of the rare ratios where lower is better than higher. For AVDA members, the ratio means that every $1.00 of gross margin generated requires a payroll expenditure of 48.2 cents. This means that after paying all payroll expenses, there is only 51.8 cents left to cover all of the firm’s other expenses and generate a profit for the firm. DETAILS

MEMBER NEWS

AVDA Welcomes New Associate Member

AVDA is pleased to welcome our newest Associate member, Banc of America Practice Solutions, Inc., a Bank of America company. Jeff Schultz, Vice President of Partner Service Group, will be the AVDA principal contact. Banc of America Practice Solutions is also a Two Star Sponsor for the 2010 AVDA Annual Conference.

FTC Order Prevents Anticompetitive Effects from Pfizer's Acquisition of Wyeth

The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement resolving its extensive investigation of Pfizer Inc.’s proposed $68 billion acquisition of Wyeth and requiring significant divestitures to preserve competition in multiple U.S. markets for animal pharmaceuticals and vaccines. The proposed consent order remedies the anticompetitive effects the Commission believes are likely to result from the transaction in numerous markets for animal health products. After a thorough investigation, the Commission concluded that the transaction does not raise anticompetitive concerns in any human health product markets. DETAILS 

PCI Animal Health Announces Appointments

PCI Animal Health and Medical Supply recently named Clay Cass as its National Sales Manager and Leslie Goldfarb as a field representative for the North Jersey region. Cass will oversee PCI’s sales force, maintaining the highest professional standards as PCI continues to expand its reach throughout the marketplace. Goldfarb will be providing enhanced services to PCI’s existing customers as well as expanding its reach into this important region. DETAILS 

Schein, Butler to Combine

Henry Schein, Inc. and Butler Animal Health Supply announced an agreement to form Butler Schein Animal Health, a new company that will combine Butler Animal Health Supply and Henry Schein's U.S. animal health businesses. DETAILS 

Webster Appoints New VP of Sales

Dale Spann was appointed Vice President of Sales for Webster. Dale is currently the sales director for the western region and brings with him over 30 years of experience in animal health. Dale joined Webster with the ProVet acquisition in 2004 as a branch manager and took over regional responsibilities in 2007.

Dale and his wife Betty will be relocating to Massachusetts in the next few months.

NAW NEWS

New from NAW Institute: Value Creation Strategies for Wholesaler-Distributors

The NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence is pleased to announce its newest book, Value Creation Strategies for Wholesaler-Distributors, by Steve Deist, Mike Marks, and Mike Emerson of Indian River Consulting Group. DETAILS

New from NAW Institute: Sharpening Your Competitive Edge

The NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence is pleased to announce its newest book, Sharpening Your Competitive Edge: How to Strengthen Your Distribution Sales Team for Top Results. This book shows distribution sales executives how to build a stronger, strategic selling organization as well as how to lead their sales team to more proactive selling efforts that can increase competitive advantage and, ultimately, sales and profitability. DETAILS