The 2016 Fluid Power Distributors Association (FPDA)-International Sealing Distribution Association (ISD) Joint Annual Summit will convene from September 18-21 at the Westin Savannah in Georgia. The summit is open to distributor and associate/affiliate members, as well as distributor and associate/affiliate non-members. Suppliers may also register, along with spouses and companions. Registration ends August 19.
Themed Navigating Today for Tomorrow’s Opportunities, the summit provides an opportunity for business professionals to meet and discuss strategies to increase profits, examine value-added selling techniques, and lay the groundwork for a robust future in distribution services. Visitors can attend a range of social and educational events that will help them network and learn more about the future of their industry. It also opens the doors for Emerging Leaders and Young Executives members, also known as YES and ELI, to discuss plans for growing their businesses and serving a growing customer base, which gains between 50 and 100 million distributors every year.
Events
Check out an overview of the agenda for 2016.
Registration begins on Sunday at 11:00 am and ends at 7:00 pm. Visitors can attend a First-Timers Orientation at 5:00, and the Joint Welcome Reception at 5:30 until 7:00. Then, at 7:30, YES/ELI and FPDA/ISD members are invited to depart by ferry en route to the “Haunted pub crawl.” Additional fees and pre-registration is required for this event.
On Monday, September 19, Herb Meyer, author of How to Analyze Information, will open the summit by discussing contemporary issues in national security, the economy, culture, and other areas. Workshops will proceed throughout the rest of the day, including The Real Profit Drivers: An In-Depth Review of What Really Impacts Profit, presented by Al Bates, and Value Added Selling in a Tough Economy, presented by Paul Reilly. An ELI/YES Joint Luncheon will commence at noon. An FPDA/ISD Supplier Showcase and Networking Reception will run from 4:30 until 6:30.
For entertainment, a series of events will take place at the summit on Tuesday, including a golf tournament at The Club at Savannah Harbor, and a Savannah highlights tour called “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” Registration is required for both events. Finally, at 7:00 pm, a 1920s-themed murder mystery and dinner will be hosted by Odd Lot, a Savannah improvisation team that was voted best comedy group of the year six times.
The summit will conclude on Wednesday after a FPDS/ISD continental breakfast at 8:30 and a closing session featuring motivational business speaker, Ross Bernstein at 9:00.
