Distributor Dialogue

PIDA Management Conference Offers a Welcome Break for Busy Execs

Steve King, CAE

By Steve King, CAE
Executive Vice President, Pet Industry Distributors Association

For nearly forty years, the PIDA Management Conference & Annual Meeting has been the premier industry event for pet product manufacturers and distributors. Held each year at a resort location, the meeting is an upscale retreat for the CEOs and top management of the pet industry’s leading firms to get away from the daily grind and explore the big picture issues affecting the industry. It’s, in effect, a “Renaissance Weekend” exclusively for the pet trade.

The 2006 Management Conference follows this long tradition by bringing PIDA members to the beautiful Hyatt Grand Champions Resort in Indian Wells, CA, February 8-11. Over 200 individuals from nearly 100 distributor and manufacturer firms will gather for three days of seminars, discussions, one-on-one conferences and a wide variety of recreational activity and social events.

Speakers Focus on Business Success
James Ray is the keynote speaker for the upcoming conference. Author of The Science of Success: How to Attract Prosperity and Create Life Balance Through Proven Principles, Ray shares the skills that ensure sales, service, leadership and personal growth. Through easy-to-learn, action-oriented steps, he helps participants develop their own entrepreneurial mindset.

Steven S. Little follows with his presentation on “Growing Your Business in the 21st Century: Lessons Learned from America’s Business Growth Leaders.” Steve Little is a much sought after speaker, consultant and writer on the subject of business growth and the future of opportunity. As a Senior Consultant for Inc. Magazine, Steve speaks to thousands of owners and managers of growing businesses each year. His style has been described as “real-world”, “highly credible” and “uniquely engaging”.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the PIDA Management Conference is the executive conference appointment program. Manufacturers have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with as many as thirty wholesaler-distributors to discuss their business relationship, plan future programs and evaluate on-going promotions.

Award Winners Announced
Another highlight of the PIDA Management Conference is the much-anticipated awarding of the annual PIDA Supplier Awards. Distributors select the leading manufacturers in four categories of achievement. The top three suppliers in each category are recognized during the gala Awards Banquet. One company is named Supplier of the Year based on their superior performance in all four categories. This award is fast becoming the most sought after accolade in the pet products industry.

Promotional materials for PIDA’s 2006 Management Conference and 37th Annual Meeting will be in members’ hands soon. If you are interested in attending, contact PIDA headquarters at 443-640-1060 ext. 104, or look for additional details at www.pida.org.

Steve King, CAE, is executive vice president of the Pet Industry Distributors Association. PIDA was founded in 1968 to provide support for pet product wholesaler-distributors and to enhance distributors’ value to their suppliers and customers.