Manufacturers rep conference stresses education through networking.
Bradford White Vice President of Sales Jim McGoldrick Jr. is the 2012 recipient of AIM/R’s prestigious Golden Eagle Award, presented annually to a senior-level management individual of a manufacturing firm that utilizes manufacturers reps and has a proven track record in support of manufacturers reps being the most efficient and cost-effective method of going to market.
McGoldrick Jr. was presented the award at a reception at historic Fenway Park in Boston as part of AIM/R’s 40th annual conference. The conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Boston, featured a university theme where best practices and networking sessions were treated as college-level courses. Educational opportunities and productive networking sessions were in abundance during the nearly three-day event.
Lively discussions were commonplace throughout the conference. The manufacturers’ breakfast and orientation hosted by past AIM/R presidents at the historic Boston Opera House generated debate on how a difficult territory should be dealt with. Several prominent plumbing industry manufacturers advocated stepping up assistance on their end and fostering a greater cooperative effort between manufacturer and rep entities.
Upstairs at the Opera House, AIM/R’s Leaders of Tomorrow young executives group hosted a well-attended three-hour session that included rep agency profiles, an introduction to rep contracts, as well as Sandra Long’s “Legacy to Leader” talk.
The conference’s general session kicked off with Institute For Trend Research’s Dr. Jeff Dietrich presenting a somewhat brighter picture of the nation’s economic situation both now and in the immediate future.
“What Americans are doing with money right now is a positive,” he said. “People aren’t buying everything they think they want, but they are back to buying stuff.”
Dietrich also noted optimism stems from the nation’s current demographic. “The current average is 2.1 units (children) per family,” he said, drawing a laugh from the crowd for the use of the word ‘units.’ “If you want to be anywhere in the world, you want to be in an economy that is growing and creating the next generation of laborers, consumers and taxpayers. Change is happening. We’re already creating that next generation of those contributing to rebuilding and regenerating this country.”
And the immediate future?
“Another recession is not imminent. That’s the signal we are seeing,” said Dietrich, who noted the year 2029 is one to keep an eye on in terms of significant economic turmoil. “2014 looks like it could be mild and 2018 could be a more significant recession unless we reduce debts and deficits.”
Dietrich’s “Make Your Move!” presentation title was aimed directly at businesses. “There is opportunity even with the economy as damaged as it has been,” he said. “The economy is already healing and is recovering and will grow stronger. We still live in the land of opportunity - opportunity as it impacts our space and the rest of the world.”