Arlington, VA–The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has announced that two information-packed days of conference sessions and networking opportunities await specialty audio-video dealers and installers at the 2007 PARA Conference, March 7-9, at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, Florida. To encourage early registration, CEA will host the first 30 PARA dealer principals to register for the event, providing free conference registration and three nights in the conference hotel.
“If you’re looking to grow your business and you aspire to become a better businessperson-whether retail, hybrid or custom-then the 2007 PARA Conference is your must-attend event of the year,” said PARA executive director Kerry Moyer. “This year’s conference hits right at the heart of PARA’s two core values – education and training. Our speakers and informational sessions, located next to Electronic House Expo Spring (EHX), will offer the PARA dealer and installer resources they can put into action to grow their businesses as well as their business acumen.”
Moyer explained that the 2007 PARA Conference is designed not only for existing PARA dealers, but also for non-PARA dealers and installers. He added that non-PARA dealers and installers will receive their first year of membership in CEA free when they register and attend the conference.
On Thursday, March 8, the conference will open with Dr. Jeff DeGraff, a core faculty member at the University of Michigan Center for Leadership, Change and Innovation. DeGraff’s keynote will focus on the fundamentals of creativity, change and innovation strategies; and best practices for leading innovation and implementing new processes to create growth.
In the afternoon, Peter W. Schutz, former president and CEO of Porsche AG, will present “Extraordinary Results from Ordinary People,” based on his best-selling book. Schutz will address how business owners, by finding and hiring the right people, can mobilize and nurture “The Driving Force” to create a lasting competitive advantage.
Friday morning will feature a return to the “nuts and bolts” of business management with two interactive sessions. The first session, sponsored by CEA’s Small Business Council will feature an introduction to strategic planning concepts and decision making presented by Ron Huntington, owner of Executive Mentors and Trainers. The second session, “Growing the Financial Expertise of Dealers,” presented by Richard Outcalt and Patricia Johnson of The Retail Owners Institute, focuses on financial basics and how to apply these to your business.
“CEA has put together a great PARA Conference experience,” Moyer said. “To help expose dealers and installers to this experience, we’re having a little fun with our ‘Double-Down Deal in Orlando.’ In addition to hosting the first 30 PARA dealer principals to register, CEA is challenging vendors to support PARA and drive conference attendance and participation in PARA by matching CEA and hosting at least 30 additional dealers. By supporting PARA and the specialty channel, everybody does more business and the whole industry wins.”
For more information on the PARA Management Conference, including schedule and registration information, visit www.CE.org/Events
