Opening General Session & Facilitated Roundtable Discussion
America's Economic Future: The Six Unstoppable Trends
Dr. Barry Asmus, Political, Business and Financial Expert
Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 9:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Dr. Asmus identifies the "Six Unstoppable Trends" that are impacting America's business and its economy. The current recession will temporarily slow these trends but not stop them. The Latin word for credit is credere which means "to believe." The de-leveraging and economic contraction begun in 2008 could last until 2010. But note this; we have had 13 economic recessions in the last 80 years followed by 13 expansions. Currently, 75 million Baby Boomers are in the high investment and most productive stages of their lives. Confidence will be restored. The end of prosperity? Or, the best yet to come? Dr. Asmus' presents his "Six Unstoppable Trends" and asks you to decide.
About Asmus: Dr. Barry Asmus is an effective advocate of free market economics. He is a recognized thinker who delivers his ideas in an enthusiastic and energy filled presentation. As a professor of economics, he was twice voted University Professor of the Year and was honored with the Freedom Foundation Award at Valley Forge for Private Enterprise Education.
As senior economist of the National Center for Policy Analysis, Asmus writes, speaks, testifies, and consults with presidents of countries and companies, with Congress and Parliament. He has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on switching from an income tax to a consumption tax; was a featured speaker in a privatization of Social Security Conference for Western European leaders held in France; has met with former Czech Prime Minister Vaclav Klaus; and has met with the president of Romania, the honorable Traian Basescu.
Named by USA Today as one of the five most requested speakers in America, Asmus speaks to diverse audiences including 7,000 members of the Million Dollar Round Table at Radio City Music Hall, 3,000 farmers in Des Moines and 30 World Bankers at the home of Harvard University's president.
His newest book is titled Bulls Don't Blush, Bears Don't Die. Other books written by Asmus include: The Best Is Yet To Come; When Riding A Dead Horse, For Heaven's Sake…Dismount; Apollo; It's Tea Time Again; and ClintonCare, Putting Government in Charge of Your Health.
General Session & Roundtable Discussion
Social Networking NEXT
David Nour, CEO - The Nour Group, Inc.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 1:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
David Nour will provide an educational, motivational, and highly engaging session with the goal of educating attendees as to the lasting, quantifiable, and strategic value of their business relationships and social media as a strong enable oftheir respective business. Nour will convey the "relevancy" of social media in empowering attendees of their off-line relationships toward customer, partner, and employee acquisition, retention, and development.
About Nour: David Nour is the thought leader on Relationship Economics® - the quantifiable value of business relationships. In a global economy that is becoming increasingly disconnected, The Nour Group, Inc. has attracted consulting clients such as KPMG, Siemens, Disney, Alvarez & Marsal, Assurant, HP, and over 100 marquee organizations in driving unprecedented growth through unique return on their strategic relationships. David has pioneered the phenomenon that relationships are the greatest off balance sheet asset any organizations possesses, large and small, public and private.
A native of Iran, David came to the U.S. with a suitcase, $100, limited family ties and no fluency in English! He earned an Executive MBA from the Goizueta Business School at Emory University and a BA degree in Management from Georgia State University.
General Session
21st Century America: A new Day in Politics, Culture and Business
Stuart Varney, Host of Varney & Company on Fox News Channel
Thursday, November 10, 2011, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
The 21st Century began with America as the role-model for the world. If you want vigorous growth, low employment and consistent gains in prosperity, America's stake-holder society is the way to go. And demographic trends, along with our dynamic entrepreneurial culture, suggest America will stay out in front.
About Varney: Charismatic, articulate, and candid, Stuart Varney consistently wins rave reviews from audiences, and is credited with changing the way that television reports on financial and economic news worldwide. Originally a Fox News Channel anchor, he joined the Fox Business Network as an anchor on October 15, 2007, where he served as host of the daily morning show, Varney & Company. Since joining FOX Business, he has contributed to the network's weekday and weekend business programming, including: Your World with Neil Cavuto, Bulls and Bears, Cavuto on Business, and Cashin' In. He also is the substitute host for Your World with Neil Cavuto. Formerly the host of CNBC’s broadcast of The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board with Stuart Varney and co-host of CNN’s MoneyLine News Hour from 1999 to 2001, Varney joined the Fox News network in December 2003 as a contributor to a variety of shows, including Your World with Neil Cavuto, Bulls & Bears, and Forbes on Fox. He is also notably a founding member of CNN’s award-winning business team, and former host of both Business Day and Business Asia. He joined CNN upon its founding in 1980.
An economist educated at the London School of Economics, Varney is uniquely qualified to address the rapidly shifting domestic and global economic trends, and the implications for business, institutional investors, and individuals. His exceptional coverage and analysis of the stock market crash of 1987 earned him a Peabody Award for excellence in journalism.
For business to prosper, it must address economic issues impacting its ability to compete. Stuart Varney cuts through the jargon to make complex economic issues accessible and interesting for any audience.
No discussion about the economy is complete without consideration of the political climate and the economic agenda of the current administration. Varney’s frank assessment of worldwide politics as it relates to economic trends, opportunities, and hazards is fresh, insightful, and comprehensive.
Varney’s experience and in-depth knowledge enable him to tailor his remarks to address those economic issues most relevant to your organization and audience. From global economic uncertainty to tax policy to the Federal Reserve, Varney will enlighten, engage, and motivate your audience. His presentations continually evolve with the dynamic economic climate, keeping your audience abreast and ahead of the headlines.
Distribution Management University (DMU)
Michael E. Workman Ph.D
Tuesday, November 8th
12:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. (Session I)
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Networking Reception
Wednesday, November 9th
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Session II)
Designed for General Managers, Branch Managers, Operations Managers
Click on the links below to hear brief previews of the DMU
The key to prospering is to operate your business with the power and clarity that means creating new and efficient systems for branch and operations. Presented are the basic functions of a building material distributor and how to manage each area of branch operations for the single or multi-level branch organizations.
Topics include operations, costs, integrated supply, technology, sales functions, changing roles of managers and employees, and people management — recruitment, retraining, and team building
Dialogue driven sessions will provide opportunity for the participants to learn current distribution processes, network with each other, and engage in scenario based activities.
The workshop will include pre-reading materials, consisting of brief pertinent articles on distribution trends and functions and a follow-up process consisting of material evaluation and implementation.
Presenter: Michael E. Workman, Ph.D.
Dr. Mike Workman conducts presentations and performs consulting work on business leadership and personal development programs. He works on an international scale for distributors, manufacturers, and organizations in sales, marketing, purchasing, negotiations, and operations management in the areas of electronics, mechanical power transmission, and distributor services for marketing, strategic planning, and profitability improvement.
**Please note that Distributor Management University is not included with full conference registration. Click here to register.
** NAFCD Exclusive Sessions ** 
Jonathan Trivers Explains New Consumer Behavior
Wednesday, November 9th
1:45pm - 4:15pm Roundtable
Jon Trivers, author of One Stop Marketing published by John Wiley & Sons in October, 1996, is a marketer by training and a teacher/trainer by avocation. He has spent 22 years marketing products and programs. His experience is both retail and manufacturing: Sears(twelve years), Hollytex Carpet Mills (six years) and Abbey Carpet Co. (four years).
Jon completed for Floor Covering Weekly “marketWise: The Annual Report of The Floor Covering Industry.” It describes the industry in the full value the customer pays and projects sales by product category out to 2010. Jon saw the growth of wood and ceramic tile before the market moved there. Jon is a student of the industry and changes that effect how and why the consumer buys floor covering and how the commercial business is evolving. He studies the demographic changes and buying habits of the consumer. He also uses the Census to tracks all facets of the floor covering industry.
Back to the Basics: Peer Best Practice Roundtables
Thursday, November 10th
10:15am - 11:30am