Toshiba’s Scott Maccabe presenting keynote session
Kansas City, MO — On Sept. 15-16, 2014, the Business Technology Association’s (BTA; www.bta.org) East district will host its annual Grand Slam event at the Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Md. The educational and networking event, open to dealers from across the country, is all about providing you the insight, guidance and tools you need to help ensure your dealership remains your market’s premier resource for office technology and services.
The event will feature a keynote workshop by Scott Maccabe, president and CEO of Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc. There will also be five additional educational sessions presented by industry leaders, a dealer panel focused on diversification strategies and a manufacturer panel focused on navigating a changing office landscape.
Dealers will be able to participate in networking events that will allow them to connect with their peers, including a welcoming reception on Sept. 15, and a Toronto Blue Jays versus Baltimore Orioles baseball game on Sept. 16. In addition, there will be time to visit with 25-plus exhibiting sponsors, many of which will hold drawings for great prizes during the event. Dealer attendees can also enter on site for a chance to win one of five $100 American Express gift cards from BTA East and enter the BTA District Event Sweepstakes.
Grand Slam begins at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, with an opportunity for dealers to meet in groups of three with exhibiting sponsors until 2:30 p.m. (and earn up to $120 cash back). At 2:45 p.m., the educational program will get underway with Maccabe’s keynote address, “Growing Dealer Revenue in the ‘Less-Print’ Era.” Following the keynote, Ken Staubitz of BEI Services will moderate the dealer panel, “What is Your Diversification Strategy?” The panel will feature representatives from three dealerships that have excelled in new business ventures: Cindi Gondek of ACT Group, Cromwell, Conn.; Mike McCurdy of Integrated Technologies Inc., Twin Falls, Idaho; and David Scibetta of Copier Fax Business Technologies Inc., Buffalo, N.Y. Following the dealer panel, the welcoming reception will be held until 7 p.m., giving attendees time to network with peers and exhibiting sponsors.
Breakfast will begin at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, followed by opening comments and the vendor panel, “Navigating a Changing Office Landscape.” The vendor panel, moderated by Robert Palmer of BPO Media, will focus on what dealers should do to drive further success in a changing market. Panelists will include Dennis Amorosano of Canon U.S.A., Phil Boatman of Lexmark International and James Buck of OKI Data Americas. Additional educational sessions and lunch will follow the panel. After lunch, the final educational sessions will be held, followed by closing comments and prize drawings. Several extended breaks will take place during the day to give attendees time to network with peers and exhibiting sponsors. At 7 p.m., attendees will travel to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for the Blue Jays versus Orioles baseball game.
In addition to the keynote and panels, the Grand Slam educational sessions will be: “The Shifting Office Technology Industry,” with Robert Palmer of BPO Research/BPO Media; “3D — The New Wild West of Printing,” with Mark Mathews of Airwolf3D; “Benchmarked Sales & The Future of Selling Excellence,” with Steve Rolla of Pros Elite Group; “Five New Ideas Using Technology to Secure Net New C-Level Meetings,” with Kate Kingston of Kingston Training Group; and “Service Delivery Structure: What Works and Why?” with Ken Staubitz of BEI Services.
The Grand Slam exhibiting sponsors: ACDI, Buyers Lab, Crawford Thomas, Densi, Digitek, DocuWare, ECi e-automate (Sept. 16 Breakfast Sponsor), ECi FMAudit, ESP/SurgeX, EverBank, Evolved Office, Fonality, GE Capital Office Imaging (Sept. 15 Reception Sponsor), GreatAmerica Financial Services, Impression Solutions, Katun, LEAF, Lease Corporation of America, LMI, Muratec, OKI, OnePak, PHSI, Polek & Polek, Print Audit, RPT Toner, Supplies Wholesalers (Sept. 15-16 Breaks Sponsor), SYNNEX and Xerox.
BTA members receive 2-for-1 registration to Grand Slam. BTA member dealer registration (with baseball game ticket) is $199, which includes the Monday and Tuesday educational sessions, Monday welcoming reception, and Tuesday breakfast and lunch. BTA member registration without a baseball game ticket is $169, and also includes a second registration. Non-member registration with a baseball game ticket is $249. Non-member registration without a baseball game ticket is $219.
For more information, including full session descriptions and the registration form for the event, visit http://www.bta.org/BTAEastEvent.
Founded in 1926, the Business Technology Association serves office technology dealerships, resellers, manufacturers, distributors and service companies. Its core members — office technology dealerships — consult, sell and service hardware, software and supplies with the goal of helping businesses maximize their investment in devices and technology. Through the association’s various educational programs, information, research, legal services, publications and guidance, BTA member dealerships are positioned to be the premier source of the office technology used by businesses throughout the United States every day. For more information on BTA, visit its Web site at www.bta.org or call (800) 505-2821. The fax number is (816) 941-4838. You may also write to: BTA, 12411 Wornall Road, Kansas City, MO 64145.
