The theme of the 37th Annual AIM/R Management Conference held in May 2009 was “Mentoring For Success.” Pictured, attendees posed in front of the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, TX, where the meeting was held.
R. Bruce Carnevale, vice president - sales and marketing at Bradford White Corp., helped moderate two breakout sessions that focused on communication and the economy. “The discussions were very open and occasionally spirited,” he later toldSupply House Times’ publisher Scott Franz. “I came away with several actionable ideas which we have already begun to incorporate into our business. Those ideas alone made the trip worthwhile.”
Richard Berry, national sales manager of Nomaco Insulation, said the break-out sessions enabled smaller groups to openly discuss issues faced by reps and manufacturers in today’s market. “The message was plain and clear: Working together with vendors to drive demand for a sustainable future,” he said.
Berry also said he returned to his company after the conference “a more educated person with real ideas and opportunities to keep moving this business forward.”
Chris Capone, who recently joined American Standard Brands as vice president – wholesale sales, said, “As it was our first conference opportunity, we came away with a very good idea on how we as a manufacturer can communicate and work internally with our manufacturer rep teams to gain stronger positions in the market. We also must continue to reach out with our manufacturer rep teams to strategize and execute critical initiatives that strengthen the position of our customers and grow profitable business at all levels of the supply chain. We look forward to continuing our relationship with AIMR and learning how to be a better conduit for their success.”
Two motivational speakers, Roger Crawford and Tony Brigmon, inspired attendees.
