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The 2020 Marketing & Distribution Convention in Orlando will be different. That is inevitable.

Different, however, need not be inferior. This Association, in cooperation with the �鶹app  Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA), is committed to hosting a convention that is safe and worth your time. If we cannot deliver an event that we are confident will meet your expectations, we will pursue alternatives.

The meeting in Orlando will include the traditional Contact Session and Marketplace, the association’s structured meet-and-greets between equipment manufacturers and marketers. Manufacturers and marketers also will be together during two breakfast sessions, one of which includes the keynote speaker, a reception, and of course impromptu hallway conversations. This meeting, like every fall meeting, also will include the time and space for one-on-one sales meetings.

The Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista features seven dining options and is within walking distance of Disney Springs, a shopping, dining, and entertainment district.

The hotel and Association are working together on strategies to create a safe, productive meeting. The Hilton has launched EventReady with CleanStay, which employs best practices for physical distancing, cleaning, sanitizing, and food and beverage distribution. Learn more about the effort at FarmEquip.org.

The Association has put together a speaker lineup that we hope will give attendees a firmer grasp on how to navigate business amid the uncertainty of COVID-19.

Futurist

David Houle will open the convention. He is a futurist, writer and speaker who has advised more than 4,500 CEOs and business owners.

Houle spent more than 20 years in media and entertainment. He has won two Emmys, the prestigious George Foster Peabody award and the Heartland award for “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream.” He also was nominated for an Academy Award.

Houle has authored nine books about the future. Among them was a book defining the 2020s as the most disruptive decade in history. His areas of focus include brands and marketing, health care, and education.

Political/Economic Analysis

Ray Starling joined the White House staff in 2017 as special assistant to the president for agricultural policy. In 2018, he became chief of staff for USDA’s Sonny Perdue. He returned to his home state of North Carolina in 2019 to serve as general counsel to the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce. In spite of his remarkable career, Starling said the experience in his life that has most shaped him is growing up on a family farm.

Starling will offer analysis of how national and state elections may influence the economy, the regulatory environment, trade, and taxes.

How Have We Changed?

The Association will bring a panel on stage to discuss how COVID-19 may influence manufacturing and the workplace, the supply chain, and sales.

Steve Wilson will focus on manufacturing. He is a consultant, coach, and trainer who has worked with hundreds of companies, including Deere.

Aleisia Dragon is a senior account executive for the West at YRC Worldwide. She will discuss changes to the supply chain.

Greg Martinelli will focus on the new normal in sales and marketing. He is a trainer and coach who specializes in agricultural sales. He also is author of A Season for Sales.

After the panel discussion, the speakers will lead breakout sessions to explore their topics in more detail and respond to questions.

State of Readiness—Series Kickoff

Wilson, part of the “How Have We Changed?” panel, also will lead a session on operational excellence. Wilson was originally scheduled to kick off a five-part series at the 2020 Supply Summit.

His first session will focus on readiness—achieving it and sustaining it in your pursuit of excellence. It will be the first of three convention appearances and two webinars.

In addition to his work as coach and trainer, Wilson has worked as an operations manager with Federal Express, a service manager in the automotive and IT industries, and a quality improvement manager for a healthcare provider.