Regional Association Leaders Come Together For LDW
PPAI and the Regional Association Council (RAC) welcomed regional association leaders to Grapevine, Texas, in October for the 16th annual Leadership Development Workshop (LDW). The event’s packed schedule featured a PPAI Board of Directors meeting, a day of planning and training for PPAI committee and advisory group chairs, and an extensive two-day curriculum designed to provide participants with numerous learning opportunities through general sessions, breakout discussions and sharing activities. The associated Regional Boot Camp brought together regional association leaders for an intensive, hands-on training session designed for their specific needs. It featured two separate tracks—one for executive directors and one for incoming and current presidents—as well as opportunities for the two groups to work together.
“LDW attendees benefit from ideas and experiences from all over the United States that add new perspectives for regional associations to draw from,” says Tom Carpenter, MAS, national accounts manager for Fey Promotional Products Group and a member of the LDW work group. “LDW’s focus on open, non-threatening sharing allows regionals to learn from each other’s successes and failures, and to return to their associations with greater insight, and new and actionable ideas for pain points they struggle with on a daily basis. It also provides support and shows them that they are not alone in their commitment to make their association and the industry as a whole a better, stronger and more viable marketplace for us all.”
Ryan Small, CAS, president of Nashville, Tennessee distributor Blue Dog Merch and incoming president of the Regional Association Council, adds, “This week has been an outstanding showing of some of our industry’s best leaders and volunteers getting together to network, brainstorm and strategize to create an outstanding game plan for 2016.”
This year, LDW welcomed more than 160 attendees representing 27 regional associations, as well as PPAI board members and committee chairs. The comprehensive schedule featured 28 education sessions with speakers and panelists from PPAI, and from within and outside the promotional products industry.
“The keynote speaker this year was very relevant—he brought everything into perspective,” says Larry Arntz, president of Hayes, Virginia distributor Larry Arntz, Inc. and a volunteer with the Virginia Promotional Products Association. “We are here to learn. All the sessions have been fantastic and the new format is wonderful.”
At the Opening General Session & Dinner, psychologist and humorist Bruce Christopher’s presentation “Leap! The Net Will Appear,” tackled the fear of failure, one of the most prominent obstacles between people and reaching their true potential. His masterful storytelling style, laced with physical humor, led listeners through a short series of exercises to help them learn why positive self-talk is important. He also explained the two things optimists do that others don’t (leap through their fears and find freedom in failure)—and why that makes a difference in their uncanny ability to succeed against all odds.
The highlight at the Opening General Session & Dinner was a presentation honoring Lori Bauer, vice president of sales-national accounts at Tampa, Florida-based supplier BIC Graphic USA as the 2015 PPAI RAC Volunteer of the Year Award recipient. Bauer was formally recognized for her accomplishments working with the Promotional Products Association of Florida (PPAF) where she is active on numerous levels, helping lead the regional association and volunteering for its trade shows, committees and events. She has lent her experience and expertise to PPAI on numerous occasions, participated in a number of committees and action groups, and joined the PPAI Women’s Leadership Conference this year as a speaker on business communication. She was also named a PPB Rising Star in 2010.
“LDW is a venue that provides a learning and sharing experience with the regional association volunteer leadership from across the country,” says Jeff Shaw, president of Shaw Print & Promotion Powered By HALO Branded Solutions and a member of the LDW work group. “The exposure to ideas and critical thought from peers from other regionals helps broaden the perspective of the issues our individual regional associations face. I believe better decisions can be made, moving forward, when critiquing and benchmarking against others, not just from the past experience of our own regional association.”
Carpenter adds, “From my very first LDW, it was obvious to me that the volunteers in attendance were and are committed, giving and competent professionals who were eager to learn and share their experiences. What wasn’t obvious was how often I would hear one attendee tell another, ‘I thought we were the only ones with that challenge.’ What has always encouraged me has been that rather than a ‘misery loves company’ attitude, I more often see the strength-in-numbers mentality prevail. I have always left LDW feeing stronger and more energized to make my association a better and more vital value to our members.”
Sue Selseth, executive director of the Upper Midwest Association of Promotional Professionals, says, “LDW always provides valuable opportunities to share information and ideas with peers, meet other association leaders, and establish or reconnect relationships with volunteers and staff. A wide array of sessions are offered that incite creativity, promote idea sharing, and provide industry-specific tools that association leaders can implement for best practices. The networking and education together make LDW a unique and rewarding experience.”
Rebecca Mclaughlin, CAS, operations manager at Erie, Pennsylvania supplier CPS/The Keystone Line and president of the Regional Association Council, noted, “The week truly shows how committed our industry is to each other and how our volunteers are truly committed to giving back to the industry. For first-time attendees, this event is the best thing you can do if you are new to your board or new to the industry. If you really want to get involved, this is the place to get started.”
