'Leadership Connected' in a Golden Setting
The JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona is the site for the Incentive Marketing Association's 10th Annual IMA Executive Summit, with leaders promising access to "the most valuable, intellectual capital in the incentive industry."
The glittering JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona is the site for "Leadership Connected," the Incentive Marketing Association's 10th Annual IMA Executive Summit, which is set for July 26-29. IMA promises attendees will have access to "the most valuable, intellectual capital in the incentive industry" and calls the event an "intense three-day experience" offering "industry insights, research findings, business strategies and tactics -– all designed to help your organization increase sales and profitability."
Two large breakouts, "Leadership & Sales" and "Leadership & Marketing," are included this year, as are breakouts for strategic industry groups (SIGs) to address their specific agendas. Social networking, loyalty program trends, and incentive program return on investment will be addressed in sessions.
" 'Leadership Connected' is committed to providing participants with great ideas to take back to their companies for contemplation and implementation," said 2009 Executive Summit Chair and Marketing Innovators President Richard A. Blabolil, CPIM. "This is a unique event since it is the only one of its kind where incentive providers meet to learn and exchange ideas.
"Our goal for the summit is to deliver content that is relevant, innovative, and thought-provoking. In these uncertain economic times, our commitment is to deliver a significant return on a participant's time and money."
Keynote Speakers
Three keynoters highlight the program:
- Dr. Steve L. Robbins, speaking at 8:30 a.m. July 27 on the topic "Unintentional Intolerance: What NICE People Need to Know." Our biases, recognized or not, guide our decisions, behavior, and attributions, Robbins says. His talk will explain how to be an effective leader in an increasingly diverse workforce environment and a good citizen in an increasingly diverse world.
- Gerhard Gschwandtner, founder and publisher of Selling Power, speaking at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. July 27. Gschwandtner will explain Sales 2.0, a new success paradigm combining customer-focused methodologies with productivity-enhancing technology.
- Gary L. Slack, CEO of marketing communications company Slack Barshinger and president-elect of the Business Marketing Association. Slack will discuss the importance of social media and Web 2.0 marketing.
Other Highlights
IMA says the Executive Summit's format will emphasize the association as a whole and the SIGs.
"Additionally, our role in leadership extends beyond our industry, and we do not want to forget our purpose as a larger community," Blabolil wrote in the event's brochure. "Each of us may feel the pressure of a contracting economy, but we must remember those among us who are less fortunate and struggling for their lives. In the midst of all the business anxiety, we have chosen to give freely to the greater good and the life of a child by contributing to the Make a Wish Foundation. Help us grant a wish by supporting our effort to raise $5,000 to fulfill the dream of a Tucson child."
Tuesday, July 28, will feature two General Sessions, one at 8 a.m. focused on the state of the association and the second at 3 p.m. on the state of the industry. This day includes an international leadership forum and a networking reception.
The final day, July 29, is devoted to the 10th Annual Golf Classic, for which separate registration is required.
To register online for the 10th Annual IMA Executive Summit, visit this page.