Education Seminars on Tap at AWMA 2011 Show

FAIRFAX, Va. -- With just two months to go, attendees of the American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) 2011 show are learning more about what they can expect at the event, including 18 hours of education seminars. The show will take place Feb. 8 -10 at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.

"Distributors, brokers, retailers and manufacturers will experience an entirely new event as we continue on the path to re‐invent the show with an agenda that will rival any industry meeting. An all‐star lineup of speakers includes leading retailers, industry experts and innovators who will cover the top strategic issues facing our industry as well as best practices and business building solutions," said Keith Canning, managing partner, Pine State Trading Co. and 2011 AWMA chairman. "The program is designed specifically for executives and management team members who are involved with strategic planning, marketing, purchasing, merchandising and operations. Similar to last year’s show, we will offer concurrent breakout sessions each day allowing team members to attend programs that are aligned with their specific interests."

The education offerings will consist of a five-hour pre-show program on category management, three super sessions addressing strategic industry issues and leadership challenges, and six breakout sessions focusing on best practices and business building ideas, according to an AWMA release. Among the show’s speakers are Sonja Hubbard, CEO of E-Z Mart Stores, Jack Parker, director of operations and marketing at Richard Oil Co., and Maureen Maguire, president of ThinkResearch.

In addition to the educational seminars, the show will feature more than 200 leading manufacturers exhibiting in the expo as well as a new Foodservice Pavilion highlighting the latest foodservice products, programs and equipment for the convenience store retailing industry.