Come Experience the Energy and Excitement of EDS

ECIA and ERA work together to serve the electronic components community and we are thrilled to once again be hosting EDS. This is the “must attend” show for our industry because we bring together the component suppliers, distributors and representatives in an efficient forum to optimize business meetings and connections.

— Walter Tobin, ERA CEO and Bill Bradford, ECIA CEO

With a legacy dating back decades, the annual EDS Leadership Summit has grown and evolved along with the remarkable industry that spawned it. Today, EDS is widely acknowledged as the premier event for the electronic components industry, attracting 80% of the target audience of companies who distribute electronic components and drawing an attendance of high-level attendees.

Be where the action is.
Being at EDS means taking your business and our industry forward. Only EDS brings together the world’s top manufacturers, distributors and sales representatives to exchange insights, focus resources and build new business.

The Industry’s Premier Leadership Summit

EDS has evolved to become a Leadership Summit. In an energized, progressive atmosphere, top decision makers come together to build business. It’s a forum to plan, discuss new opportunities, and reset goals.

The core of EDS is valuable idea exchange. It happens through high-level strategic meetings, event functions and informal gatherings. Business relationships are rekindled and new ones formed.

A Return to Mirage Hotel
Once again, all official EDS activities will be held at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. The Mirage offers a wide array of great amenities and services—with entertainment, dining options, conference rooms and deluxe guest rooms all organized to minimize time spent getting from meeting to meeting.

A New Generation of Attendees: Spark Program — the EDS Professional Development Group
After a successful rollout in 2015, Spark returns this year with a larger class size and exciting new content. Spark is a unique summit within the EDS Summit created to help introduce new, talented people into EDS and give them tools to help grow their careers. Spark benefits everyone: your people, your business, EDS and the electronic components industry.

The 2019 Spark program will include:

• A special introduction to EDS — how it functions and how to best use it
• A schedule of career-building seminars on industry, sales and business topics led by leading experts.
• Networking events where Spark attendees can connect with their peers.

The EDS LinkedIn Group
Our EDS LinkedIn group has quickly grown to become the ideal forum to meet and network with all EDS Channel Partners—manufacturers, authorized distributors and sales representatives. You can join the discussion by typing “EDS Summit” in your LinkedIn search box.

The EDS Connections Café
Since it was first introduced several years ago, the Connections Café has quickly become the popular ‘crossroads’ of the Summit. The Connections Café is located in the Grand Ballroom at the Mirage, and it will be the perfect place to meet and network with peers, relax and recharge phones and laptops.

All-Industry Event
The All-Industry Reception is held on Tuesday, May 7th from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in Events Center C2 at the Mirage. This get together provides an energetic introduction to the week ahead. Reconnect with industry colleagues, enjoy snacks and an open bar, join in on our exciting raffle and have a chance to win some high-end electronics. (You must be present to win.)

Getting the Most Out of EDS

EDS continues to be all about personal connection, networking and exchanging ideas. This is what makes EDS so unique. But taking advantage of what EDS has to offer requires some knowledge and planning. Here are helpful ideas on how to get the most out of EDS.

Planning Pays Off
EDS is an appointment-centered meeting place, and it becomes more so each year. EDS is also a vibrant marketplace—where conversation and conference lead to commerce. To make the EDS Summit work for you, plan on contacting the people you want to see well in advance.

Every meeting is an opportunity to build your company’s brand. Wherever you meet, your company is on display. So, it’s critical that both the meeting environment and your people project the right message. As your company’s representative, you should be easily identifiable and appropriately dressed. Be aware of your purpose and deliver a clear, concise message about your business. And always, follow up!

Make a Splash
EDS is unique in the conference and trade show businesses. Instead of large, ostentatious booths on a show floor, major companies are upstairs in hotel suites or sequestered in meetings rooms in the conference center. To facilitate the interaction among companies and attendees, EDS launched an event mobile app for facilitating connection prior to and at the event.

Use Our Planning Resources
There are plenty of useful resources on EDSSummit.com to make participation as easy and productive as possible, including:

• Best Practice Guidelines
• Preparation Checklist
• Manual for Logistics and Support Services

You can also obtain expert advice from our Board members, staff and from the supporting associations—the Electronic Components Industry Association (ECIAnow.org) and the Electronics Representatives Association International (ERA.org).

Network and Recharge
In the midst of all the meetings, EDS still offers many other opportunities to take a breather and network. In addition to the Connections Café and the All Industry Reception, many participating companies hold events which provide rich networking opportunities for all attendees, such as educational sessions, promotional breakfasts and various social gatherings.

EDS is a resource center and a forum
Your planning should allow time to visit the Association Center, where the two sponsoring associations that bring you EDS also put their resources at your disposal.

For general show info and to register your employees for Spark, contact: Gretchen A. Oie, Show Manager, at gretchen@edssummit.com.

Schedule:

Tuesday, May 7

• Manufacturer and Rep pre-scheduled meetings and Receptions
• Exhibit Hall set up in Events Center A
• Hotel Suite meetings as scheduled
• 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. – All-Industry Reception – Events Center C1

Wednesday, May 8

• Manufacturer-Distributor-Rep pre-scheduled meetings in suites, conference rooms, and Grand Ballroom
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Exhibit Hall open – Events Center, First Floor

Thursday, May 9

• Manufacturer-Distributor-Rep pre-scheduled meetings in suites, meeting rooms, and Grand Ballroom
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Exhibit Hall Open – Events Center, First Floor

Friday, May 10

• Manufacturer-Distributor-Rep pre-scheduled meetings in suites, meeting rooms and Grand Ballroom