ERA Conference Program

Conference Program

Please visit this page frequently for changes and updates. For additional information, please contact Erin Collins at ecollins@era.org.


Sunday, Feb. 24

12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Conference Registration

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Welcome Reception

Monday, Feb. 25

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast & Supplier Workshops – Click to view descriptions

• Drive More Deals Faster – Empowering Systems
• Unleashing the Power of Your POS Dashboard – Budde Marketing

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

First-Timers Orientation

8:00 – 9:15 a.m.

Conference Opening & Keynote – Can I Have Your Attention? Reach the Distracted Customer – Curt Steinhorst, a bestselling author of “Can I Have Your Attention? Inspiring Better Work Habits, Focusing Your Team, and Getting Stuff Done in the Constantly Connected Workplace.”

9:15 – 9:30 a.m.

Break

9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• Design Registration Tune Up
Room 301, Level 3
• Diversity in the Workplace: What Men and Women Leaders Need to Know!
Room 103, Level 1
• Getting Your Message to the Customer
Room 203, Level 2
• The Profile of the Salesperson of the Future
Grand Ballroom, Level 3
• Selling More Through Data Analytics: Utilizing Today’s Tools and Recognizing Tomorrow’s
Amphitheater 204, Level 2

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• Delivering a Powerful Supply Chain Customer Experience in Today’s Complex Environment
Room 201, Level 2
• A Dose of (Immersive – Virtual/Augmented/Mixed) Reality: The New Paradigm – What You Need to Know Now Before It Is Too Late
Grand Ballroom, Level 3
• Increase Profitability by Selling EMS to Your Existing Customers
Room 203, Level 2
• The Profile of the Manufacturers’ Rep Company of the Future
Amphitheater 204, Level 2
• Standing Firm: Reps Deserve to Get Paid
Room 202, Level 2
• What Got Me Here, Won’t Get Me There
Room 301, Level 3

12:15 – 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

1:00 – 1:15 p.m.

ERA Update with Walter Tobin

1:15 – 1:30 p.m.

History of the ERA Conference

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

General Session – Our Disruptive Future Economy: An Economic, Financial, and Technology Outlook – presented by Jason Schenker, President of Prestige Economics, Chairman of The Futurist Institute

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Break

2:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• Diversity in the Workplace: What Men and Women Leaders Need to Know!
Room 103, Level 1
• Fundamentals of Blockchain and Its Impact on the Electronics Industry
Room 201, Level 2
• How Manufacturers’ Reps, Manufacturers and Distributors Can Implement a Simple Strategy to Produce Sales Qualified Leads Every Month
Amphitheater 204, Level 2
• Negotiate Like a Champion and Stop the Race to Zero
Room 301, Level 3
• Stop Pitching, Start Solving: Helping Customers Discover What They Really Want
Room 202, Level 2
• Supporting Your Team from Inside and Out
Room 203, Level 2

4:00 – 4:15 p.m.

Break

4:15 – 5:30 p.m.

General Session – The Constant Client: Building Relationships Your Competition Can’t Steal! – Tim Wackel, Founder and President of The Wackel Group

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

50th Anniversary Party at Max’s Wine Dive

Tuesday, Feb. 26

7:00 – 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast & Supplier Workshops

8:00 – 8:10 a.m.

Opening Remarks

8:15 – 9:30 a.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• Fundamentals of Blockchain and Its Impact on the Electronics Industry
Room 203, Level 2
• Increase Profitability by Selling EMS to Your Existing Customers
Room 201, Level 2
• Standing Firm: Reps Deserve to Get Paid
Room 202, Level 2
• Stop Pitching, Start Solving: Helping Customers Discover What They Really Want
Room 301, Level 3
• Supporting Your Team from Inside and Out
Amphitheater 204, Level 2

9:30 – 9:45 a.m.

Break

9:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• Delivering a Powerful Supply Chain Customer Experience in Today’s Complex Environment
Room 201, Level 2
• Design Registration Tune Up
Room 106, Level 1
• Getting Your Message to the Customer
Room 203, Level 2
• How Manufacturers’ Reps, Manufacturers and Distributors Can Implement a Simple Strategy to Produce Sales Qualified Leads Every Month
Amphitheater 204, Level 2
• What Got Me Here, Won’t Get Me There
Room 301, Level 3

11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

Break

11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Awards Announcements

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lunch – SPARK Presentation

12:45 – 2:00 p.m.

General Session – I See What You Are Thinking: The Power of Nonverbal Communication – Linda Clemons, CEO of Sisterpreneur Inc.

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions – Click to view descriptions

• A Dose of (Immersive – Virtual/Augmented/Mixed) Reality: The New Paradigm – What You Need to Know Now Before It Is Too Late
Room 201, Level 2
• Negotiate Like a Champion and Stop the Race to Zero
Room 301, Level 3
• The Profile of the Manufacturers’ Rep Company of the Future
Room 203, Level 2
• The Profile of the Salesperson of the Future
Amphitheater 204, Level 2
• Selling More Through Data Analytics: Utilizing Today’s Tools and Recognizing Tomorrow’s
Room 106, Level 1

3:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Break

3:45 – 4:00 p.m.

Mark Larson Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation

4:00 – 5:15 p.m.

Closing General Session – Technology in the Roaring 20s: How the Tech Party Rages On In the 2020s – Michael Knight, President, TTI Semiconductor Group (TSG) and Senior Vice President Corporate Business Development, TTI Inc.

5:15 p.m.

Conference Adjourns