ERA Conference Schedule

2025 ERA Conference Program – Schedule of Events

Subject to change. Check back often for more details and official conference sessions.

All times listed are Central Time.

Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025

12:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Attendee check-in/Badge pick-up — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Welcome Cocktail Reception — SPONSORED BY TTI — AT&T Hotel Inner Courtyard

Monday, Feb. 24, 2025

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Breakfast — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

First-Time Attendees Orientation — Room 105

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Morning Workshop — “Data and Commission Services for Reps,” presented by Budde Marketing Systems — Room 103

Reps face a growing challenge of messy, inconsistent data. Budde Marketing Systems specializes in transforming non-standard, ‘ugly’ data into actionable insights. Discover how BMS can help your team collect, cleanse and seamlessly integrate clean, accurate data directly into your current CRM and sales systems—ensuring smarter decisions and greater efficiency.

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Morning Workshop — FAQ Session: ERA Mark Motsinger White Pin Internship, hosted by Kingsland Coombs, CPMR, CSP — Room 104

8:00 – 8:10 a.m.

Conference Opening – Welcoming Remarks, Jeff May, Logix, 2025 ERA Conference Chair — Zlotnik Ballroom

8:10 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Keynote Session – Digital Leadership: Future Proofing You and Your Business from Innovation to AI, presented by Erik Qualman – SPONSORED BY ARROW — Zlotnik Ballroom

9:15 – 9:30 a.m.

Break

9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions

        -AI Digital Tools and Implementation at the Rep Level — Room 204
        –The Ever-Changing World of AI — Room 106
        -Leverage Technology to Work Smarter, Not Harder — Room 203
        -Mitigating Legal Risks for Manufacturers’ Reps — Room 101
        -Economic Update: Electronics Components Industry — Zlotnik Ballroom

10:45 – 11:00 a.m.

Break

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

General Session – From Tariffs to Taiwan: Key Economic & Geopolitical Challenges Shaping Our Industry – presented by Melissa Fairbanks – SPONSORED BY MACINNIS GROUP — Zlotnik Ballroom

12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

Lunch — SPONSORED BY LOGIX SALES & MARKETING — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

12:45 – 1:30 p.m.

ERA Update, presented by Walter Tobin, CEO, ERA — Zlotnik Ballroom

1:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Break

1:45 – 3:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

       -Customer Experience Excellence: Building Lasting Brand Recognition and Long-Term Customer Loyalty — Room 105
       -Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy — Room 106
      -Marketing to Engineers in an Increasingly Complex Buying Environment — Room 204

      -TRUE Strategic Partnerships — Room 203

3:00 – 3:15 p.m.

Break

3:15 – 4:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

        -The Ever-Changing World of AI — Zlotnik Ballroom
        -The CHIPS Act and its Effect at The University of Texas-Austin — Room 106
        -Own The Space in Today’s Crowded Marketing World — Room 204
        -Securing the Supply Chain in a Digital Age — Room 105

4:30 – 4:45 p.m.

Break

4:45 – 5:45 p.m.

General Session – Facing our Futures: How Foresight, Futures Design and Strategy Creates Prosperity and Growth – presented by Nik Badminton – SPONSORED BY BRAINARD-NIELSEN MARKETING — Zlotnik Ballroom

6:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Buses depart AT&T Center for off-site conference party — Thank you to NRC Electronics for sponsoring the Conference Party transportation! — Buses depart at the hotel’s Whitis Ave. entrance 

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Conference Party — sponsored by Arrow and Budde Marketing Systems — hosted off-site at Speakeasy Austin (downtown location) – separation registration required

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Breakfast — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Morning Workshop: “Repfabric and Empowering Systems Have Joined Forces,” presented by Repfabric / Empowering Systems — Room 103

Come learn how this partnership leverages the combined strengths of both organizations to drive innovation, deliver outstanding value and develop deeper features.

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

Chapter Leadership Council (CLC) Meeting — For chapter leaders — Room 104

Chapter leaders are invited to attend. Take advantage of this annual opportunity to convene in person to discuss chapter issues, events, membership, COLT and other important member engagement matters.

7:00 – 7:50 a.m.

ERA NEXGEN Meeting (open to all reps to observe) — Room 101

Hosted by Emily Bannister, Rob Brunson, Hunter Starr

8:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m.

Opening Remarks, Jeff May, Logix, 2025 ERA Conference Chair — Zlotnik Ballroom

8:10 – 9:20 a.m. 

General Session – FutureNomics: Navigating Economic Trends and Strategic Leadership for the Electronics Industry presented by Dr. Mary Kelly – SPONSORED BY AVNET — Zlotnik Ballroom

9:20 – 9:30 a.m. 

Break

9:30 – 10:45 a.m. 

Breakout Sessions

        -The CHIPS Act and its Effect at The University of Texas-Austin — Room 105
        -Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy — Room 204
        -Marketing to Engineers in an Increasingly Complex Buying Environment — Zlotnik Ballroom
        -Securing the Supply Chain in a Digital Age — Room 106

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. 

Break

11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

ERA Awards Announcements — Zlotnik Ballroom

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

Lunch — SPONSORED BY BUDDE MARKETING SYSTEMS — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.

UT-Austin Student Lunch with Alex Gabbi  — Zlotnik Ballroom Lobby

12:45 – 2:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

        -Own The Space in Today’s Crowded Marketing World — Room 105
        -Master Your World: 10 Leadership Tactics for Productivity, Profits and Communication — Zlotnik Ballroom
        -Mitigating Legal Risks for Manufacturer’s Reps — Room 101
        -Economic Update: Electronics Components Industry — Room 204

2:00 – 2:15 p.m.

Break

2:15 – 3:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

 -Customer Experience Excellence: Building Lasting Brand Recognition and Long-Term Customer Loyalty — Room 203
-Leverage Technology to Work Smarter, Not Harder — Room 204
-AI Digital Tools and Implementation at the Rep Level — Room 106
-TRUE Strategic Partnerships — Room 105

3:30 – 3:45 p.m.

Break

3:45 – 5:00 p.m.

General Session: Growth Is A Choice: Amplifying Marketing Effectiveness to Elevate Your Personal Brand, Dominate Sales, and Expand Your Influence, presented by Kaplan Mobray – SPONSORED BY WESTMARK ELECTRONICS — Zlotnik Ballroom

5:00 p.m.

Conference adjourns