Reconnect, realign and recommit at EDS 2021

by John O’Brien, CPMR
Coakley, Boyd and Abbett
ERA President
jobrien@cbane.com

As we all start to see that light at the end of the tunnel, the beacon calling us all to get out there and get together is the 2021 EDS Summit. EDS will be held Aug. 30 – Sept. 2 at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Yes, it’s in August. Yes, it will be hotter than our normal May time frame, but lets be honest, how much time do we really spend outside when we attend EDS?

The true value of EDS is the opportunity to meet and network with the leaders in our industry and this year’s theme — “Now More Than Ever” — couldn’t ring more true.

EDS 2021 will be the first in-person industry event in over 18 months. Everyone is looking for some sense of normalcy, a feeling of community and a need to belong to something bigger than ourselves and our companies. EDS 2021 will provide the opportunity to do just that.

So, why is it important for you to be there?

• To Reconnect. Virtual meetings cannot replace the face-to-face interaction our industry and sales have come to depend on. EDS provides the forum for industry leaders to reconnect on the interpersonal level that has helped all of our companies reach the successes we’ve achieved so far.

• To Realign. We’ve all had to continue to pivot into, through and coming out of the pandemic. EDS gives us the opportunity to realign our goals as reps, manufacturers and distributors. It’s a chance to all meet to align our common goals of servicing our customers in the most effective manner possible. We update our strategies to address our market needs and decide how best to go forward working together.

• To Recommit. Once we reconnect and realign, it’s critical that we all recommit to one another, to work for the common good of our industry. Our industry has seen unprecedented times but our future has never been brighter. By recommitting to the plans we develop at EDS and focusing on opportunities that lie ahead, EDS will become the platform we all need to continue to grow and prosper

EDS and the Mirage hotel are doing everything they can to assure that EDS 2021 is a safe event. According to the Mirage management, the hotel has increased the amount of routine cleaning, with a focus on high-touch surfaces and common areas using cleaning products that meet EPA guidelines. The hotel also has undergone rigorous measures to provide more outside air circulation throughout the buildings and guest rooms with air filters that meet or exceed published standards.

I look forward to seeing you all at EDS 2021 in Las Vegas.