Industry’s Next Generation Gathers at PTDA Executive
Development Conference
Chicago, Ill. -- April 4, 2008 -- More than 60 of the power
transmission/motion control’s (PT/MC) next generation of leaders
gathered for Power Transmission Distributors Association’s (PTDA)
Executive Development Conference, March 9-10, 2007 at the Flamingo Las
Vegas, Las Vegas, Nev. In it’s second year, the conference
once again proved to be an outstanding opportunity for participants to
master new skills, build their network of contacts within the PT/MC
industry and spark inspiration and peer interaction among
tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Designed specifically for managers, vendor relations specialists and
other rising stars, the program offered attendees the opportunity to
learn the role creativity plays in business; new strategies for
effective and innovative problem solving; and tips, tactics and ideas to
improve negotiations with customers. Held in conjunction with
PTDA’s annual winter meetings, conference attendees also were able
to network informally with more than 100 of the association’s most
active volunteers to build industry connections.
"Overall, I felt that this training was very informative and thought
provoking,” said Russ Chapman, regional manager, Drives
Incorporated (Fulton, Ill.) “I look forward to reviewing the
material and implementing these new tools in my daily work habits.
I believe that new and different ideas will grow from this
training."
Executive Development Highlights
The two-day conference, facilitated by Dan Coleman, founder of
Excelsior Learning, offered attendees a handful of unconventional mind
activities to spark inspiration and peer interaction among
tomorrow’s industry leaders.
Coleman started the conference with an interactive discussion on the
environmental factors that impact individuals and team creativity, the
myths and beliefs regarding creativity and creative problem-solving
styles.
“Great ideas jump out of a quiet mind more than a harried
mind,” said Coleman as he launched into a three-phase
idea-generating and problem solving session. He encouraged
attendees to take time out of their schedules to generate ideas and to
remain flexible in approaching a problem.
First, attendees worked together and identified an opportunity or
problem statement. Using different thinking methods and
challenging what they already know, they reframed, redefined and
clarified the problem.
Next, they “stormed their brains” to solve the problem
individually and as a team. This involved generating and
encouraging ideas, breaking and making new connections, analyzing and
strengthening potential solutions and selecting the ones with the
greatest potential.
In the final step, individuals and teams translated their visions
into a clear action plan designed to build and maintain momentum and
presented their findings to attendees. In real life, this phase
involves initiating action, preventing problems, planning for
contingencies and celebrating success.
With creative problem strategies fresh in their in minds, Coleman
introduced key concepts that attendees could utilize when negotiating
solutions. Attendees were then provided a negotiation case study
and role-playing exercise to put the concepts to work. They worked
as a buyer and seller pair to negotiate the best possible outcome.
PTDA is planning to hold a third Executive Development Conference in
2009, but dates have not been established. For more information
about the program, visit www.ptda.org/ExecutiveDevelopmentConference.
Founded in 1960, the Power Transmission Distributors Association
(PTDA) is the leading association for the industrial power
transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel. A
U.S.-based trade association, PTDA represents 216 power
transmission/motion control distributor firms with over 3,500 locations
throughout North America and 13 other countries, as well as 200
manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry.
PTDA is dedicated to providing exceptional networking, targeted
education, relevant information and leading-edge business tools to help
distributors and manufacturers meet marketplace demands competitively
and profitably. For more information, visit www.ptda.org.
Editor’s note: For photos from the Executive Development
Conference, contact PTDA at ptda@ptda.org or +1.312.516.2100
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