Exceeding Expectations

Furthermore, rather than highlighting a traditional keynote, PSDA opted to integrate education throughout the entire event. For the 2013 show, sessions will be delivered in classrooms (see “Over Achieving” sidebar), in small theater setups and on the show floor itself. “Driving attendee engagement and return on investment were at the center of these decisions. I’m looking forward to seeing it all come together in May,” Sanderson commented.

The goal of the 2013 Distributor Solutions Expo is to be “more than a product showcase with a conference on the side,” and Sanderson remains confident in the show’s success. “We’re tracking consistently with the past couple of years, and Chicago is historically a great city for us,” he noted. “[...] There’s no better opportunity to listen and learn about where leaders in our industry are headed, to further relationships with new and existing channel partners, to see what’s working, and to give your employees a hands-on taste of our changing industry. We want attendees to see that we are responsive, and that we are working to increase the return on participation.”

In addition to its annual show, the PSDA continues to look at some broader goals—particularly elevating the profile of its supply chain. As the national association of this industry, the PSDA is uniquely positioned to help this cause.

“Programs like PSDA’s PEAK awards (the winners are announced at the 2013 Distributor Solutions Expo) help us tell that story. To achieve the awareness that we are after, we need committed, engaged, differentiated companies as members,” Sanderson remarked. “So that’s the goal within the goal—to deliver value for our member companies that are making a difference in this industry for their customers, both large and small.”

This year's show will feature more than 150 exhibiting companies. They include: