“The Dealer Experience” education schedule announced for GIE+EXPO 2010

“The Dealer Experience,” one of the leading dealer education conferences, sponsored by Stihl Inc. and Gravely and hosted by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA), returns to GIE+EXPO 2010 Oct. 28-30 at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center. The keynote speaker will draw from his experience as a trainer at Walt Disney University and set the tone for the theme – “The Magic of Profitability during Challenging Times.” Dealers of all sizes will benefit from a variety of resources and programs available through this outstanding education program. Highlights include:

Keynote speaker Doug Lipp, formerly of Walt Disney University, who will take you on a magical and insightful journey behind the scenes to discover a new sense of purpose in the art of customer loyalty and leadership. 
Roundtable discussions with fellow dealers to discuss industry hot topics and how they affect your bottom line — new for 2010
An open forum with industry leaders during “What’s on Your Mind?” featuring Dan Ariens, president & CEO of Ariens Company; Fred Whyte, president of Stihl Inc., and Bill Harley, president and CEO of OPEI
Exclusive early-morning entrance to GIE+EXPO 2010 tradeshow floor
A Dealer Club for relaxing, checking e-mail, enjoying refreshments, and networking

The Dealer Experience schedule will be as follows:

Thursday, Oct. 28     (opening day for GIE+EXPO)    

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.            The Dealer Club facilities open

8 – 9 a.m.                    Exclusive access to trade show for dealers and retailers

8 – 8:30 a.m.               Buffet breakfast

8:45 – 9:45 a.m.          Keynote with Doug Lipp, “Would YOU Do Business With YOU?”

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.           Trade show open

10 – 11 a.m.                “What’s On Your Mind?” – Dan Ariens, Fred Whyte, Bill Harley

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.          Outdoor demo area open

Friday, Oct. 29

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.           The Dealer Club facilities open

8 – 9 a.m.                    Exclusive access to trade show for dealers and retailers

8 – 9:30 a.m.               Buffet breakfast, Dealer Roundtable Discussions

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.           Trade show open

9:45 – 10:45 a.m.        “The Distribution Trap,” sponsored by Stihl Inc. – Andrew Thomas, Ph.D. and Timothy Wilkinson, Ph.D. Receive a free copy of the book, “The Distribution Trap,” when you attend this session.

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.          Outdoor demo area open

11 a.m. – noon            “Increased Profitability When Employees Drive Lean,” sponsored by Gravely – Lynn Pesson Jr., president, Southland Engine Company Inc., Lafayette, La., and Jeff Hebbard, president, Ariens Company Wholegoods.

Saturday, Oct. 30

8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.       The Dealer Club facilities open

8 – 9 a.m.                    Exclusive access to trade show for dealers and retailers

9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.       Trade show open

“If you are a dealer and don’t participate in the Dealer Experience, you miss out on great education geared toward making you more profitable,” said Carl Witte, Maximum Outdoor Equipment & Service and 2009 Dealers in Excellence winner. “You’ve got to come with an open mind because if you learn one thing that can make a 10-percent difference in your bottom line – you’ve learned a lot.”

According to Bill Harley, the Dealer Experience is made possible year after year by the continued support of sponsors Gravely and Stihl.

“The Dealer Experience is a great opportunity for dealers to learn best practices from leading manufacturers and fellow dealers from around the U.S., especially with the addition of the Dealer Roundtables,” said Harley. “Never has it been more important for dealers to learn from industry leaders and network with their peers around the U.S. than during these challenging times.”

Registration details

Pre-registration is required for all educational sessions. The fee of $50 for each half-day session or $85 for both days includes breakfast and all handouts. Pre-registration for a three-day pass to the trade show only is $10 per person. The tradeshow admission for those who wait to register onsite will be $50. To register online for the Dealer Experience and the trade show, go to www.gie-expo.com. Additional details about the show are available on the Web site (www.gie-expo.com) or by calling Sellers Expositions, (800) 558-8767 or (812) 949-9200.

About Doug Lipp

Formerly the head of training at Disney Studio’s Walt Disney University, Doug Lipp motivates and challenges audiences around the world by combining more than 30 years of experience with a humorous, storytelling style.

In “Would YOU do Business with You?” Lipp will take listeners on an entertaining and insightful journey behind the scenes to discover both the secret of Disney’s success and how it has overcome spectacular challenges. Learn how certain skills, attitudes and behavior contribute to exceptional performance to build, win, and keep market share. Doug will share Disney’s “SCSE” comprehensive service philosophy to illustrate how Disney achieves and maintains service excellence and loyalty.  He will zero in on the concept of “great leadership = great customer service,” then reinforce his concepts with examples of successful strategies from Disney and other organizations.

Lipp is the author of six books including his most recent, “The Changing Face of Today’s Customer,” which outlines strategies for building one’s business by attracting and retaining a diverse customer and employee base. He is also the author of “Even Monkeys Fall from Trees,” about the balance of art and science for outstanding customer service.

About Andrew R. Thomas

Andrew R. Thomas, University of Akron assistant professor of marketing and international business, is a New York Times bestselling business writer. A successful entrepreneur, Professor Thomas has conducted business in 120-plus countries on all seven continents. He also serves on the visiting faculty of the International School of Management and Emmanuel University in Romania and is regularly featured through worldwide media outlets such as CNBC, BBC, Fox News, the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

About Timothy J. Wilkinson

Timothy J. Wilkinson is associate professor of marketing at Montana State University Billings. A noted expert in the area of exports and export promotion, he has served as associate director of The University of Akron Institute for Global Business. Wilkinson has written for publications such as the Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Business Studies, International Business Review and the Journal of Small Business Research. Articles have also been published in Business Horizons, the MIT Sloan Management Review and The Wall Street Journal.