May 21, 2010

NFL Quarterback, Inc. Magazine Columnist and AMIBA Co-Founder Headline 2010 GHTA Conference

Grand Rapids, Mich. – The Gift and Home Trade Association, the industry’s leading non-profit trade association, has confirmed its slate of speakers for the 8th Annual GHTA Conference, Jazz Up Your Business in the Big Easy. The well-known and nationally-recognized speakers, with varying expertise, knowledge and backgrounds, will address a variety of topics during the marquis event, including balancing work and family, crafting passionate teams, interactive marketing and much more.

The 2010 GHTA keynote Conference speakers are outlined below:

Archie Manning, Keynote
Former NFL Pro Bowl Quarterback, League MVP, and New Orleans native, Archie Manning will present the keynote address at the GHTA’s 8th Annual Conference. Manning, who has a rich business and entrepreneurial background, will share his thoughts on leadership, depending on others, flexibility and “playing the game.” Manning current serves in public relations and consulting capacities for several local, regional and national companies including Reebok, Gatorade, Direct TV and CBS Sports. He is also active in a variety of charitable and civic causes.

Meg Cadoux Hirschberg, Balancing Work and Family
Meg Cadoux Hirschberg, a freelance writer and Inc. Magazine columnist, focuses her writing and speaking on work/life balance issues in an entrepreneurial setting. She is married to Gary Hirshberg, founder and current President and CEO of Stonyfield Yogurt, the largest organic yogurt company in the world. Having worked with Stonyfield Yogurt for several years in sales and yogurt production, she is well-suited to address the GHTA constituency.

Jeff Milchen, Why Buy Local Workshop (AMIBA)
The Executive Director and Co-Founder of the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA), Jeff aims to help local business and communities by implementing “Buy Local” programs and strategies throughout the nation. He will conduct a workshop, Strength in Numbers, introducing the benefits and key principles for running effective “Buy Local” campaigns, as well as reviewing the readily avoidable reasons most campaigns fail. Whether attendees seek to instigate a local campaign or simply do effective message marketing on their own, participants in this workshop will leave with clear ideas and tools to act on.

Dewey Sadka, Craft Passionate Teams
With intuitive people skills and motivational ability, Sadka created the world’s most accurate personality evaluation system, ranking even higher than the respected Myers Briggs. Without relying on language, Sadka’s color-based system predicts best occupations and all five global personality factors. Sadka has been featured in several high-profile news media outlets, including segments on the Discovery Channel and CNN. He will conduct a fun and interactive presentation at the conference which will teach attendees to empower their strengths and manage their weaknesses.

Heather Lutze, Search Engine Optimization, Pay Per Click, Social Media
Heather Lutze is the owner of the Findability Group, a major Search Engine Optimization consulting and training firm. She is a nationally-recognized speaker, trainer and consultant in Search Engine Placement, Pay Per Click, Search Engine Optimization and social media, having trained advertisers at Yahoo! Search Marketing and other high-provide organizations and companies. Her employment background includes positions with U.S. West, Borg-Warner, and TEK Consulting.

Susan K. Jones, Interactive Marketing
An award-winning direct marketer, speaker, and professor, Susan Jones has been well-recognized for her accomplishments in direct mail, direct-response advertising, and targeted email. She is the author of Business-to-Business Internet Marketing: Seven Proven Strategies for Increasing Profits through Internet Direct Marketing and will hold complementary one-on-one sessions with GHTA attendees regarding their past, current, or planned direct marketing promotions, providing specific ideas and advice for lists, offers and creative.

Dana Eness, Stay Local
The Executive Director of the Urban Conservancy, Dana Eness is dedicated to creating a robust economy within New Orleans, based on strong, locally-owned businesses. She will welcome GHTA members to New Orleans, sharing valuable insight regarding the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the city and the rebirth of independent businesses.

The 2010 GHTA Conference, which will be held at the Ritz Carlton, New Orleans, November 18-20, invites sales representatives, manufacturers, and other industry resource suppliers to network and share best business practices, while learning from national keynote speakers and various breakout sessions. Conference agenda highlights are available online at http://www.giftandhome.org/cms/Home/2010_Conference/Agenda_Highlights.php. .

For more information on the 8th Annual GHTA Conference please visit the GHTA website at http://www.giftandhome.org/cms/Home/2010_Conference.php, or contact the GHTA office via phone at (877) 600-4872 or via email at info@giftandhome.org.

About the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association:
GHTA is the gift and home industry’s non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies and industry affiliates work together to improve relationships. GHTA’s mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA has four major initiatives: to educate sales professionals; to understand and educate the industry on opportunities for technological efficiencies; to support and cultivate the industry’s independent retailers; and to understand and educate the industry on showroom/trade show costs, statistics, schedules, opportunities and preferences. GHTA can be reached by email at info@giftandhome.org. For more information on the GIFT AND HOME Trade Association visit www.giftandhome.org.