Sep 11, 2013

CEO Summit Confirms New Speakers & Sponsors for 2014 Event

International Market Centers has announced enhancements to the schedule of speakers and roster of sponsors for the second annual CEO Summit, scheduled for Wednesday, January 29, and Thursday, January 30, 2014, during the Winter 2014 Las Vegas Market, which runs Sunday, January 26, to Thursday, January 30, at World Market Center Las Vegas.

Two additional speakers – internationally- known author and professor Luke Williams and leading economic forecaster Samuel Wardwell – and three new sponsors – Grace Management Group, Uttermost and The Fisher Wealth Management Group of UBS – have confirmed participation in the event, an executive-level forum for CEOs, presidents and business owners, addressing key financial, operational and global issues and opportunities.

“The CEO Summit will bring together the industry’s best and brightest to address today’s significant business issues,” commented Robert Maricich, Chief Executive Officer, International Market Centers. “This unparalleled educational forum and vital networking opportunity furthers Las Vegas Market’s position as the leading home furnishings and gift destination in the western United States.”

Best-selling author Luke Williams will draw on his book “Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business” for his speech, “Disrupt—Sparking Business Transformation with Innovation.” Williams is an internationally recognized authority on innovation leadership and works with organizations all over the world on challenges ranging from creating new products and services, to transforming organizational processes and behaviors. He is Professor of Marketing and Executive Director of the Berkley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at New York University’s Stern School of Business and a Fellow at frog, one of the world’s most influential innovation companies. Williams is a sought-after commentator on disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship and cultural change and his views are regularly featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fast Company, The Atlantic and National Public Radio.

Leading economic forecaster Samuel Wardwell, provided by The Fisher Wealth Management Group of UBS, will address the “Global Economic Outlook for 2014.” Wardwell is Senior Vice President, Pioneer Investments, and he and his Investment Strategy Specialist team are responsible for providing updates on overall financial market performance, economic trends and the firm’s economic outlook to clients and their advisors. Wardwell began his career with Bank of Boston as a commercial lender specializing in transportation companies during the Carter administration’s deregulation of the transportation sector and imposition of credit controls in an attempt to slow inflation, then moved to its investments division as a fixed income position trader during the years when the Volcker Federal Reserve raised interest rates to unprecedented levels in its successful attack on inflation.

Williams and Wardwell join previously announced high-profile speakers Charles Garcia, who has worked for four Presidents, both Republican and Democrat, and is a nationwide leader in the Hispanic community, who will address the rising consumer influence of Hispanics in the U.S.; Vivek Kundra, the first U.S. chief information officer appointed by President Barack Obama, who will speak about proper IT planning for businesses and the role that data will play in the future to transform businesses into worldwide organizations; and Susan Packard, co-founder of HGTV, who will address “Entrepreneurship: How to Create and Build Great Companies.”

The CEO Summit is co-produced by International Market Centers (IMC) and Eller Enterprises and sponsored by leading sales agencies, key industry service providers and top suppliers of gift and home products. Three additional sponsors have confirmed their support of the event: global fragrance company Grace Management Group; leading home accessories supplier Uttermost; and well-known investment strategy firm UBS/The Fisher Wealth Management Group. These new sponsors join six previously-announced sponsors: Brandwise, DEMDACO, Evergreen Enterprises, Giftcraft, Ivystone Group and WHEROWHERE.

CEO Summit registration is available online, at www.lasvegasmarket.com/ceosummit, with “early bird” pricing in effect through October 25. The three-tiered advance registration fees are: $335 for individuals whose company exhibits in an IMC property in both High Point and Las Vegas; $505 for individuals whose company exhibits in an IMC property in either High Point or Las Vegas; and $760 for individuals whose company does not currently exhibit at any IMC property. Information on sponsorship opportunities is available from Randy Eller at 615-771-1112, x10, or reller@ellerent.com

Las Vegas Market is a leading home furnishings and gift marketplace in the western U.S., presenting 2,000+ gift and home furnishings resources in an unrivaled market destination. Las Vegas Market features thousands of gift, furniture and home décor lines, allowing for cross-category commerce among these industries. The Winter 2014 Las Vegas Market runs January 26-30, 2014, at World Market Center Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com.

About Las Vegas Market

Las Vegas Market is an international furnishings showcase that combines style, inspiration and productivity in an unrivaled, world-class destination. Las Vegas Market features a comprehensive array of new product from thousands of leading manufacturers and lines in furniture, mattress, lighting, decorative accessories, gift, floor coverings, home textiles, tabletop and more—delivering Today’s Total Marketplace. Las Vegas Market features nearly 5 million square feet of showroom and exhibit space, including over 1.1 million square feet of new and expanded showrooms, resources and categories. Retailers and designers can shop product offerings from trend-setters in all home furnishings categories as well as benefit from complimentary educational, networking and hospitality events. With two markets each year, Las Vegas Market is the only major market in the western U.S. offering a unique cross-section of suppliers and buyers spanning the home furnishings, décor and gift industries. For more information, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Las Vegas Market is owned and managed by International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. International Market Centers owns and operates 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit www.imcenters.com.

ABOUT ELLER ENTERPRISES:

Eller Enterprises, of Franklin, TN, was founded in 2004 by Randy Eller as a consulting firm serving companies and individuals primarily within the home accent, furniture and giftware industries. These businesses include wholesalers, product designers, merchandise trade marts, marketing, public relations and advertising firms. Eller Enterprises also offers personal executive coaching and professional speaking to customers in a variety of industries. For information, visit www.ellerent.com.