Equipment distribution executives must focus on making money - and holding onto it. Unknown variables can cloud that focus - variables such as fragile market demand in all sectors, credit availability, political election outcomes, numerous regulatory and legal compliance issues, as well as a host of trends and volatilities that bombard the dealer-manufacturer partnership. It's up to you to calibrate all the factors and make informed decisions for the future of your company. Hope is not a plan. But a good plan will provide hope as you apply data, interpretation and collective industry knowledge. Economic and credit analysis Equipment industry market data Construction industry drivers & forecasting Techniques and opportunities for profitability & revenue creation Lessons from other industries Election projections and fallout Specific impacts of the health care law Actions for navigating interim Tier-4 emissions regulations Strategies for coping with new tax changes How to profit with product support Principles for smart partnering with suppliers The Westin is sold out. Please call the InterContinental Chicago O'Hare just down the street at 800-341-7949 and use the group code of AED. C-level business content Networking with dealers and suppliers from all of North America High caliber speakers and moderator hit all the big issues Convenient in-out location near O'Hare Intl. Airport Get your questions answered Bill McCleave, nationally recognized speaker and trainer, is president of W.R. McCleave & Associates, a consulting firm specializing in relationship management for industrial distributors, manufacturers and their customers. He is also a leading expert on integrated supply. He has more than 25 years of industry experience in executive managerial roles and has served as an advisor and trainer to a wide variety of distributor and industrial clients. As a former senior manager of a regional distribution company, past president of Association for High Technology Distribution, and a five-year faculty member of Texas A&M's Industrial Distribution Program, Bill brings a unique perspective to supply channel practices and distribution education. Eugenio Aléman, Ph.D., is a director and senior economist at Wells Fargo. Al Bates, Ph.D, is founder and president, Profit Planning Group. Peter Anderton, is president, Stauff Americas, a hydraulics and filtration components supplier. Rex Collins, CPA, VCA, is a senior manager at Somerset CPAs, litigation & valuation team and dealership team. Bernadette Budde is senior vice president, political analysis, BIPAC (Business Industry Political Action Committee). Eli Lustgarten, is senior research analyst at Longbow Research for the industrial manufacturing and technology sector. Joe Mastanduno, Product Manager for Engine and Drivetrains at John Deere Construction and Forestry Division, is responsible for developing the engine/driveline portfolio. Leah Pilconis, Esq. is a consultant on environmental law and policy issues. She currently serves as a senior environmental advisor to AGC of America. Doug Truax is managing partner/CEO of Veritas Risk Services, has just introduced a healthcare captive exclusively for AED-members dealers and manufacturers. Jim Hendricks, Esq. is a partner of Ford and Harrison, LLP, assists clients in maintaining a union-free atmosphere and positive employee relations programs and training. Steven Pierson, CPA, is vice president of Selden Fox. He has more than 29 years of experience as a tax professional in public accounting.