PTDA Industry Summit soars

For distributors and manufacturers in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry, the recent Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) Industry Summit, held Oct 18-20, 2007, in Palm Desert, Calif., provided an opportunity to network, learn and build business.

The 2007 program, which had the theme of ‘Communicate, Collaborate, Innovate’, brought together nearly 850 attendees, including 201 distributors and 377 manufacturers, and international delegates from Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

Highlights of the 2007 Industry Summit included:

* An opening keynote address by Dr. Robert Kriegel was on change performance and innovation. Dr. Kriegel provided attendees with real-life examples of companies that have gained a competitive edge by thinking outside the box and re-inventing traditional business strategies.

* An economic update and forecast was presented by economist Alan Beaulieu, who also provided insights on how to prepare for an economic downturn.

* Two workshops featured J. Michael Marks of Indian River Consulting Group, one on enhancing a company’s website to better serve customers, and a second based on information from his newest book, Working at Cross-Purposes: How Distributors and Manufacturers Can Manage Conflict Successfully.

* Marilyn Moats Kennedy described generational characteristics and motivations and provided a handful of tips to improve communication among people.

* Based on information in his new book, Driving Growth and Shareholder Value: The Distribution Value Map, Neil Gholson of Deloitte Consulting explained how to assess operational efficiency and market strategies.

Once again, the Industry Summit featured a tabletop booth program — the Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange (MD-Idex) — that had more than 135 manufacturer and service provider participants. Similarly featured was a Motion Control Workshop and Showcase with exhibits from 25 motion control suppliers.

New this year, the Industry Summit offered members a workshop on motion control technologies and components.

PTDA also elected its 2008 board of directors and Manufacturer Council at the Industry Summit.

John Masek, vice-president, Bearing Service, was elected to succeed Jeff Pickelman, president of Northern Industrial Supply, as PTDA’s president. The new board executive includes first vice-president Drew Tucci, director of sales for Eastern Bearings; second vice-president Craig Faber, president, Miller Bearings; and treasurer Don Latham, president, Belterra.

Bob Ruland, president of Ruland Manufacturing, was elected Manufacturer Council chair, succeeding Bill Childers, senior vice-president, industrial business group, NSK Corp. The vice-chair is Russ Perry, president of Renold Canada.

PTDA also named James T. Moore II, a former president of Detroit Ball Bearing (later known as Invetech), the 18th recipient of its Warren Pike Award for lifetime achievement in the power transmission/motion control industry.

The award, named for PTDA’s co-founder and first president, was established in 1984 to honour individuals who have demonstrated outstanding, continuous, long-term support of PTDA and the industry.

The next PTDA Industry Summit will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2008, at the Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla. For more information, visit www.ptda.org.