The schedule:  The distribution-focused Pre-Conference program runs from 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 3, to noon on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The main conference opens at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4, and runs to noon on Thursday, Oct. 6.

The site of the 2011 ERA Management and Marketing Conference, the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort, is located in Oak Brook, Ill., due west of the Chicago Loop and equi-distant (20 miles) from both Chicago airports. The resort is adjacent to the Willow Crest Golf Club and is just minutes from the Oak Brook Mall and many fine restaurants. This property earned rave reviews from attendees at ERA's 2009 Conference for its ambience, accommodations, food service, meeting facilities and staff.

An early registration discount is in effect. Your deposit of $200 per person or full payment before AUG. 1, 2011, saves you $50 per person on the conference fee. Please note that the fee for additional attendees from one firm is discounted nearly 50 percent!

This year, it just gets better!

Dear Reps and Manufacturers:

It was gratifying to have brought you ERA's most productive and highly-rated conference in decades in 2009, and this year, we are committed to building on that success to deliver an even more valuable program. Our theme is guiding our planning so that we deliver use-it-now information, advice and discussions to help you transition into the "Next Generation" of your business. (New this year ... there is a nearly 50% discount to register others from your firm, especially those Next Gen personnel.)

We have booked an exciting speaker, Dr. Kevin Freiberg, for our keynote and scheduled an update by William Strauss, a Federal Reserve senior economist. We are also bringing back author Nancy Barry, who wowed our 2008 attendees, for an all-new program on working with today's multi-generational workforce.

Our breakout seminar schedule will be packed with outstanding sessions to allow you to customize the conference to best fit your specific needs. And the return of the Pre-Conference Program focusing on distribution will provide new insights into the rep-distributor-supplier/principal relationships that are so vital to many rep firms and manufacturers.

Most of all, please keep in mind that this event is the ONLY place where electronics industry reps and manufacturers can freely network with and learn from each other – both in structured round table discussions and during many informal networking opportunities – about how YOUR company can (and should) prepare itself for the "Next Generation" of people, technology, business trends and tactics.

Please read about the conference details ... then make the wise choice to BE THERE!

Kathie Cahill, CPMR, Net Sales Company, Chair
Mark Conley, O'Donnell Associates North
Ted Curtin, CPMR, Repworks, Inc.
Dave Fitzgerald, WESCO Sales Group
Robert Logan, CPMR, Kruvand Associates
John O'Brien, CPMR Coakley, Boyd & Abbett, Inc.
Gary L. Smith, CPMR, G. L. Smith Associates, Inc.
Tom Shanahan, ERA Executive Vice President & CEO
Tess Hill, ERA Conference Coordinator