Registration Now Open - NFPA 2012 Annual Conference

Strategic Thinking in a World Out of Round

The shape of the world has changed. The world isn’t flat, but it isn’t necessarily round either. Some areas project more prominently into our strategic thinking, while others recede. Prominent areas of the past are starting to look like craters, while new opportunities bubble forth as emerging markets. How do you make sure your business has the thought processes, technology tools, and global strategies in place to capitalize on the emergent without overinvesting in areas of decline?
 
This year’s NFPA Annual Conference has been organized with these business needs in mind. Because our members have a variety of different objectives for attending the conference, our featured speakers have been balanced to appeal to decision-makers across this spectrum. And importantly, because this diversity of membership provides opportunities to learn from each other, unique knowledge sharing activities have been added to facilitate this interaction.


Featured Speakers 

Kenneth Gray, Global Product Manager – Large Excavators, Caterpillar, Inc.
Customer Perspective: Business Development at Global Scale
Ken will provide the audience with insights into global business and product development strategies from the experience and perspective of Caterpillar. He has more than 25 years experience in engineering, product development and management through various positions at Caterpillar, and currently has global responsibility for large excavators.
 
 
John Caslione, President and CEO of GCS Business Capital, LLC
Thriving in a Changing Global and Macroeconomic Environment
John will offer thought provoking insights into global business strategy based on the reshaping of global market and macroeconomic trends that has been taking place in recent years and is expected to continue through the decade of the twenty-teens. He will present a compelling case for developing an international business portfolio with emphasis on emerging markets to help balance out the new shape of business that characterizes the western world going forward.
 
Caslione is a merger and acquisition advisor to U.S., European and Asian middle-market companies seeking to globalize their businesses through mergers, acquisitions and strategic joint ventures.
 
Haiyan Wang, Founding and Managing Partner, China India Institute
The China Phenomenon: What Does the Future Hold, and What Does it Mean for You?
Much has been written recently about increasing costs and barriers to doing business in China, a consequent shift in manufacturing to other emerging countries, and reshoring back to the U.S.  Haiyan will offer a view of the future of China as a market and place to do business, and whether these emerging trends might hold true for some types of products and companies, and not others. What role should China play in your strategic thinking?
 
The China India Institute is a research consultancy with a focus on creating global strategies that leverage the transformational rise of China and India. She is coauthor of Getting China and India Right, The Quest for Global Dominance, and is a regular columnist for Business Week, and contributing editor for Chief Executive magazine. As a native of China, she has spent the past twenty years consulting for and managing multinational business operations in China and the United States in several different industry sectors, including as Director of Business Development for E-Steel.

Mark L. Thompson, Partner, Decision Processes International 
Creating a Company-wide Process for Strategic Thinking
Mark’s presentation will describe processes companies can put in place to ensure critical and strategic thinking is built into decisions at various levels. These thinking and decision processes provide companies with essential tools to manage changes in business, technology and the international landscape. This presentation will also provide a framework within which to consider the presentations of other conference speakers.
 

Knowledge Sharing Activities 

Discussion Forum

Presenters Ken Gray, Haiyan Wang and John Caslione will help connect their global business perspectives to the business of NFPA members as they join in a moderated discussion, fielding questions from the audience and responding directly to the challenges members encounter in developing and carrying out their strategies for pursuing business around the world.

Networking Breakfast

Back by popular demand, time at Friday’s breakfast will be reserved for table discussions--an opportunity to talk with colleagues, business partners, and competitors about issues of concern to your business. All conference registrants will be asked to identify issues as part of the registration process. The tables will be labeled with the most highly requested topics so that those with knowledge to share will be able to easily find each other to engage in productive conversations.
 

Case Study Presentations – Industrial Companies Leverage New Wave Tools

Can a tablet “App” really help my company? Do I need to have a Twitter account? How do I choose what to try first with so many options? These are questions that many B2B companies are asking every day as social media and information technology continue to make inroads as integral parts of marketing plans. Two members of NFPA’s Future Leaders Network will share case studies on how they are using technology to develop new competitive advantages for their companies. The case study presenters for 2012 are:

  • Tom Wood, Marketing Manager, Bimba Manufacturing Company
    Proprietary Mobile App Development
  • Charlie Mudra, Head Project Manager, Lovejoy , Inc.
    Social Media: Why it Matters for Manufacturing

NFPA Networking and Adventure Center -
New for 2012 

To help you take full advantage of everything the conference and its extraordinary venue has to offer, a new and unique approach to networking and excursions will debut at the 2012 Annual Conference.
These benefits will include:

  • The on-site NFPA Adventure Center, open Monday – Saturday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm to assist you in learning more about your events, change your itinerary if necessary, and connect with others and their experiences.
  • An increase in the variety and frequency of tours and excursions offered.
  • Scheduled yet informal opportunities to connect with friends and colleagues, such as morning walks and an NFPA reserved area of the pool deck.
  • The on-site NFPA Networking Lounge, open Tuesday – Friday evenings from 9:00 pm – 12:00 am for informal opportunities to connect. 

Knowing how valuable your time is, we want to make your experience at our conference as memorable as possible. And knowing that your business depends on relationships, we want to offer exciting new ways to renew and build connections. This new level of service will help you achieve both objectives.
 

Special NFPA Activities Include:

NFPA Welcome Reception – Renew old connections at this kickoff event on Wednesday night.

NFPA Dinner Experience – “Cuisine, Conversation and Connections” - Meet new people by participating in one of four small groups for a unique dining experience without leaving the property on Thursday evening. Additional registration fee apply.
 
NFPA Closing Luau Reception and Dinner - Join NFPA at the closing reception and dinner on Friday night and experience great food, great conversation and great entertainment, from the minute the roasted pig is brought out of the ground, to the tantalizing Hawaiian meal, to the spectacular fire and ice hula dancers. 
 
NFPA Education and Technology Foundation Raffle – Help support the Foundation to ensure its growth as a sustainable funding source. Enter for a chance to win a Helicopter Tour of the Big Island for two on Saturday, March 10. All proceeds go to the NFPA Education and Technology Foundation.

NFPA Golf Tournament – The South Course—home to Number 15, one of the most photographed ocean holes in the world, at the challenging scenic Francis H. I’l Brown Golf Course is reserved for the NFPA Men’s/Women’s/Couple’s Golf Tournament on Friday, March 9th — 12:30 pm Shotgun Start. Additional fees apply.


Registration Fees and Hotel

NFPA Member Fee - $950

Spouse/Guest Fee -  $425

Multi-Attendee Registration Fees - Multiple attendees from the same member company save $200 on their registration fee. $950 for the first registrant and only $750 for each additional person who registers.

Future Leader Discount - A 50% discount on registration ($475) for future leaders from each member company to attend—providing an opportunity for these select NFPA members to develop meaningful relationships with their peers across the industry while receiving the conference’s tangible educational benefits.

Hotel Accommodations – The 2012 NFPA Annual Conference will be held amidst mountains and the sea on the sunny Kohala Coast on the tropical Island of Hawaii at the exceptionally beautiful Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.

NFPA has reserved accommodations at an unbelievable rate of just $245 per night plus tax, with no resort fees, complimentary Internet in all guestrooms, overnight self parking or valet parking, maid service including nightly turn down, snorkel equipment and snorkeling classes, boogie boards, bicycles and shuttle service throughout the resort. The rate is extended three days pre and three days post conference (based on availability) to allow members to extend their Hawaiian experience. Make reservations online or by calling (800) 367-2323. Be sure to mention the NFPA Group to receive your discounted room rate. Hotel cutoff date is February 3, 2012. A deposit equal to two night’s room rate ($245.00) + tax is required to guarantee reservations at the time of booking.

Travel – The nearest major airport to The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is the Kona Airport (KOA) and is about 23 miles (30 minutes) from the property.

Click for Conference Details.

Make the most out of your NFPA investment by attending the 2012 Annual Conference.