Midwest Propane Gas Convention & Trade Show
collage graphic of propane uses

Agenda

Thursday, April 29, 2010  
11:00 a.m.  Box Lunch/Golf Outing
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.   Registration       
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.   Truck Move-In        
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  Opening Reception 
   
Friday, April 30, 2010  
7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Registration
8:00 a.m.  Excel to have all items at Exhibitor Booths
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  MI, KY, IN, OH Bd Mtgs 
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Exhibitor Move-In
12:00 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.  Lunch on Own
1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker (Upbeat/Motivational)
2:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. PERC Training Seminar
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Educational Seminars 
4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Trade Show
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Happy Hour on the Trade Show Floor
   
Saturday, May 1, 2010  
7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Registration
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Educational Seminars
8:30 a.m. Spouse Event
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Trade Show
11:00 a.m.  Silent Auction Closes
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.  Trade Show Move-Out
12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Supply Seminar/Luncheon

 

Convention Highlights

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Golf Outing
11:00 a.m.

Brickyard Crossing
Cost: $145

Enjoy the challenge of one of the finest golf courses in the Midwest! Play a round of golf with 3 of your friends or ask to be paired up with a group to meet new friends. A round of golf at the Brickyard Crossing and a box lunch is $145. Register early; there are a limited number of spaces available.

Opening Reception
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Back by popular demand is the Opening Reception. Visit with old friends and make new ones while enjoying drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the Westin Hotel on Thursday. This event makes networking easier then ever before. You won’t want to miss it!

Friday, April 30, 2010

Happy Hour & Trade Show
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Be the first to see the latest products and services offered by exhibitors when the trade show opens.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Spouse Event - Nordstrom Fashion Seminar
8:30 a.m.

Nordstrom Circle Center

Come to Nordstrom to enjoy the latest in colored jersey and cotton sundresses with flattering feminine details for a dressier style which looks great day or night. Pair it with a denim jacket and sneakers or with a floppy hat and flip flops, perfect for the beach. Then, when the sun sets elevate the dress by pairing it with a sleek wedge and glamorous accessories. Let our experts show you the perfect lightweight tanks that can be worn from the beach to the boardwalk. Top it all off with a breezy skirt and casual summer bottoms and you will be set to parade the streets from sun up to sun down. Get the knowledge you need to make a splash in fashion this summer while enjoying a delicious breakfast.

Detailed Agenda

Friday, April 30, 2010

1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Keynote
Winning the Word of Mouth Game

If you are looking to improve customer service, you don’t want to miss this entertaining keynote intended for all employees, regardless of position or job function. During this powerful seminar, you will:

  • Identify and understand customers' needs
  • Understand why customers leave and why they stay
  • Discover effective communication skills to avoid misunderstandings
  • Learn how to give customers bad news while minimizing negative results
  • Determine policy and procedure to solve, rather than exacerbate problems
  • Learn to make the telephone an asset for building customer good-will
  • Obtain the tools to handle angry customers effectively
  • Learn how to turn complaints into "opportunities to shine"

Presenter: Larry Johnson, Johnson Training Group

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Effective Safety Management Ideas That Improve the Bottom Line for Companies Big and Small

Safety is not a profit center and does not bring money in through a company’s front door. What it does, however, is help make sure that hard-earned profits do not fly out the back door. Safety management programs can help contain both hard and soft costs such as litigation, workers’ compensation, retraining, rehiring, and purchasing new equipment. Find out how your PERC investment continues to develop safety initiatives -- in workforce training, consumer education, and methods to interact with your local fire department, among other areas -- that are simple to deliver, technically accurate, easily understood by their intended audiences, and cost effective. Propane's exemplary safety record is a major industry asset and a catalyst for increased sales and profits.

Presenter: Stuart Flatow, Vice President, Safety & Training, Propane Education & Research Council

3:45 PM – 4:45 PM
The Two Types - What You Need And What You Can Afford!

  • Develop an understanding of the importance and use of long-term and short-term marketing
  • Discover how to determine the right balance between short- and long-term marketing to invest in for your unique business
  • Determine how to build a marketing plan that matches your overall marketing objectives

Marketing can be very elusive as to what you really need and what you can afford. Do you need brand marketing or do you need immediate sales marketing? What’s the difference? Marketing can be like a leaky faucet - you know it’s costing you money, you know you need to address the situation, but you never give it the full attention it deserves. This session will provide you with a basic plan to understand what marketing you need and what you can afford. We will discuss balancing a marketing budget to address long term marketing (brand building) and short term marketing (immediate sales) needs. An effective marketing plan has both elements for sowing seeds of success. How do you determine how much to spend?

Presenter: Andrea Young, Propane Resources

Networking Technology Workshop (NT101)

• Introduction to professional and personal social networking technology and what you need to know to get started
• Explore various types of networks discussed: LinkedIn, Twitter, FaceBook
• Discover why social networks are important to you and your business

Join the Young Gassers for this timely, relevant and important workshop that offers an introductory look at professional and personal social networking technology. How is it relevant to the propane industry? What do you need to know to get started? Should you get started? Discover why social networks are important to you and your business. This is an introductory level workshop. Come prepared to ask questions, and bring your wireless enabled laptops, or smart phones to class for hands on exercises.

Presenters: Jim Renaldo, Director of Sales & Marketing, Renaldo Sales & Service, Inc., NORCO Propane Energy Services, and Niagara Energy, LLC and Member Young Gassers Board of Advisors.  Jeremy LeRay, Systems Administrator, Liberty Propane.  Mathew Jones, Account Executive, K&K Management Solutions. 

Superior Customer Service

  • Increase significantly your customer service levels, selling skills and how to retain customers
  • Obtain a better understanding of how prospects/customers should be handled
  • Recognize the importance of how each touch will make or break your company's future success
  • Explore how to handle price inquires fluently and turn them into sales opportunities

Customer Service Reps are often the only contact customers/prospects have with your company. How are your employees handling those opportunities? Do they impress your customers, promote your capabilities and generate new sales? Or are they leaving a negative impression due to a lack of proper training? This session will provide your employees with solid skills on identifying up-sell opportunities, techniques to build customer rapport, selling company value versus price, methods to secure sales & asking for the order, and how to end a call on a positive note by thanking the customer.

Presenter: Rich Cordisco, VP Regional Manager, and David Lowe, Sales Consultant, Pro Image Communications

Saturday, May 1, 2010

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Networking Technology Workshop (NT401)

  • Participate in an in-depth discussion on Professional Social Networking
  • Discover why you should avoid the pitfalls of "Personal" Social Networks like FaceBook and MySpace for business purposes
  • Explore techniques and tips on implementing the internet into your networking and marketing plans. 
  • Obtain answers to your questions and concerns in a small work group setting

This is an advanced level workshop that picks up where NT101 left off. It's an in-depth discussion and hands-on workshop that explores the mechanics and structure of Professional Social Networking. Learn why you need to avoid the pitfalls of "Personal" Social Networks like FaceBook and MySpace for business purposes. The class is going to break into small work groups of 10, or so, to address specific questions and offer techniques and tips on implementing the internet into your networking and marketing plans. Come prepared with questions and concerns. We'll address them on the spot. Bring your wireless enabled laptops, or smart phones to class for hands on technical advise. 

Presenters: Jim Renaldo, Director of Sales & Marketing, Renaldo Sales & Service, Inc., NORCO Propane Energy Services, and Niagara Energy, LLC and Member Young Gassers Board of Advisors.  Jeremy LeRay, Systems Administrator, Liberty Propane.  Mathew Jones, Account Executive, K&K Management Solutions. 

In the Line of Fire-Real Life Examples of Deposition and Trial Testimony in Propane Litigation

  • Determine the importance of litigation testimony
  • Discover the importance of risk management
  • Explore propane litigation issues/problems

Videos, written transcripts and other materials from real propane litigation cases will highlight the importance of litigation testimony and how it can be used to your benefit and detriment. An understanding of the litigation process is of the upmost importance so don’t miss this beneficial session.

Presenters: John McCoy, President/Attorney, Matthew Rosek, Attorney, and Eugene Laflamme, Attorney, McCoy & Hofbauer, S.C.

Low Ball Price

  • Analyze the various pricing options
  • Determine short-term and long-term implications of pricing
  • Discover how you can build value in a low margin environment

What happens when margins aren’t available? We will discuss different ways you can use price as a way to gain market share and what short term as well as long term implications it can have on your business. How do you build value when margins are thin? This session will show that it is possible to operate in an environment of lower margins and still build value in a company. We will discuss various paths to take: Cut & Match, Premium Service with a Premium Price, Low Price, Mid Quadrant, as well as have price comparisons in different areas of the country to show how there can be anywhere from 20 cpg to over $1 a gallon swings from the lowest to highest priced retailer.

Presenter: Daniel Dixon, Propane Resources

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Supply Seminar - US Propane Market Supply Analysis & Lunch

Explore the current outlook for U.S. propane supplies, and obtain an overview of highlights and conclusions drawn from Purvin & Gertz's study of U.S. propane market infrastructure and deliverability. The study was commissioned by PERC upon recommendation by the Propane Infrastructure Task Force of the NPGA's International Committee. Lunch will be served before the seminar.

Presenter: Craig Whitley, Senior Partner, Whitley, Purvin & Gertz