This article was published in the July 2017 edition of NTEA News.
NTEA’s 2017 Executive Leadership Summit offers perspective your management team can use to help maintain business excellence in the work truck industry — despite shifting marketplace dynamics. This annual event will span one-and-a-half days (Tuesday, Oct. 24 and Wednesday, Oct. 25) at a new location — the Chicago Marriott O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois.
This year’s conference presents an expert speaker lineup, with an interactive format encouraging
idea-sharing, strategic planning and networking. Effective entrepreneurship and corporate culture are among the topics slated for conversation. Others include:
- Industry and market outlook
- Workforce development
- Global and political dynamics
- Strategic management
- Financial planning
The program addresses a series of timely issues, such as market patterns that affect the work truck community across the U.S., North America and the world. Economists and analysts will explore factors likely to create challenges and opportunities in the coming year. Industry veterans will outline the current business climate, identifying fleet purchasing plans, employment levels, plant capacity, lead times, forecasting tools, and more. Vocational trucks will be evaluated by application market, with general and segment-specific forecasts on display.
Culture is one of the Summit’s central themes in 2017. Attendees will hear a unique formula for encouraging high performance in the workplace that involves alignment across key elements, including leadership principles, management practices, team orientation and employee behavior. A leadership consultant will emphasize the importance of honesty among staff members and explain how to cultivate a healthy workplace. Attendees will get advice on how to coach their teams to reach full potential — instead of driving high performers toward burnout and keeping less effective employees in a state of complacency.
Strategic management will be examined in depth at this year’s conference. A former Southwest Airlines senior-level manager will outline how to properly engage your staff to craft an outstanding customer experience. Also, a general manager-turned-consultant will relay his approach to work smarter (not harder) to maximize return on investment. Participants will receive practical solutions to common struggles faced by entrepreneurs.
Government activity in Washington, DC, will be a focus at the Summit. Attendees will get an insider view of the current political situation — including an update on the Trump Administration and expectations for the remainder of the current term. The political climate will be assessed in relation to its influence on the work truck industry.
Plante Moran representatives will discuss succession planning, explaining how to customize available options to best fit the needs of your organization. Presenters will review viable tactics for dealing with this challenging topic, and share ideas on how to select and groom future leaders to ensure longevity within organizations.
Visit ntea.com/executivesummit for more event details and online registration. Advance pricing ($399 NTEA members/$599 nonmembers) is available when registering by Friday, Oct. 6, 2017. After this date, rates increase to $499 NTEA members/$699 nonmembers.
Hotel and travel
Located near O’Hare International Airport and 15 miles from downtown, the Chicago Marriott O’Hare combines the distinguished atmosphere of a Marriott hotel with modern accommodations and innovative amenities. The recently renovated hotel represents a first-class landing with convenience, an established reputation and state-of-the-art technology.
A special NTEA group rate of $159 is available to all conference attendees. To receive this discount, make reservations by 5 p.m. CDT on Monday, Oct. 2, 2017. For online hotel reservations, visit ntea.com/executivesummit. Mention NTEA Executive Leadership Summit if booking by phone (773-693-4444).