ldw-volunteer-dinner

LDW attendees travel to the annual event to learn best practices and ideas to support their regional associations and to connect with their peers.

This week, board members and executive directors from regional associations across the country will be in Grapevine, Texas, for the 17th annual Leadership Development Workshop (LDW). Hosted by PPAI and the Regional Association Council (RAC), the four-day event began Monday with a PPAI Board of Directors meeting and is followed by today’s training and planning session for PPAI committee and advisory group chairs. LDW continues Wednesday and Thursday with an extensive curriculum designed to provide participants with numerous learning opportunities through general sessions, breakout discussions and sharing activities.

I look forward to LDW each year because it brings together the country’s best and brightest volunteers to learn, collaborate and strategize for what’s ahead,” says Ryan Small, CAS, RAC board president. “These folks make great things happen on the local level in their own communities and work to educate and grow our industry. PPAI does this on the national level, and the regional associations are the grassroots teams giving their time and energy to make us all better.”

LDW welcomes more than 190 regional attendees as well as PPAI board members and committee chairs. The comprehensive schedule features 25 education sessions and a series of roundtable discussions with speakers and panelists from PPAI and within and outside the promotional products industry.

Small adds, “I am excited to hear more about the new topics that the PPAI staff have for us this year as well as learn the new PPAI Board’s vision for the future.”

At a breakfast session Wednesday morning, Shelley Row, professional engineer and former senior executive, will start the day with a keynote presentation on cognition, intuition and striking the right balance in the modern business environment. Row also joins LDW’s speaker schedule, delivering two sessions later that afternoon.

The associated Regional Boot Camp, which starts today, brings together regional association leaders for an intensive, hands-on training session designed for their specific needs. It features two separate tracks—one for executive directors and one for incoming and current presidents—as well as opportunities for the two groups to work together.

A reception and dinner tonight will honor a number of the regional community’s brightest lights. Ted Dennison, MAS, of Houston, Texas, distributor TMJ Enterprises, and George Jackson, owner of distributor George Jackson Promotions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, will be formally recognized as the 2016 PPAI RAC Volunteers of the Year in recognition of their volunteerism, leadership and contributions to their regional associations. Jonathan Riegel, MAS, SAAGNY’s executive director, will be presented with the 2016 Donna Hall Memorial Grant, which provides regional association executive directors the opportunity to advance their education and careers by providing financial support to attend education conferences and events. This evening PPAChicago, SAAGNY, SAAC, PPAW and SPPA will also speak on some of their events and best practices.