The Vernon Company (PPAI 109323) hosted its annual national sales meeting, Vernon University 2018, April 24-26 at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. The three-day event brought together the Newton, Iowa-headquartered distributor’s account executives with more than 50 supplier partners.

“No one was singing the blues in Memphis during Vernon’s 2018 National Sales Meeting,” says Dave Regan, vice president of sales and marketing for The Vernon Company. “What a great time we had recognizing all of our sales leaders while celebrating eight straight years of sales growth! The camaraderie among the group gets better and better every year. I am extremely proud of our entire team. All salespeople should be so lucky as to be associated with a family business like Vernon.”

The sales meeting began with a reception on the rooftop of The Peabody Hotel to welcome Vernon corporate staff and account executives, followed by Vernon’s Awards Banquet, where top-producing account executives were recognized for their 2017 sales achievements.

The next day opened with a welcome breakfast followed by supplier education sessions with Vernon’s Platinum and Gold vendors. The sessions allowed vendors to share what’s new in their lines and offer ideas and selling tips to account executives. Later, Vernon’s Million Dollar Club members were honored at a luncheon, and the day continued with educational sessions— including a presentation from Bill Petrie of Promo Kitchen—before concluding with supplier-hosted small group dinners, which allowed account executives and suppliers the opportunity to learn from each other while getting to better know those they were grouped with.

Vernon University’s final day started with supplier education sessions and ended with a trade show featuring Vernon’s Platinum and Gold vendors.

At the sales meeting, Vernon announced that the 2019 National Sales Meeting will be held at Paradise Point in San Diego, California, and the 2019 Incentive Trip will be held in Cascais, Portugal.