Talks by the sea

South Carolina, US, is host to this year's SC&RA Annual Conference in April. As usual, attendees can expect a full programme of education sessions and networking opportunities. A primary attraction at the event are the session speakers.

The Annual Conference is expected to attract more than 500 attendees from across the industry around the world. On the schedule are more than 50 education sessions, networking events and committee meetings. Among the highlights are the Products Fair with as many as 54 exhibitors; the Rigging and Hauling Jobs of the Year Competitions; the Annual Awards and Recognition Dinner; the Pandora's Box Dinner/Dance; golf, tennis and fun run events; and tours of historic Savannah, Georgia.

A primary attraction at the event is the session speakers who this year will include:

• Bob Gray who will teach the “Chain” system of tapping into the memory's potential. This tool for memorising speeches, presentations, lists, complicated equations and more, dates back to ancient Greece.

• Steven Rickard who specializes in the reconstruction of accidents involving commercial vehicles. Rickard, who was a state trooper for more than 22 years, will be the lead speaker on a special educational session, Accident Reconstruction – Your Company's Future Could Be at Stake.

• Emmy award winning author and producer, John Powers, who will explain how practising passion can help anyone meet the challenges of constant change to; become a better leader, team player, communicator, negotiator, problem solver and creative thinker; and to reduce both physical and emotional stress.

• Award winning businessman and writer, Scott Deming, who will show, “through real life stories and powerful, meaningful messages,” how creating the ultimate customer experience is key to creating a powerful, emotional brand.

• Steve Rizzo, award winner and author of Becoming a Humor Being, who will present The Atti-Tools for Success, designed to “knock down the walls of negativity and fear and replace them with pillars of hope and optimism.”

• Vicki Hitzges, who won a National Press Club Headliner Award for outstanding reporting ability, will present What Mary Kay, Vince Lombardi & an Old Crank Could Teach You, in which she reveals “the four must-know steps that successful people take to get ahead.”

If you have yet to make plans for the Annual Conference act soon. Register by 31 March to save $50 per person. To take advantage of SC&RA's special group rate make hotel reservations before 30 March.

• To review the programme, learn more about the hotel, and to register as an attendee or exhibitor, go to www.scranet.org and click on the “Event/Registration” button at the top of the site. You will also find the official programme, with registration forms for hotel rooms, optional tours and recreational events. Or call SC&RA at +1 (703) 698 0291 for further information. •