From the President - The Industry Goes to KnowledgeFest

Hopefully, you are off to a great start in 2019. There are a few very important things you should consider for your business as the year progresses. Learning more about your profession should be near, if not at the top of your list. There are many resources available to assist you in becoming the business owner, manager, technician or sales guru you want to become. Every day is a learning experience if you take the time to properly reflect upon your day. If you are looking for a real and highly beneficial learning experience, there is nothing that compares to participating at a KnowledgeFest event.

Why KnowledgeFest?

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran, or a relative newcomer to the industry, KnowledgeFest has something for you. Each event includes over 40 hours of educational workshops with specialized training for owners, managers, sales and marketing professionals as well as technicians and fabricators. The education sessions are not brand specific. They provide relevant information designed to keep your business on the cutting edge.

New products are available from many of your favorite suppliers. Why spend the time figuring out how best to sell and install them when you can experience over 70 hours of vendor training all at one location? Every major manufacturer and many specialty manufacturers will be there to provide an unparalleled learning experience. What you learn will assist you in becoming a product and installation expert in your market.

The best networking experience for our industry is at KnowledgeFest. There are many activities going on during the event and afterhours that offer face-to-face networking opportunities. The best vendors in the industry are featuring the latest in aftermarket technology and demonstrating methods to offer these products to your customers. Talk one-on-one with the people you do business with (or should be!).

You will never enjoy adding to your skillset more than by attending a KnowledgeFest event in 2019.

How to Prepare

Pick your event. Long Beach in February, Indianapolis in March and or Dallas in August. Make your hotel reservation, book a flight if needed and register. Then make a list of exhibitors you want to visit, what you want to learn and who you want to meet. Planning will allow you to reach out to your vendors and discover what they’ll be offering. Are they introducing something new? Are they having a dealer event afterhours?

These are things you need to know to make the most out of your experience. Contact your industry colleagues and plan to connect. Review the event education and vendor training schedule and make reservations for the classes and training sessions you want to attend. Go to KnowledgeFest with a purpose in mind—to improve yourself and your business.

Who Should Attend?

The event has something great in store for everyone in your business. The education tracks have content targeted at owners, managers, sales and marketing professionals as well as technicians and fabricators. Vendor training is great for anyone selling or installing. Regardless of your position in the industry, KnowledgeFest has something for you.

The Experience

There is nothing quite like the experience of participating in a KnowledgeFest event. Education sessions are taught by others in our industry who’ve had both successes and failures. They are eager to teach you what they learned. They will be ready to answer your questions during class and afterhours. The exhibit floor provides all the top vendors in one place, and they’re ready to share their best to help you be your best!

What to do When You Get Back to Your Store

This can be overwhelming because you’re stepping back into reality with a laundry list of things you have learned. Your first thought may be to do them all. However, the best thing to do is make a list, and organize it according to what you feel will have the greatest impact.

Pick one to three key takeaways and formulate a plan to implement them, beginning with whatever seems to offer the most positive outcome. If you are unsure, reach out to one of the instructors or one of your industry colleagues for insight.

Our industry is blessed with many who want to help you be your best. It’s one of the many things I love about this industry. If you find that you have no one to call, feel free to call me and I would be glad to help! I hope to see you soon at a Knowledge- Fest event.