CHICAGO – Registration for the 2015 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention is now open. Taking place November 3-5 at the Hilton Orlando Hotel in Orlando, Fla., this intimate and focused event brings together hundreds of the top decision makers from leading distribution and manufacturing companies across North America. Attendees will have the opportunity to build new relationships, enhance their business strategy and conduct meaningful business planning face to face.

The 2015 event features a line-up of thought leaders who will share their expertise on economic trends and forecasts, innovative thinking, trends in the building product supply chain specific to NAFCD and NBMDA, and talent acquisition and retention.

• Alan Beaulieu is one of the country’s most informed economists and is the president of Institute for Trend Research (ITR) Economics™. Beaulieu will give an insightful presentation about economic trends and forecasts that can be leveraged at the company level.

• Mark Herbek is a partner at Cleveland Research Company, one of the largest independent research firms in existence today. In separate concurrent sessions for NAFCD and NBMDA, he will provide specific analysis of the growing influence of e-commerce within floor covering categories and building products, respectively.

• Mike Rayburn is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), Hall of Fame speaker (CPAE) and two-time TEDx presenter. Rayburn will teach innovation, possibility thinking and personal mastery.

• Claudia St. John is president of Affinity HR Group, LLC, a national HR and management consulting firm. She will speak to recruiting strategies and people management practices that help companies become more successful in talent acquisition and retention.

Held in conjunction with the NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention, the 2015 Distribution Management University (DMU) is the ideal opportunity for sales, branch and operations managers to enhance management skills and increase industry knowledge.

• Bob Langdon, author of Managing Your Business for Profit, will lead the 2015 DMU. Langdon will show DMU attendees proven techniques to increasing gross margin, cash flow and return on investment, while retaining their best customers.

“With the launch of the 2015 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention registration, we look forward to another year of industry education, business planning and networking,” said Kevin Gammonley, NAFCD and NBMDA Executive Vice President. “This year’s speakers are set to deliver interactive presentations on the industry’s most pressing topics. That, paired with in-person meetings will allow attendees to maximize their time in Orlando and return home prepared for the new year.”

Attendees who register by September 15 save $100 and those who register multiple participants will receive a discount after the second registration. Non-member, first-time distributor attendees can register at no charge following qualification review. Learn more about the event and register at www.distributorconvention.org.

Manufacturers and service providers interested in securing a tabletop exhibit and/or sponsorship at the 2015 NAFCD + NBMDA Annual Convention can contact Scott Narug at snarug@distributorconvention.org or 312.673.5974.

About NAFCD
NAFCD is a North American, not-for-profit trade association serving distributors and suppliers of floor covering materials and related products. Its purpose is to enable wholesale floor covering distributors to be the most efficient, professional and profitable vehicle for bringing their suppliers' product to market resulting in the highest degree of dealer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.nafcd.org.