I am very fortunate that my role at Davis Controls Ltd
provides me the opportunity to network regularly with some of brightest minds
and best companies in our industry. For
me, the most important of these peer group opportunities comes from our participation
in the Association for High Technology Distribution, the primary industry
resource for increasing efficiency and opportunity.
As President of the AHTD (an association comprised of
automation solution provider and manufacturer members who deliver
technology-based products, services and solutions to the automation
marketplace), it was an honour and a
pleasure for me to welcome members and their spouses to our Fall Meeting in
historic Quebec City last week. It was
exciting for us to have our meeting at the picturesque Chateau Frontenac, the
most photographed hotel in the world. A
record number of members and a record number of spouses from around the world
attended this meeting. Being in the
heart of Old Quebec, we had the opportunity to explore this charming city,
stroll the boardwalk, ride the funicular, taste poutine and enjoy the history
and hospitality of the most European city in North America.
.bmp)
One of the workshop presenters on Thursday afternoon was
Todd Youngblood, Managing Partner & CEO of the YPS Group. Todd is a recognized authority on Sales Process
Engineering and hosts a radio podcast dedicated to the methodical, relentless
and continuous improvement of the sales process. I had the pleasure of participating in one of
Todd’s interviews and was given the opportunity to talk about Davis Controls Ltd
and my role in the AHTD
Our Friday’s keynote address featured Tom Koulopoulos, the
author of nine books and founder of The Delphi Group, a 20 year old Boston
based think tank. Tom was named one of
industry’s most influential consultants by Information Week magazine and his
work has been praised by Tom Peters, who called his writing a “brilliant vision
of where we must take our enterprises to survive and thrive”. Tom’s presentation was both stimulating and
entertaining.
We all appreciate a good musical performance, a concert or
even a symphony orchestra, but I’ll bet that most of us have never had the
experience that we enjoyed Friday evening.
The Painchaud Family of Quebec City are internationally renowned for
their musical talent and entertaining performances. Classical multi-instrumental musicians and
Grammy nominees in their own right, this family of four brothers and a sister
are phenomenally talented and hysterically entertaining performers. This special evening will not be forgotten
by anyone who was there to witness their entertaining performance.
We concluded our stay in Quebec City on Saturday morning
with a talk by Barry Lane, Vice President of Mendel Tours. Barry provided us with a fascinating history
of Quebec, a World Heritage City.
As wonderful as Quebec City is, it’s the people and the
program, not the place that make our meetings so special….Thank you to all of
our members and spouses for the wonderful memories from my five day stay in
QC. Some are even saying that it was our
best meeting ever.
Only six months until our next AHTD meeting in Palm Springs,
California.
