Plan to join your colleagues and friends at the Postcard Inn this March 31 & April 1 for EMDA’s 2023 Spring Management Workshop. EMDA President Trey Price, Price Bros. Equipment Co., Wichita, Kansas, has put together a program you won’t want to miss.
Plan to arrive in Islamorada, Florida on Thursday, March 30 in time for a Welcome Reception from 6p-7p. Check out transportation options on the destination page.
Friday morning, March 30, is devoted to cyber security topics. Over the past several years, almost half of EMDA Board members have experienced some sort of cyber security issue at their companies. Clearly, it’s not just an issue for giant companies. Friday morning starts with Tarek Salem and Jay McLaughlin of RBS IT Solutions teach members how to Keep Up with a Changing Threat Landscape. Attack surfaces are massive – and significantly different than they were in the past. Not long ago, organizational cybersecurity was like defending a building – a relatively straightforward, one-dimensional task. But companies today have evolved and workforces are now decentralized, with ever-changing borders. Yet, in many ways, many organizations are still defending this new, broader attack surface as they did more than a decade ago. The strongest strategies are built around the right combination of technology, service, people, and processes. With more than a decade of experience helping distributors with IT/Security and Network Ransom/Wire Fraud, Tarek and Jay will help EMDA members spot potential security risks before they emerge, ensuring your business assets are continually protected.
The affects of cyber security don’t stop with the obvious issues. Think your Insurance covers a Ransomed Network? Think Again. Most businesses have a risk management plan in place to cover general physical risks. But what about electronic ones? No business is immune to cybercrime – do you have the necessary precautions in place to help prevent one wrong click from hurting your business? The depth and breadth of cybercrime means that any business that is connected to the internet or stores information digitally is at risk. Understanding common types of cybercrime is the first step in protecting your business. Some of these include: card skimming, ransomware, wire fraud, false pretense and conversion, phishing/spoofing, and denial of service. With so many ways criminals can attack your business, it makes sense to create and implement a cybersecurity risk management plan. Ask yourself: what is in the best interest of the overall well-being and safety of your company’s electronic information? No single coverage protects from all types of theft, but Jerry Leemkuil, Equipment Dealer Specialist with Federated Insurance, joins us in Florida to help make sure your policy accounts for your unique risks.
Friday afternoon is free to enjoy the Islamorada area before coming back together for a Reception & Dinner at the Postcard Inn.
Saturday morning, April 1 features sessions highlighting EMDA Associate members and the services they provide.
Spindustry’s CEO, Michael Bird, will discuss E-Commerce from a Different Perspective: Business Strategy and ROI (return on investment). While it’s easy to get lost in technical details, our experiences over the past few years in this industry have shown that it’s really important to talk about our goals, business concerns, and ROI when thinking about E-Commerce. Following this lead topic, Michael will share additional lessons learned and advice based on spending another year serving the ag community on its digital transformation journey. Topics will include: supporting dealers digitally, ERP/business system integration, and connecting the need for branding updates with your digital initiatives. As always, Spindustry is happy to look at your website any time. If you would like us to offer you our recommendations on your existing web presence ahead of this meeting, please email mbird@spindustry.com to let us know.
Member Spotlight: Farm Show Council – featuring the Sunbelt Ag Expo – Trade shows are always a hot topic and managing trade show activities is an important part of every EMDA member’s marketing efforts. Chip Blalock of the Sunbelt Ag Expo will share how the council and the individual member shows strive to improve their value through education, communication and evaluation, and to provide the best possible marketing showcase for exhibitors of agricultural equipment and related products to the farmer/rancher/producer customer.
EMDA Market Intelligence project (tentative session) – The EMDA Board has been working with Randall-Reilly to put together a Market Intelligence program and has invited EDA to join our meeting to finalize this valuable new service for EMDA members.