EMDA’s 2021 Fall Convention was held November 2-4 at the Omni Oklahoma City hotel.
Mark your calendars for October 25-27, 2022 and make plans to join us next year at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista hotel in Orlando for the 2022 Fall Convention. The information below from the 2021 meeting will give you a good idea of what to expect next year in Orlando. Program and registration information for the 2022 Fall Convention will be available in mid- to late- summer, 2022.
EMDA 2021 Convention Registrants – Distributors & Reps
EMDA 2021 Convention Registrants – Associates
2021 Fall Convention Highlights (PDF)
Beginning with Roundtable Discussions on Tuesday afternoon and ending with the Joint Industry Reception on Thursday evening, EMDA reps and distributors will fill their convention times with member-to-member contact; manufacturer and supplier interviews; and informative and entertaining convention programs.
Meeting and networking opportunities are the main reason attendees and exhibitors participate in the Fall Convention and EMDA strives to provide the most effective structured means to enable such interaction.
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Arrival day for most attendees.
Registration Desk & the Communications Center – Be sure to stop by the Registration Desk to pick up your badge. The Communication Center features profile cards for each convention attendee.
EMDA – Gateway to North America – Get a jump on convention networking with this special roundtable session geared toward manufacturers looking to sell product into North America through reps and/or distributors. A panel of EMDA members will be on hand to help manufacturers learn the keys to creating successful partnerships with distributors and reps.
Member Roundtables –Before jumping in to two full days of meetings and networking, this afternoon is devoted to member-to-member interaction. A highlight of the Association’s Spring meetings is now part of the Fall Convention too. Join Kent Zimmerman as he shares insights into the John Day Company.
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Joint Opening Session & Breakfast – The EMDA and FEMA Joint Opening Session is designed to bring the members together to “kick-off” their conventions with a dynamic presentation that will set the tone for an intensive week of appointments and meetings.
The Joint Opening Session will feature Jack Uldrich presenting “Dismantle Your Thinking to Innovate, Thrive” Jack is a futurist and author who helps organizations gain critical foresight to create success. His work is based on principles of unlearning, or freeing yourself from obsolete knowledge and assumptions as a strategy to survive and thrive. His talk will focus on change management, technology, and leadership.
Corporate Annual Meeting – EMDA’s Corporate Annual Meeting which includes the Association’s annual report to the membership and Board of Directors elections. We’re also pleased to welcome Gene Marks who will discuss “Post COVID Opportunities and the New Administration.” The vaccines are here and COVID will soon be a thing of the past. So what does this mean for your company, your people, your partners, and your community? You’ll learn actions, tactics, and strategies to grow your business in a growing economy.
EMDA Contact Session – EMDA’s Contact Session is designed to provide manufacturers an opportunity for a quick introductory interview with individual EMDA member reps and distributors. The Contact Session is a “scheduling” event specifically designed to allow manufacturers to make initial contact with EMDA member reps and distributors to establish structured times for appointments during the convention week. New this year – The first 30-minutes of the Contact Session is open to EMDA Associate members only.
The EMDA Partners Party – Wednesday concludes with a fun tradition, the EMDA Partners Party bringing reps and distributors together with the manufacturers that they do business with. The party is a “Thank You” to the manufacturers who understand the value that the EMDA network of distributors and reps provides in bringing their products to the marketplace.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Joint Industry Breakfast Buffet – When you don’t need to schedule a full-blown private appointment, but still need to make contact with certain suppliers – why not meet for breakfast at the Joint Breakfast Buffet.
EMDA’s 2021 Industry Showcase – EMDA’s annual Industry Showcase is a highlight of the Fall Convention, bringing suppliers, distributors, reps and vendors together in more than 100 booths which feature products and services of interest to all. EMDA’s Industry Showcase is the gathering place for the industry at convention time to inform potential customers about products and services.
Joint Industry Reception – Thursday concludes with the Joint Industry Reception. Meet your friends for hors d’oeuvres and cocktails at this party sponsored by the two associations party – a celebration of great meeting completed – and the perfect time to get in some last minute face-to face with attendees from both FEMA and EMDA.
Friday, November 5, 2021
Main departure day to head home from Oklahoma City. Or take advantage of group rate at hotel and extend your stay for the weekend.
The Omni Oklahoma City hotel
ELEGANT TRADITION & CONTEMPORARY COMFORT – the Omni Oklahoma City hotel opened in January of 2021.
Omni Oklahoma City Hotel is a true entertainment and culinary-forward destination while paying homage to the heritage and modern progress of the city. The hotel features 605 luxurious guest rooms, inclusive of 29 suites, with dramatic views of the 70-acre Scissortail Park and the downtown skyline. The hotel is across the street from Bricktown and is conveniently nestled between Chesapeake Energy Arena and the Oklahoma City Convention Center.