The EMDA Spring Management Workshop is an opportunity for business leaders to step out of their day-to-day responsibilities to devote time to learning and connecting.
Get educated, get inspired, get actionable ideas, and build relationships with industry peers. If you invest your time in this workshop, you can expect to REFRESH your perspective, RENEW your commitment, and REFOCUS your teams.
Download Handouts from the 2023 Meeting
Information about 2024 event will be available later this summer.
Browse the agenda below or
Download the 2023 Spring Meeting Schedule at a Glance
“The EMDA Spring Workshop should be a “can’t miss” event for every distributor or rep in the organization. While the Fall Meeting is great to network and meet with manufacturers, the Spring Workshop allows distributors and reps to meet in a smaller, more relaxed setting to share ideas and tricks of the trade. I know we are all busy and it’s tough to get away, but there is so much we can all gain by getting together for this quick two-day meeting to learn from each other and share solutions we’ve found to headwinds our industry is facing. We take home more valuable information for our business from this workshop than any other event or show we attend.” — Josh, Ben & Gail Overholser, SISCO
2023 Program Agenda (2024 information to come this later this summer)
Hotel Information
Mark Your Calendar for March 31 & April 1 for EMDA’s 2023 Spring Management Workshop at the Postcard Inn in the Florida Keys
Thursday, March 30, 2023
EMDA Board Meeting – The EMDA Board generally meets in-person twice a year to review progress and make strategic decisions.
Welcome Reception – Join fellow members for a casual reception
Friday, March 31, 2023
Members gather for breakfast before these sessions:
Can Your Business 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 Salem and Jay McLaughlin of RBS IT Solutions, will help EMDA members spot potential security risks before they emerge, ensuring your business assets are continually protected.
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, will help make sure your policy accounts for your unique risks.
The Afternoon is free to enjoy the Islamorada area before coming back together for Reception and Dinner.
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Members gather for breakfast before this second morning of sessions:
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.
E-Commerce from a Different Perspective: Business Strategy & ROI
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, EMDA member Michael Bird, CEO, Spindustry, 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.
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.