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.

2021 Spouse/Social Program at a Glance (PDF)

2021 Spouse/Social Program registrants (PDF)

 

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. But, while Business Program registrants are filling their time with manufacturer and supplier interviews, spouse/guest registrants can take part in the numerous social events. 

 

 

 

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.

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.

Spouse/Social Program Tour: A Moment in Time – Travel through Oklahoma City’s uniquely diverse and historic districts linked together by Oklahoma City’s new modern streetcar system! You’ll hop on (and off) to visit art installations on this guided streetcar tour.

First up – Visit Downtown to see the Oklahoma City Museum of Art’s 55-foot Chihuly glass tower and exhibit.

Enjoy lunch at a Café Contemporary at the Oklahoma City Contemporary Arts Center. The Oklahoma Contemporary is now allowing limited public access to this new arts center. The center is a spectacular new cultural resource for Oklahoma City. In addition to providing a world-class facility for exhibitions, performance and education and a breathtaking addition to the OKC skyline, it serves as a “creative commons,” a place for our community to gather, create and experience art.

After lunch, the group will continue on the streetcar to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Arriving at the grounds of the memorial, walk through time to experience the history, the progress, and a moment we will always remember, a moment that changed Oklahoma City forever.

Walk through the Outdoor Symbolic Memorial, describing in detail the meaning behind each beautifully constructed element. Then, enter the museum for a self-guided tour to revisit and examine the tragedy that shaped Oklahoma that spring day in 1995. This tour traces the evolution of this national tragedy to remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever. We come here to remember.

The group will return to the hotel by 2:30p.

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.

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.