SEMA Member News - November/December 2009

Making New Contacts and Honoring Our Best

The Manufacturers’ Rep Council awards ceremony and general membership meeting will take place on Sunday, November 1, from 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton. In addition to presentations about legal issues and the Manufacturers Representatives Education Research Foundation, the council will induct the newest member of its Hall of Fame and bestow the Sales Team Annual Recognition award.

The Manufacturers’ Rep Council (MRC) is ramping up for the 2009 SEMA Show. All rep professionals who are in Las Vegas for the SEMA Show should plan to attend the MRC awards ceremony and general membership meeting, which will take place on Sunday, November 1, from 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. in the Las Vegas Hilton. The meeting will benefit every manufacturers’ rep in attendance, so whether you are from an MRC-member agency or you are from an agency not currently associated with MRC, join us at this meeting. Steven Sack, the MRC’s legal counsel, will be giving a presentation to tune up all the attendees on legal matters. In addition, Tom Wilson will give a presentation at the general membership meeting regarding the Manufacturers Representatives Education Research Foundation and the professional benefits and opportunities offered by being a Certified Professional Manufacturers Representative.

Another highlight of the evening will be the induction of the latest member to the MRC Hall of Fame and the announcement of the winner of the Sales Team Annual Recognition (STAR) award. The awards will initially be announced at the general membership meeting, and the recipients will be recognized again during the SEMA Awards Banquet on Thursday night, November 5.

The MRC Hall of Fame was designed to honor outstanding persons in the manufacturer’s representatives segment. It is the most prestigious award presented by the council and is bestowed upon individuals who have significantly contributed to the manufacturers’ rep profession or the council’s growth. The 2008 inductee was the late Bill Perry of Bill Perry & Associates.

	In 2008, the MRC inducted the late Bill Perry into the council’s Hall of Fame. Perry’s son, Chris, was on hand to accept the honor on behalf of his father.

The criteria for induction includes involvement in the industry for a minimum of 10 years and acting with a high degree of integrity within the marketplace. Professional contributions to SEMA and MRC are an important consideration for nomination, but the MRC Select Committee may choose an individual who has not had a close association with SEMA or MRC. In fact, there may not be an induction each year. MRC Hall of Fame induction is presented upon a viable candidate only when the Select Committee deems that an individual has met the requirements of the award.

Recipients of the STAR award are nominated and voted on by members of the MRC only. It is presented to the manufacturer’s sales team that is deemed to have best dealt with manufacturers’ representatives by providing timely and accurate updates on products and company policies and introducing new products as demand warrants. Other criteria include considering manufacturer representatives’ and customers’ comments when developing products and forecasting, providing representatives with necessary sales strategies, including samples, sales literature and competitive comparisons, and participating with representatives in fieldwork. The winner of the 2008 STAR award was Winfield Consumer Products/Husky Liners.

MRC Rep Center

Be sure to take advantage of the MRC Rep Center while you’re at the SEMA Show. Located in room C102 of the Central Hall in the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Rep Center will be open from 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. each day of the Show. Manufacturers’ reps may schedule use of the meeting rooms with Nancy Lund, but there are also comfortable couches and chairs where you can either take a break or hold informal meetings. And don’t forget that attorney Steven Sack will be on hand throughout Monday and Tuesday of the Show for no-charge, one-on-one legal consultations. Contact Nancy to schedule time with him.

MRC Breakfast With the Students

On Wednesday, November 4, the MRC will host members of the SEMA Student Program for breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reps will meet and talk about the manufacturers’ rep segment of the industry with college and tech students selected for inclusion in the program during the breakfast. Then, after breakfast, the students will accompany MRC members onto the SEMA Show floor for visits with manufacturers. This can be more than just a networking event; several students have ended up being employed by their MRC-member hosts.