SEMA Member News—January/February 2015
SEMA and ETTN Want to Help You Become a Great Leader
By Marla Moore
“Great Leaders Aren’t Born, They Are Made”
—Vince Lombardi
The Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN) is excited to offer SEMA members a Professional Development Program (PDP) to enhance leadership skills, improve task skills and provide insight into the latest trends and technical advancements.
| |
“It is great to share the same vision with the SEMA Board of Directors and earn approval to fund the ETTN’s PDP proposal,” said Brian Reese, ETTN chair and vice president of engineering at COMP Performance Group. “Our vision with ETTN is to provide a valuable benefit to members—one that is highly desired yet typically out of budget. With the support of SEMA, ETTN can now bring exceptional professional development opportunities directly to members.”
After much research, the ETTN select committee chose three coveted events and locked-in guaranteed spots that could otherwise be challenging to obtain. The cost of these events sometimes prohibits SEMA members from participating. The SEMA Board recognized this and granted up to $500 per person per event in hopes that it would broaden the appeal to members.
“When selecting these three events, we wanted to ensure that each program brought great value to individual members and their organizations while also containing subject matter that reflects current business challenges,” said Sean Crawford, PDP task force member and director of marketing and business development for Performance Motorsports Inc. “The topics include customer service, social media and strategies for making ideas happen. In today’s business environment, each of these is extremely relevant and of the utmost importance for a business to achieve success.”
The first three events cover a variety of skills that will set any business apart. Below are brief descriptions of the selected events for 2015.
Social Media Strategies Summit
- February 10–12, 2015 Las Vegas, Nevada
- www.socialmediastrategiessummit.com
This conference is designed to address some of the common challenges marketing professionals face in social media, customer service, employee engagement and analytics. With seven hands-on workshops and 30 interactive sessions, the program will take a deeper dive into these topics. Attendees will gain a new perspective and develop the skills to better incorporate social media into their organizations.
Internet Retailer Conference and Exhibition
- June 3–4 2015, Chicago, Illinois
- www.irce.com
Each year, more than 10,000 attendees travel to Chicago to hear from more than 200 expert speakers, representing all areas of the e-commerce industry. This year, speakers include top executives from Target, 1-800-Flowers.com, QVC and more. In addition to the educational opportunities, the 250,000 square-foot exhibit hall presents more than 600 companies in the e-commerce solutions industry.
Disney Quality Service
- September 23, 2015 Anaheim, California
- www.disneyinstitute.com/courses/quality-service
The Disney Quality Service course gives participants the background and skills needed to provide outstanding customer service. The one-day course takes a close look at the small details that make a big difference in the environment for both customers and staff. The course not only introduces attendees to the principles that Disney lives by but also provides resources for them to adapt the ideas to their own unique brands.
To participate in the Professional Development Program, members must fill out an application and go through a selection process.
“The ETTN PDP program is an added-value program for ETTN members at large, and any ETTN member is eligible to participate,” explained Regis Finn, ETTN chair-elect and marketing manager of ThyssenKrupp Bilstein of America. “Applications are available online at www.sema.org/pdp-apply. Members can choose all three events, although they will only be allowed to attend one event each calendar year. For each event chosen on the application, members will be required to answer three event-specific questions. Based on these answers, 10 finalists will be chosen for each. As always, becoming an ETTN member is free of charge and requires only that you are a SEMA member in good standing.”
Professional development isn’t a one-time thing, it should be a continuous part of your career. Make it a priority to become more effective in your organization by keeping your skills sharp and your knowledge relevant. Apply for the ETTN Professional Development Program and gain more insights and confidence for your job today and your future in the industry.