Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/72524
Working Toward ing 188 representing FEDA member firms),was the All-Industry ThinkTank—a tweak by Convention ChairmanMason Greene and Assistant Chair Joe Schmitt to give dealers and their channel part- ners more time to connect. Huddled in small rounds, they talked about keys to profitability, the 2012 economic outlook and the steps that both dealers and manufacturers could take to become more valuable to their partners. Speaking of the Think Tank the following morning, speaker T MichaelMarks shared a fewof the positive comments he received from those in attendance and urged convention-goers to contin- ue to pursue the path of partnership. "There's a lot of opportu- nity here to create competitive advantage, "he said."The industry as awhole is not going to go boldly off into the sunsetwith every- one loving each other but the industry is poised for some disruptive innova- tion.The economy has come back and this kind of dialogue—where every- one listens and focuses on how to create a mutual competitive advantage— offers a lot of opportunity. If you're a manufacturer, think about your dealers who are at the top of the food chain, and if you're a dealer, think about your manufacturers that are at the top of the food chain…and go have some of those dialogues because there's a lot of money that can be made. " That was the underlining theme of this year's conference, as speaker after speaker talked up the possi- bilities. Opening speaker Peter Sheahan challenged attendees to invest in experi- mental models that will drive sustainable opportunities,while clos- ing speaker Jon Gordon encouraged every- one to"think like rookies. ""Rookies don't focus on the good old days,"he said."They don't know about the past. Rookies put their head down.They work hard and they're adaptable to change.They do what- ever it takes to be successful right now. And rookies create their good old days right now. " 1 8 FEDA News & Views he turnout was strong at this year's FEDA Convention, mirroring an uptick in optimism among the FEDA dealers and valued supporters gathered for the 2012meeting inTucson.Newthis year, for the combined 388 in attendance (includ- Profitability A Look Back at the 2012 FEDA Convention FEDA members & their channel partners take time out to talk about margins, markets, succeeding in a difficult economy and partnering for a purpose