Here are some of the main sessions for Network ’08 events for Thursday, Oct. 2:

Thursday Oct. 2

7-8:45 a.m.

• ASA IPD Breakfast Program: The Future Is Your Decision
Marquis A & B
Dr. Jeff Dietrich, senior analyst for the Institute for Trend Research will present an overview of the U.S. and global economies, focusing on the impact of China, India and other emerging nations on the industrial and mechanical PVF industry. He will examine how, given the current economic conditions here and overseas, United States businesses can most effectively compete and profit going forward. Forecasts looking out beyond 2009 will be included. Q&A time will be included. (Open only to IPD members. Ticket required.) 

7-8:45 a.m.

• ASA Plumbing Industry Breakfast: Conserving America’s Water Resources: Business Sense, Water Sense, Common Sense
Marquis C & D
There’s a reason that water has become a national priority. A recent government survey showed at least 36 states are anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages by 2013. But by using water more efficiently, we can help preserve water supplies for future generations, save money, and protect the environment.
Environment Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has been invited to address ASA attendees to discuss WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by the EPA, which seeks to protect the future of our nation’s water supply by promoting water efficiency and enhancing the market for water-efficient products, programs, and practices.
Across the country, our growing population is putting stress on available water supplies. Between 1950 and 2000, the United State population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled.
Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day – enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses! This increased demand has put additional stress on water supplies and distribution systems, threatening both human health and the environment.

7 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

• PHCC Educational Foundation Plumbing Apprentice Contest
Booth 1001
Georgia World Congress Center

7:30-8:30 a.m.

• Bradford White Breakfast For PHCC
Atrium A
Join Bradford White for this deluxe continental breakfast prior to the keynote presentation. Be sure to take home your complimentary souvenir mug to add to your collection.

8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Test Drive the Construction Contractors Alliance
Atrium 703
If you are a PHCC plumbing and mechanical new construction contractor, you’re invited to “test drive” the Construction Contractors’ Alliance during any or all of the seminars and networking sessions offered by CCA on October 2 during Network‘08.   
Pick and choose from State of the Economy reports in the morning, a Strategies for Improving Productivity seminar led by FMI’s Jason Baumgarten, a lunchtime exchange of ideas and afternoon roundtable discussions focusing on productivity issues facing commercial and residential contractors.

9-10 a.m.

• Keynote Presentation: Make Some Noise
Atrium B & C
Sponsored by PHCC Educational Foundation and the ASA Education Foundation
Ken Schmidt, former communication directory of Harley-Davidson Motor Co., played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history. “How the people of Harley-Davidson were able to turn this great company around, as successfully as we did, makes for one of the best business stories of all time,” he says. His presentation is a fascinating story of building an entirely new corporate culture, of rekindling relationships with customers and reaching out to new ones in completely untraditional ways. After all he has accomplished, his philosophy of life and business has remained the same: “Never do what’s expected, make yourself as noticeably different as possible, and have a lot more fun than you’re supposed to.”
In addition to delivering advice on learning to make some noise, Ken motivates audience members to:
• Energize employees to work better together.
• Win the battle over negative consumer perceptions or stereotypes.
• Rebuild a brand or build a new one from scratch.
• Market products or services on a limited budget.
• Create market differentiation through non-traditional techniques.

10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

• Social Media Training (For PHCC Chapter Executives only.)
Atrium 702
Sponsored by the Association Executives Council
So what is this new and emerging media and how can you make it work for you? Join fellow chapter executives and get a better understand of terms like FaceBook, MySpace, wikis and YouTube. Kevin J. Jerge is director of sales with The Port Network Inc.

10:15-11:45 a.m.

• ASA Special Presentation: Selling In Any Economy By Creating A WOW Factor
Atrium B & C
Sponsored by Elkay
How well do sales people get one extra item on a customer order, increase margins by 1 percent, or cultivate a new customer in tough economic times? Or do they only look to you to cut prices just to make a sale? Leading sales authority Jeffrey Gitomer knows what it takes to distinguish you in any economy by getting those extra items or that extra percent by delivering what he calls the WOW Factor. Gitomer will show attendees how to change listening and learning habits, ensuring that you achieve the difference between a satisfied customer and a loyal customer, and making sure that your customers will recognize the difference between you and your fiercest competitors. You cannot miss this highly rewarding program!
Gitomer, is the author of The New York Times best sellers, “The Sales Bible,” “The Little RedBook of Selling,” “The Little Black Book of Connections,” and “The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude.” Gitomer has emerged as a speaker who provides answers, informs, challenges and inspires sales forces and upper management with his dynamic presentations.

Noon-1 p.m.

• PHCC Lunch With Champions – Brown Bag Lunch And Idea Share (For PHCC members only.)
Georgia World Congress Center
Service And Repair – B211
New Construction – B212
Stop and pick up a sandwich from one of the food vendors at the Georgia World Congress Center and join your fellow members for facilitated roundtable discussions to share knowledge and swap ideas. The topics are up to you. Get ready to compare your business challenges and tap into the knowledge of other contractors at the table.

Noon-1:30 p.m.

• ASA Member Luncheon: Annual Meeting And President’s Report
Atrium A
Sponsored by A.O. Smith
Join your fellow ASA member wholesalers and manufacturers and hear from ASA’s president Jeff New and the newly elected ASA officers for 2009 during the association’s Annual Meeting. Learn what the association has been up to, what plans are in store for the future and what some of our brand new programs are all about.

ASA Seminars

1:45-3:15 p.m.

• Understanding The National Green Building Landscape
International 4
Learn what is happening on a national level within the green building industry. Robin Pharo, president of Healthy Homes, a green/healthy building consultancy firm will review the three different national programs – the NAHB Model Green Building Guidelines, the ICC/NAHB National Green Building Standard, and the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Homes. Also learn about marketing and product certification programs including Water Sense, Cradle-to-Cradle, and others as well as ways in which a business can incorporate information from these programs into their marketing initiatives.


• How To Find And Hire Good People
International 7
What is the key to recruiting success and how can you use it to your advantage? This workshop is geared toward owners and upper management who want to learn new approaches to the crucial task of hiring. This event will show you:
• The Statistics of Recruiting: What are the odds you’ll find the person you’re looking for?
• Being a Bulldog: The key to success is consistency and persistence.
• Employment advertising that costs little or no money.
• Recruiting from outside your local area.
Mike Mayberry, founder of the largest employment resources in the world specifically for the heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, plumbing, piping and electrical trades (HVAC Agent, Plumbing Agent & Electrical Agent) is widely viewed as the top recruiting expert for the HVAC/R, plumbing and electrical industries.


• The Importance Of Gauging The 15 Most Critical Performance Ratios … And How ASA’s OPR Can Be Used As A Powerful Tool To Do So
International 2
The purpose of this session is to identify the most important measures that consistently lead to superior performance in the PHCP/PVF distribution industry, and to show how the annual ASA Operating Performance Report is an invaluable tool for gauging performance. Tom Noon, principal of Industry Insights, will cite results from the recent OPR study to determine what the industry winners are doing. In addition, a discussion will be included that focuses on how to best use and apply industry benchmarks in order to identify profit improvement opportunities in your own company.

3:30-5 p.m.

• Greening Your Bottom Line
International 4
This session focuses on how sustainability is transforming our society and gives an overview of major green concepts. Robin Pharo, president of Healthy Homes, a green/healthy building consultancy firm, will discuss how attendees can incorporate greater levels of sustainability into their own businesses, and also better understand homebuyer behaviors and purchasing decisions.


• “Meet The Pros” Roundtable Sessions
International 7
Hosted by the ASA Young Executives Division
Back by popular demand, the Young Executives of ASA are pleased to host this session where executives who are recognized throughout the industry for their unique expertise are the featured attractions. In this session, our “Pros” have volunteered to make themselves available for casual, round-table conversation to share what they know. Keep your eyes open for information about our “Pros” in the coming months.


• ASA IPD Workshop: The Forces Impacting The Metals Industry Today
International 2
With so many factors affecting the metals market today, it’s difficult to follow the trends and anticipate the future. Join us as Bob Weidner, president and CEO of the Metals Service Center Institute, examines the positive and negative impacts of foreign entities and global consolidation on the supply chain and the forces that are shaping industry competition. Weidner will also share his insights on what the current economic situation and the impending presidential election will mean for your business.