The
Agenda for the CONNECTIONS Conference & Exhibition
MAY 2, 3, 4 & 5, 2012
At the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida!
| WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2012 |
| NOTE: The Smart Business Symposium and the Xactimate Training Program have separate registration fees and are not included with the Connections Conference and Exhibition fees. Please see the registration page for pricing and registration information. |
| 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (bring your computer and mouse) Smart Business Symposium – John Braun, Hitman Marketing; Andrechelle Cermak, andrechelle.com; Joe Kowalski, Principle Focus/Service Monster. Integrating today’s technologies, apps and efficiencies into your business is not only smart, it’s necessary for success. In this one day symposium you will learn everything from why you need a website if you don’t have one to maximizing it’s effectiveness with Search Engine Optimization, Online Marketing, Customer Relationship Management, Content, Scheduling, Social Media (Google, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and more!) |
| 9:00 am - 5:00 pm (bring your computer and mouse) Xactimate 27 Training, Full-Day Program for Restoration Contractors. This program will concentrate on estimating with 3D Drawing. Spend the day with a certified Xactware trainer learning how to properly use the 3D Drawing features to excel on your estimates. This full-day training seminar will cover only Xactimate 27, the newest version Xactware offers. If you are not a current Xactimate 27 customer, you can request a free 30-day demo from the Xactware website (www.xactware.com). Please download and install the demo no more than 2 weeks prior to class. This will ensure that the 30-day demo is still active when you come to training. A stand-alone version of Xactimate 27 must be installed prior to attending Xactimate training. The software cannot be installed in class. If you are upgrading from a previous version, it is strongly recommend that you back up your data files before upgrading. |
| 12:00 pm Golf Tournament Registration – Open to Everyone! Tee Time: 1:00 pm at the Dunedin Golf Club, Clearwater, Florida. Hosted by Steve Boyette, Sunbelt Products. To register, call or email Steve at 800-334-8418 or svb@sun-beltusa.com. ONLY $65! |
| 3:00 - 6:30 pm Registration Opens for Exhibitors and Conference Attendees |
| 6:30 pm Connections Opening Reception – Sponsored by ICS Cleaning Specialist & Restoration & Remediation. Come relax and network with your fellow industry members. All participants are invited. Come get acquainted, see old friends and enjoy the opportunity to get to know new friends in a casual setting. Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres – on the Beach. |
| THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2012 |
| 7:30 am Registration Desk Opens – coffee |
| 8:30 am - 12:00 pm – Gold Sponsor Programs: Includes a full break at 10:10 - 10:20 am - Must be a paid conference registrant to attend. PLEASE NOTE: Gold sponsor programs may be product specific. The presenters of these programs will use their product names and make their products available for the audience. |
| 8:30 - 10:00 am Blow Customers and Insurance Carriers AWAY!!! Interlink Supply – Never seen before, Interlink Supply will unveil the new “RFC” (acronyms revealed at the presentation) that guarantees to Revolutionize the water loss industry. Contractor Alert: Carriers are picking apart drying bills. See the most sure-fire way to get paid. Four years in development and 100’s of thousands of dollars spent to bring the industry a product that increases productivity and decreases waste; Makes money for YOU, saves money for insurance carriers, builds confidence in your company with home owners. We know we’re leaving out a lot of details but we have to be vague right now to catch the competition by surprise. Be the First, to see a Revolutionary New Product for Water Restoration Contractors NO RISK! Since we can’t tell you more we’ll take the risk out of attending this presentation by awarding everyone who comes with a $50.00 gift certificate to any Interlink Supply Company store or Affiliate location, no purchase necessary. OR you can turn the $50 certificate back in for a 50% discount on the new product. The presentation will include a live demonstration of the product. |
| 8:30 - 10:00 am Minimizing Cost and Maximizing Profit – Legend Brands Brandon Burton, Technical Education Manager, Restoration Sciences Academy / Legend Brands. Surviving in Today’s Restoration Marketplace- In a time when cost pressure has reached its highest point and the economy is offering no relief, managing your business costs and implementing sustainable, profitable processes has never been more important. Join Brandon, a recognized expert in the restoration field, for a discussion that will expose your greatest cost exposures, and learn proven and simple ways to elevate profitability. |
| 10:30 am - 12:00 pm The Emotional Dynamics of a Restoration Loss – Jon-Don Bill Yeadon, Jon-Don Strategies for Success. This session will orient contractors on the traumatized emotional landscape found in a typical insurance loss. Attendees will learn how to easily gain the trust and confidence of the insured which means the job will go smoother and finish faster. Focus will be on such facets as identifying the single biggest mistake made and how to avoid it; how to program employee daily actions around common negative emotions; various checklists and handouts will help manage the emotional dynamics of a loss. |
| 10:30 am - 12:00 pm Maximizing Contents Division Efficiency – Fireline Systems. David Mazur, Fireline Systems. In today's competitive restoration marketplace understanding what insurers need is vital. Unfortunately contents division inefficiencies keep most companies from realizing their true profit potential. This presentation will outline a proven systematic strategy of procedures and protocols that can help streamline your contents operation and extract more productivity from your contents restoration efforts. |
| 11:50 am - 1:15 pm Lunch – Outside on the beach decks |
 1:20 - 1:30 pm Opening Session: Welcome to the Connections Conference and Exhibition – Gary Glenn, President of Connections Events. Giveaways: iPad 2 and 3-night stay at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort (must be present to win). |
| 1:30 - 3:30 pm MAJOR KEYNOTE ADDRESS:  Greg Habstritt, The Trusted Authority. What allows some business owners to rise to the top in their market, while most struggle to grow or even survive? How can you become the Trusted Authority in your market, maintain premium prices, and become the obvious choice? In this powerful session, you’ll learn the groundbreaking strategies that allow business owners to differentiate themselves, and become the Trusted Authority in their market. Through his own experience of building several multi-million dollar businesses, Greg Habstritt will share the biggest mistakes most business owners make when marketing, and reveal his uncommonly simple but highly effective strategies that generate breakthrough results in growth and profitability. You’ll discover what the "Commodity Trap" is, and how to gain an "unfair Advantage" in your market that makes your competition irrelevant. You’ll be provided Greg¹s powerful "Million Dollar Multiplier" tool during the presentation, allowing you to engage your ideal prospect, and make it almost impossible for them to deal with anyone else but you. If you’re facing competitive pressure, pricing challenges and a lack of confidence in how to market effectively without breaking the bank, this is a presentation you cannot miss. |
| 3:30 - 7:30 pm Exhibit Hall Grand Opening, with Two Live Demonstrations Absolutely Free.
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7:30 pm |
FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012 |
| 8:00 am Registration Desk Opens |
| 9:00 - 11:00 am Hands-On Demonstrations – Main Floor
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| 9:00 - 11:00 am (Optional Breakout) Insider Secrets: Collect on Insurance Claims and Protect Your Business. Harvey Cohen, PC, and David Dybdahl. These two insurance coverage experts will look behind the mystical curtain of insurance coverage to reveal how to get paid for the work you do for claims adjusters and how to insure your own firm. Harvey Cohen, Esq., Collects money for restoration companies with insurance claims and does not charge the restoration company a penny. The attorney's fees are paid by the insurance carrier. Find out how. David Dybdahl, CPCU, ARM, is an insurance broker, insurance architect and expert witness. His specially designed insurance policies for cleaning and restoration contractors are available through over 300,000 local insurance agents in the US. |
| 10:00 am Break – back of the room |
| 11:00 am - 12:15 pm: KEYNOTE ADDRESS:  Mike Koenigs, CEO, “Chief Disruptasaurus” and Founder of Traffic Geyser and Instant Customer. How to Build Your Platform and Your List with Mobile Marketing and Cross Channel Marketing Reach More Customers Through Multiple Channels by Leveraging Cutting-Edge Marketing Technology. Database giant, Oracle, conducted a survey in 2011. It revealed 78% of consumers are using two or more communication channels before making a buying decision. Thirty percent use three or more. If you’re limiting your business to just a single marketing channel, you are missing leads and losing sales. In this seminar with Mike Koenigs you'll discover how to intelligently combine email, social media, voicemail, QR Codes, direct mail and the powerful, yet under-utilized, text-message marketing. Get Instant Relationships. Instant Prospects. Instant Customers. |
| 12:15 - 1:45 pm Lunch – out on the beach deck |
| 1:45 - 3:00 pm Creative Marketing Through Social Networking – Taryn Pisaneschi. Are you overwhelmed by the concept of social media? Are you seeking low cost to no cost ways to market your business? Then look no further! In this 90 minute session, Taryn Pisaneschi will cover easy marketing and social media tips, tricks and tactics to build your business and manage your reputation. As a former carpet cleaning company owner, she understands your pain and goals and will provide tactics you can apply IMMEDIATELY as well as time-saving tips to keep you from spending hours at the computer. If you've been wondering about how to leverage the many free social tools including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Foursquare, Youtube, Klout, Yelp, blogging and Merchant Circle, you don't want to miss this! |
| 3:00 - 6:00 pm Exhibit Hall Opens. See all of the new equipment, try out the newest products in the industry, and learn from our exhibitors. Live demonstrations include Area Rug Cleaning and Water Damage Restoration. Machine Giveaway: Xaact Products (must be present to win). |
| 6:00 pm Beach Party, Dinner, Live Music ... Just a Great Time! Visit with friends and enjoy a great time on the beach. Bar opens at 6:00 pm. Dinner on the Beach at 6:45 pm - and then stay for some live music and dancing. Machine Giveaway: US Products (must be present to win). |
| SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 |
| 8:00 am Registration Desk Opens |
| 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Hands-On Demonstrations – Main Floor
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| 9:00 - 10:30 am (Optional Breakout) Diversifying Into Commercial Carpet Maintenance Operations. Larry Cooper, Professional Cleaning and Restoration Network. This is an inside view of the business side of opening a commercial division or expanding the commercial work that you currently do. Larry will discuss the management, marketing and operations side of the business with attendees. |
| 10:30 - 11:30 am Brunch |
| 12:00 - 3:00 pm Exhibit Hall Opens – Live Demonstrations. Your last chance to get great deals at the exhibition. Exhibit hall closes at 3:00 pm. Machine Giveaway: RugBadger. (must be present to win). |
| 3:00 - 5:00 pm Pool Event – Reserved area at the pool for cocktails, networking, and relaxing - a great way to conclude the 2012 Conference and Exhibition! |
THANK YOU! |
If you have any questions, please call Connections Events at 888-881-1001, x104