2023 Post-Conference: Session Descriptions, Files & Audio Recordings

Below are presentations, handout materials and audio recording files for sessions at the 2023 ERA Conference.

Please note: only sessions that took place in the main ballroom have audio recording files available.  These include: the keynote session presentation, all four general sessions and five breakout sessions that were hosted in the main ballroom. Also provided are Walter Tobin’s ERA Update and all awards presentations.

Questions? Contact ecollins@era.org.

Meridith Elliott Powell, Award-Winning Author, Certified Speaking Professional, Business Strategist

“THRIVE: Turn Uncertainty to Your Competitive Advantage”

These are unprecedented times! A marketplace where disruption is happening on steroids. One where there is more change building outside of your organization than in it. And a relentless pace of uncertainty that can radically impact your ability to grow your organization and keep your team motivated. The only guarantee you have is more change is coming. And if you’re not prepared – if you don’t have a plan – research proves this level of uncertainty will negatively impact your ability to drive innovation, attract top talent and achieve bottom line results.

While uncertainty can seem daunting, the truth is uncertainty has an upside – it always has an upside. In fact, it can be your greatest asset to thrive, grow and turn disruption into opportunity. But you need a plan, you need a strategy, and you need the research that shows you exactly how to turn disruption to opportunity.

Join business growth strategist Meridith Elliott Powell in this high-powered keynote where she reveals the research, the stories and the methodology. This keynote has it all – energy, engagement, and a personal plan of action for every attendee.

Bernard Baumohl, Chief Global Economist at the Economic Outlook Group

“Navigating Through Economic Uncertainty”

The economic and geopolitical order that has held for nearly a century is no more. The multiple shocks of the past three years have fundamentally transformed how people live and work. Every company, regardless of size, is now experimenting and testing out new strategies on how to operate successfully in this new and still evolving business landscape. But it all begins with having more clarity on where the U.S. and international economy is headed. So what is the outlook for consumer and business spending, inflation, interest rates, the job market, supply chains, energy prices and the dollar?  Equally important, what economic and geopolitical risks are most likely to erupt next — and how do you protect your business from such shocks?  Gaining a better understanding of the opportunities and risks ahead is therefore essential to making better and more confident decisions.

Chris McChesney, Global Practice Leader, FranklinCovey

“The 4 Disciplines of Execution”

“Executing Strategy” is consistently ranked as THE top leadership challenge for executives. Chris coauthored “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” in 2012, and it is currently the best-selling book in the world on the topic of execution. Chris’s 4DX keynote was rated as one of the top three presentations at the world’s largest leadership conference, the Global Leadership Summit in 2016 (with 350,000 attendees). Chris has also given the 4DX keynote at locations around the globe with the World Business Forum (WOBI). The 4DX keynote dives into the universal challenges of why almost every leader, and every organization, will struggle with execution. This keynote teaches the simple, but profound, disciplines that can be applied the next day, but take a lifetime to master.

Cheryl Cran, Founder of NextMapping™ and NextMapping.com

“The Future of Leadership (Hint: It’s Human!)”

The future is now and its changing faster than ever!

In this dynamic and engaging keynote with future of work expert, Cheryl Cran will help you gain insight into trends, research and actionable ideas. The future is human – super.crucial.human in fact and Cheryl will share research on ‘why’ it’s a workers market until at least 2030 and what that means for companies now and in the future. Leaders today need to inspire and engage by being ‘change leaders’ and this means helping themselves AND their teams to be nimble, agile and adaptive to change.

Michael Knight, President and CEO, Endries International

“Technology Drivers for 2023 and Beyond”

In this eye-opening session, Michael will be sharing his insights on the 20 technologies driving the 2020s and how the supply chain, political and economic environment is likely to influence these technologies, as well as by influenced by them.

View & Download the Presentation Files:

Click on the session below to link to its presentation files.

Moderator: Shane Zutz, Vice President of Human Resources, Digi-Key Electronics

Panelists: Tobi Cornell, CPMR, VP Distribution, Kruvand Associates, Inc.; Travis Erpenbach, Director, Sales Operations & Supplier Relations, Carlton-Bates Company; Kris Whitehouse, Vice President of Sales, Americas, Omron

Moderator: Bruce Kellar, Senior Vice President of Sales, Sager Electronics

Panelists: Jim Banovich, CEO, Marsh Electronics, Inc.; Julie Carr, Partner, Distribution Sales Manager at MacInnis Company; Brian Flynn, Vice President Sales, Sager Electronics; John Guetens, North American Sales Manager, E-T-A Engineering Technology; Elisia Triantos, Area Director, Business Development, Digi-Key Electronics

*This presentation does not have any files available for download. Additional detailed information regarding the ERA SearchLink.ai tool and how to sign up for it will be forthcoming.

Presenter: Sam Richter, CSP, CPAE, Creator and Founder, Know More

Presenter: Tony Aug, Co-Founder & CEO, Nimble Gravity

Presenter: Anna Baldwin, Principal, SSCA

Moderator: Craig Sanderson, VP Supplier Marketing & Product Management, Sager Electronics
Panelists: Ken Bellero, President of Schaffner EMC, Inc.; Holly Good, Director, Global Distribution Sales, Cornell Dubilier Electronics; Jennifer Paukert, Vice President of Sales, Master Electronics; John Rozanski, Senior Director, Global Supplier Relations, PEI-Genesis

*This presentation does not have any files available for download.

Moderator: Gary Zullo, Director of Sales, Passive, Electromechanical & Interconnect, Arrow Electronics
Panelists: Heather D’Amico, Marketing Manager, Brainard-Nielsen Marketing, Inc.; Tom Muldowney, Vice President, Business Development, Galco; Deb Speer, Global Distribution Sales Manager, Fair-Rite Products Corp.

Moderator: Mike Swenson, CPMR, President, Mel Foster Company
Panelists: Dayna Badhorn, Regional President, Americas, Avnet; Dave Foster, Director of Sales, Ohmite Manufacturing; John Hutson, CPMR, President, MacInnis Group

* Please contact the presenter, Bob Dumas, president, Bob Dumas Marketing & Consulting at bdumas57@gmail.com if you are interested in obtaining a copy of his presentation.

Moderator: Maryellen Stack, Director of Marketing Communications, Sager Electronics
Panelists: Sannah Vinding, Digital Marketing Director, Micro Commercial Components; Jordan Yates, Marketing Engineer, Knowles Precision Devices

Presenters: Matthew Amato, Global Marketing & Public Relations Manager, IBS Electronics Group; Tim Kilfoil, President, JF Kilfoil Co.; Rob Tavi, CEO, IBS Electronics Group; Jordan Yates, Marketing Engineer, Knowles Precision Devices

Presenters: Wendy Covey, CEO and Co-Founder, TREW Marketing; Morgan Norris, Senior Brand and Content Strategist, TREW Marketing

Presenters: Adam Glazer, Esq., Partner, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC; Adam Maxwell, Litigation Attorney, Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC

*This presentation does not have any files available for download.

Moderator: Dave Norris, President, Norris & Associates

Presenter: Walter Tobin, CEO, ERA