DA and PRO Group Zoom together

This year boasts the 17th straight year Distribution America and PRO Group, Inc. will join forces to host the Executive Planning Conference (EPC). The event, still slotted for Nov. 17-19, will utilize the Zoom Meetings platform in place of the in-person event originally scheduled in take place in Tucson. This virtual format will allow distributor and manufacturer partners serving hardware retailers, lumber yards, home centers and independent paint stores to safely meet

one-on-one for prescheduled appointments amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With so much uncertainty surrounding the virus and not knowing what we might be facing later in the fall, moving to a virtual platform is the only responsible solution,” said Dave Christmas, CEO of Distribution America.

Steve Synnott, President & CEO of PRO Group, added that, “many attending distributors and vendors have corporate policies in place prohibiting travel during the current crisis which also influenced our decision. Our priority is the health and safety of all attendees.”

The focus of the event will be the over 2,000 prescheduled, one-on-one private meetings with decision makers of the nation’s largest group of independent distributors. Zoom’s breakout rooms feature will give new and current vendors the opportunity to present new products and review strategic objectives for the coming year.

With recent improvements to video conferencing services and the ability for participants to share screens and files, the individual breakout rooms can feel like the in-person meetings that EPC attendees have come to expect.

The virtual EPC will also feature general sessions including a topical seminar focusing on the 2021 economy followed by a live Q&A, a featured product showcase and a vendor recognition presentation.