For over 40 years, the NAED Leadership Enhancement and Development (LEAD) Conference has been an annual favorite for current and emerging leaders in the electrical distribution industry. The NAED LEAD Conference has been developed by industry professionals who strive to design the best education and networking opportunities to help organizations develop their managers and individuals enhance their careers. 

Who Should Attend?
Current and emerging electrical industry leaders from distributor, manufacturing, and manufacturer rep firms that want to:

• Enhance their management skills and learn best practices that support business results
• Network with peers and trading partners in small group settings, while learning from experts in interactive workshops
• Benefit from the collective wisdom, passion, and professionalism of industry leaders and peers

Need help communicating the value of this conference to your supervisor? Click here for a sample letter that you can use to explain the importance of attending.

2012 Attendee List

LEAD Committee 

Connect with the NAED LEAD Group on LinkedIn

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Thursday, July 18

2:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Registration

3:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Roundtable Discussions
This is a highly valuable opportunity for you as a distributor or supplier to meet face-to-face with your peers in roundtable discussions. This is a forum to exchange ideas, information, solutions, and best practices. It's also an excellent way to begin new business relationships or reinforce existing ones. 

5:30 - 6:30 p.m. - "First-Time" Attendee & LEAD Committee Reception
All first-time attendees are invited to meet the LEAD committee in a relaxed networking event, while you learn from the experts on how to get the most out of your LEAD conference experience.

6:30 - 7:30 p.m. - Welcome Reception & Networking Event at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (Families Welcome)
Come welcome our first-time attendees to the LEAD Conference. Join us for this networking event before heading out to dinner.  It's a great time to rekindle old friendships and make new acquaintances.

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Friday, July 19

6:30 - 7:45 a.m. - Networking Breakfast

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. - Welcome & Opening Remarks
Ed Walker, 2013 LEAD Committee Chair, Frost Electric
Ed will kick-off the conference with a welcome and introductions of the 2013 LEAD Committee.






8:15 - 10:15 a.m. - General Session
Leadership Land Mines: Think & Communicate Like a Leader
Marty Clarke, Author, Trainer and Leadership Consultant, Martin Productions
So many managers…So few leaders. Just because you have a team reporting to you does not make you a leader. This popular high energy keynote presentation is appropriate for experienced managers and those about to make the leap into managing a team.

Real life examples and highly substantive discussions center on strategies that enable professionals to make a dramatic improvement in their leadership capability immediately.

Attendees will learn to:

• Identify specific real-world behaviors that damage leadership credibility, manager effectiveness, and employee morale.
• Navigate successfully around the Leadership Land Mines that turn bad situations into catastrophic failures.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in a leadership capacity, even when you have to “think on your feet”.

Meet Sandy Rosecrans, 2013-14 NAED Chair, and hear how this 32-year veteran of the industry began her career at City Electric Company in 1979 as vice president of administration; became president in 1986 and by 1996 Rosecrans owned the company.

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Industry Expert Panel
Views on Leadership
Participate in this unique question and answer session with our NAED Industry Expert Panel that includes:

• Sandy Rosecrans, 2013-14 NAED Chair, President/CEO, City Electric Company, Inc.
• Maureen Barsema, 2014-15 NAED Chair, Vice President & CEO, B J Electric Supply, Inc.
• Charles A. Collat, Jr., 2001 LEAD Chair, EVP & COO, Mayer Electric Supply Co., Inc.
• Scott Lawhead, 2004 LEAD Chair, President & CEO, The Hite Company
  

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch

1:30 - 5:15 p.m. - Education Session
Leadership Land Mines: Making Good Decisions When the Heat is On
Marty Clarke, Author, Trainer and Leadership Consultant, Martin Productions

Making good decisions day-to-day is hard enough.  However, when the heat is on, when the pressure mounts, mistakes multiply and bad decision-making can be disastrous. Get ready for a very fun, fast, and often hilarious experience as Clarke identifies the specific behaviors that cripple your ability to make good decisions under pressure.

Attendees will learn to:

• Expand anticipatory awareness so as to “see it coming;" those situations when the pressure mounts and good decision-making is at a premium.
• Negotiate successfully with team members and subordinates even when they are in a highly emotional state.
• Examine specific recommended strategies that make material improvements in a leader’s capability in real time.

6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - tED magazine 30 Under 35 Awards Dinner (Families Welcome)
Meet those who have been selected as one of the 2013 tED magazine's 30 under 35 Rising Stars. Those named to this prestigious list will be recognized in a special ceremony immediately following dinner.
 

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Saturday, July 20

6:30 - 7:45 a.m. - Networking Breakfast

8:00 - 8:15 a.m. - Welcome & Agenda review
Ed Walker, 2013 LEAD Committee Chair, Frost Electric

8:15 - 8:45 a.m. - Education Session
What's New at NAED?
Brian Peters, NAED Sr Regional Manager
Get a better understanding of your NAED resources and benefits. Hear the latest updates on the NAED Branch Management University, the newest training available on the NAED Learning Center, available business tools, and 2013 research initiatives. This session promises to be very informative and will help you better understand your NAED benefits! 

9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Education Session
The Great Game of Business and Open-Book Management Processes 
Steve Baker, Vice President, The Great Game of Business
It’s not football, it’s not baseball…it’s the Great Game of Business. It’s time for you to get into YOUR game. Think, act, and feel like an owner! What if you could approach your day-to-day business activities with the same state of preparation, the same level of knowledge, the same enthusiasm, and most importantly, the same desire to win as we do with any competitive endeavor we pursue?

In this session you will learn how to experience, implement, live and share the principles and practices of Open-Book Management in The Great Game of Business...leave the conference with a plan to improve your day-to-day business competitive edge.

1:00 p.m. - Conference Wrap-Up

Departures

Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 565-1234

Reservations
Click here for online hotel reservations or, if you would prefer to book your reservation by phone, please contact the Hyatt Regency Chicago directly by phone at 1-800-233-1234. Hotel reservations received after June 19, 2013, will be provided on a space and rate availability basis. Complimentary internet access is provided in the guest rooms.

Hotel Room Rate
The hotel room rate is $165 (USD). Hotel rates are subject to state and local taxes, currently 16.4%. Room reservations must be made by June 19, 2013 to receive the NAED guaranteed rate. A deposit in the amount of one (1) night's room & tax is required to hold a reservation

Hotel Policy
Check in: 3:00 p.m. - Check out: Noon

Hotel Cancellation Policy
A deposit equal to one night's stay for each of the confirmed rooms will be due from individuals attending the meeting/event 14 days after room is confirmed by the hotel, but no later than the June 19, 2013 cutoff date. All deposits for individual room reservations are fully refundable if a room is canceled three days or more prior to arrival date. Personal checks, money orders or a valid American Express, Diner's Club, Visa or MasterCard number and expiration date will be needed for the deposit. Name changes to room reservations may be made prior to arrival at no charge.

Travel Information

Transportation
GO Airport Express is Chicago’s official shared ride shuttle provider and premier all-purpose ground transportation provider for Chicago’s O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) Airports to Downtown Chicago Hotels with shuttle vans departing from O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) Airports every 15 minutes to and from Downtown Chicago. Click here to reserve your ground transportation with GO Airport Express. Reservations can also be made by calling (888) 284-3826 or (800) 284-3826.

From O'Hare International Airport (18 miles)

• Taxi: Approximately $30 - $40 (one way)
• Train: $2.25 per person to and from O'Hare International Airport. Pick-up below baggage claim area (follow signs to C.T.A.). Take "L-Train" to Clark/Lake stop (approx. 7 blocks from hotel). Walk East on Lake to Stetson St., turn left on Stetson St. and walk 1 block from the hotel. Note: This method is not recommended if guest has more than one bag, as there are numerous escalators and turn-styles. Guest can take a cab or walk from Clark/Lake stop.

From Midway Airport (12 miles)

• Taxi: Approximately $30 - $40 (one way)
• Train: $2.25 per person to and from the Midway Airport. From the airport take the Orange Line to the State and Lake Street stop. Walk 1 block north to Wacker. Take a right on Wacker and the hotel is approximately 3 blocks.
  

Driving Directions
Click here for directions. The hotel has valet parking for $52 per day (with in/out privileges).

Attire
Casual is recommended for the conference. Business casual is recommended for the Friday night 30 Under 35 awards event at the hotel.

Weather
Chicago has an average high of 84° and low of 66° for mid July.

Recreation & Leisure
The hotel is within walking distance to many attractions. Click here for more information. 

Registration Information

We are excited to announce that the registration process is now online, click the button below to get started. If you need assistance with your online account, please contact Member Services at 888-791-2512 or click on Live Chat at the top of the webpage.  If paying by check, click here.   Registration will not be processed without payment. Please submit one registration for each attendee. You will receive an email confirmation for your records. Substitutions received in writing will be accepted at any time. Cancellation Policy: Cancellations received in writing at NAED on or before June 27, 2013, will be charged a processing fee of $100 per registrant cancelled. No refunds will be made for cancellations received after that date. Email cancellations to NAED at leadreg@naed.org.

Registration Type Early Bird Price On or Before June 19 Regular Price After June 19 Distributors $775 $975 Other NAED members $875 $1,075 Non-members $1,075 $1,275 *Spouse/Guest $200 $400 *Children 12+ $100 $100 *Registration fees include Thursday and Friday evening events. No charge for children under 12 yrs. A guest is a spouse/significant other, friend, or an adult child (18 & older) who is not in an industry-related occupation. Co-workers or associates in the industry may not use the guest registration category.

 Housing Information

See Travel tab for Housing information.

• Gold Level (Sponsor a Speaker): $2,000 - 2 available
• Gold Level (Sponsor a Speaker Book for Attendees): $2000 - 1 available
• Silver Level (Sponsor a Meal): $1,250 - 5 available
• Bronze Level (Conference Contributor): $500 - Unlimited