News
July 10, 2014
Key Speakers for GCA Convention Announced
An impressive roster of key speakers is scheduled for the 73rd Annual Convention of the Greeting Card Association (GCA), taking place from Wednesday, Sept. 17, through Saturday, Sept. 20, at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa in Boulder, Colo. All in the industry — both GCA members and nonmembers — are invited to attend this year's convention, themed “The Challenge of Change.”
Keynote speaker Mark Sanborn, CSP, CPAE, will present “Up, Down or Sideways” on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 9 to10 a.m. Sanborn is the president of Sanborn & Associates, Inc., an idea lab for leadership development, and has authored numerous books and videos on leadership, change, teamwork and customer service. This discussion will feature practical ways to prepare for and deal with change by focusing on the mindsets and methods that enable us to succeed no matter what comes our way.
“Remaining Relevant” will be the topic discussed by speaker Ross Shafer, president of Ross Shafer Consultants, Inc . on Thursday, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. Shafer, a business turnaround specialist who is also a writer, producer, Fortune 500 consultant and an Emmy Award-winning TV host, will reveal the innovations and attitudes necessary for leaders to stay relevant to their customers, employees and B2B partners.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear even more from these speakers during a special “Q&A with Mark Sanborn and Ross Shafer” session on Thursday, 11:15 a.m. to noon.
Also on Thursday, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m., Nathan Bond, co-owner and director of business development at Rifle Paper Co., will present “House of Cards: The successes, challenges, and nervous breakdowns in going from zero to 4,000 stores in 4 years.” Bond will share how the company he founded with his wife, Anna, as a small, online stationery business based out of their garage apartment, has quickly grown into an international brand offering a variety of gift and home products.
On Friday, Sept. 19, 8:30 to 9:45 a.m., American Greetings' Susan Sleide, creative director, and Mackenzie Glass, program director for featured product, will speak about “Insights, Influence & Innovation.” Additionally on Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dr. Meg Campbell, a professor of marketing at the LEEDS School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, will discuss “Market Trends and How the Consumer Interprets Them.”
Other informative sessions at the GCA Convention will include “Influencing Postal Reform” on Friday, 11 to 11:30 a.m., by GCA Postal Chair Brenda Turner from DaySpring ; and a GCA Associates presentation on the “Ever-Changing Trade Publications” on Friday, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m., with Caroline Kennedy of Gifts and Decorative Accessories, and Matt McCallum of Stationery Trends.
For a complete list of presentations, visit www.greetingcard.org.
