DISTRIBUTION AMERICA & PRO GROUP PLAN JOINT 2003 EXECUTIVE PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE Denver (August 19, 2002) Distribution America and PRO Group are planning a joint Executive Partnership Conference, set for February 18-22, 2003 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In addition to personnel and special guests, approximately 125 key manufacturer companies and 40 independent distributor companies will be represented at the 2003 event.   The Des Plaines, Illinois-based Distribution America and Denver, Colorado-based PRO Group have distinct memberships and have planned separate annual meetings with distributor members and manufacturers for many years. The focus of the annual "by-invitation-only" Executive Partnership Conference is one-on-one meetings between distributor members with top-level Manufacturer executives.   Located in Colorado Springs at the foot of the Rockies, The Broadmoor is one of the few resorts in the country to have earned the Mobil Five Star and the AAA Five Diamond rating every year since the awards were established. The property offers an excellent business environment for a conference of this type.   Teaming up to take costs out of the distribution channel, the companies organized their conferences consecutively in 2002 at the same Florida location. The premier 2002 effort was so successful that the companies decided to combine their conferences into one event for 2003 and provide even more value to the participating vendors and distributors.   While the conference will feature joint social events and a joint new product area, Distribution America and PRO Group are each planning separate and distinct vendor/distributor appointments, and will each host their own awards ceremonies and membership meetings.   Distribution America President & CEO Bill Axline said, "We are reducing the number of travel days and time away from the office for our manufacturer attendees by up to 50 percent." Richard Paige, President of PRO Group, called the joint effort a "win win," and said, "An executive's time is the most valuable commodity. This is an opportunity for high-level interaction between manufacturers and distributors." Paige and Axline said manufacturer support for the effort reinforced their decision to plan the joint conference.   Bruce Fischer, National Sales Manager for Greenville, Pennsylvania-based Werner Ladder stated, "The idea of running the PRO and DA conferences concurrently makes a lot of sense. At any level in our economy, efficiency equates to the ability to compete. These changes make the conference more efficient and cost effective for everyone. It's good for everyone."   Brian Gilmore, National Sales Manager - Hardware Wholesale for B&K Industries (a subsidiary of the Memphis-based Mueller Industries) said one of the biggest benefits to the manufacturer is the time and money saved by having all the wholesalers in one location. "We don't have the typical 'fly and drive' scenario to 20 or 30 wholesalers across the country," Gilmore said. "We can accomplish in a week what would normally take over two months to complete."   For more information and details as they become available, manufacturers may access the website: www.executivepartnershipconference.com. ABOUT DISTRIBUTION AMERICA: Distribution America (www.daonline.com) is based in Des Plaines, Illinois and is a $2.2 billion organization focused on improving distributor and retailer profitability through the development of innovative buying and marketing programs. Distribution America is comprised of independent regional hardware distributors and paint distributors. The company markets the Sentry Hardware, Trustworthy Hardware, Golden Rule Lumber Center and Priced Right Everyday stores programs.   ABOUT PRO GROUP, INC: PRO Group, Inc. (www.pro-group.com) is a multi-divisional, international merchandising and marketing organization with corporate headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Its operating units include PRO Hardware, Proven Marketing Group, GardenMaster, FARMMART and GOLDEN-LINK. The company's purchasing power exceeds $3 billion through the 60 Member Distributors.   NOTE TO MEDIA: Digital images/logos of the Broadmoor and additional information available upon request to either above media contact or by contacting Ruth Furman of ImageWords Publicity & Writing Services at (702) 255-8288 / ruth@lvcm.com.   For More Information Contact: Janet Markel @ PRO Group (303) 792-3000 janet.markel@pro-group.com   Leona Pezan @ Distribution America (847) 294-1516 leonapez@daonline.com Back to Press Releases