EXECUTIVE PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE TO BEGIN FEBRUARY 18, 2003 (February 17, 2003) Approximately 450 people are pre-registered to attend the 2003 Distribution America/PRO Group Executive Partnership Conference, set for February 18-22, 2003 at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   Thirty-nine independent distributor companies will be represented at the 2003 event along with approximately 150 key manufacturer companies, plus corporate personnel and special guests. The focus of the annual "by-invitation-only" Executive Partnership Conference is one-on-one meetings between distributor members with top-level manufacturer executives. Distribution America and PRO Group will also host vendors at private meetings and awards presentations.   The conference includes a new product exposition area, featuring products showcased by manufacturers in attendance. Distributor buyers will rate the best new products, and awards will be presented for the best new products by category.   The Des Plaines, Illinois-based Distribution America and Denver-based PRO Group have planned separate annual meetings with their respective distributor members and manufacturers for many years.   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.   Bill Tinker, National Sales Manager for the Novi, Michigan-based Plumb Shop, said hosting the conferences at the same time is an outstanding way to reduce costs for the manufacturers.   Scott Orr, Sales Director for the Davison, Michigan-based Genova Products, commented that the joint conference would increase his team's efficiency. "We have time to talk about new products and how we can work better as partners. They can share with us what is new and address challenges they have as well as opportunities," Orr said. "Previously, we had to split our resources based on scheduling and our key people could not always attend both conferences."   Roger Nelson of the Chicago-based Robert Bosch Tool Corp/North America, said the combined conference affords him the opportunity to bring five regional managers to the meeting because it's combined in one location. "This makes it very worthwhile for us," Nelson said. "Previously I couldn't bring all of the regional managers because it was too expensive when the companies had separate meetings. It is very valuable for us to have the specific regional managers there who are working with the specific distributors, so we can all sit down together and they can follow up immediately after the meetings."   FOR MORE INFORMATION & A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 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.   For More Information Contact Ruth Furman of ImageWords Publicity & Writing Services at (702) 255-8288 / ruth@lvcm.com. Back to Press Releases