Speakers Announced for CEO Summit at Summer Las Vegas Market

March 13, 2019  by Laurie Northington in Business Strategy, Industry, Las Vegas, Market   

The one-day event, scheduled for Tuesday, July 30, is designed to address and provide insight into the critical issues facing today’s gift and home furnishings industry leaders through a series of presentations and meaningful networking opportunities.

“The CEO Summit is a one-of-a-kind event that brings together some of the brightest minds in the home furnishings and gift industries to participate in executive level discussions on the future of our industry,” said Bob Maricich, CEO of International Market Centers. “This impressive slate of speakers will provide attendees with key insights on economic and business issues facing the industry today and impacting it in the future.”

The conference kicks off with “China, the Next Five Years” by the Honorable Gary F. Locke. Drawing from his experience as U.S. ambassador to China and U.S. secretary of commerce, Locke offers a wealth of knowledge on some of the most vital issues confronting America and the international community today. He is considered one of the top speakers for doing business in China and has spent more than three decades working with, and in, China. He is recognized as one of the world’s foremost authorities on U.S./China relations, global expansion, and business growth.

Dr. Evan A. Feigenbaum will present “South East Asia Expert Opinions.” Dr. Feigenbaum is one of America’s leading experts on Asia and most heavily focuses on geopolitics and economics and the changing role of the United States across the Pacific. He is the current vice president of The Paulson Institute and the former deputy assistant secretary of state for South Asia (2007-09), deputy assistant secretary of state for Central Asia (2006-07) and member of the secretary of state’s policy planning staff responsible for East Asia (2001-06). With experience across the region, his diverse career with Asia has spanned government service as a U.S. diplomat, leadership of think tanks, risk consultancy for market players and major corporates, and three major regions of Asia: East, Central, and South.

Stephen Shapiro will present “Innovation for Innovators: Creating a Persuasive Culture of Innovation.” Over the last 20 years, Shapiro has presented strategies on innovation culture and collaboration to audiences in 40-plus countries. During his 15-year tenure with the consulting firm Accenture, he led a 20,000-person innovation practice. He is the author of five books, including “Best Practices Are Stupid,” which was named the best innovation and creativity book of 2011. He has been featured in Newsweek, Entrepreneur Magazine, SUCCESS Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, and CNBC. Clients include 3M, P&G, Nike, Marriott, Honda, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, NASA, USAA, Fidelity Investments, and GE.

Ben Stein will present “Ben Stein on the Economy.” Stein is an economist whose market analysis is sought by companies and organizations across the country. He is a long-time columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Barrons, and The New York Times, commentator for CBS News, Fox News, and CNN, and an award-winning commentator on finance. Stein melds deadpan humor and serious insights on the economy and human nature in talks that leave people laughing and thinking.

Additionally, five sponsors have been confirmed to date: Brandwise, a leading innovator of sales technology; GiftCraft, a leading vendor of lifestyle, fashion, home décor, giftware, wellness and gourmet product; Grace Management, a major vendor in the gift and home industries; One Coast, a premiere sales and marketing company with nationwide sales teams representing wholesale products in gift, garden, home decor, and fragrance categories; and Whereoware, an online strategy, marketing development and design firm that creates smart, online solutions for businesses. Additional sponsorships of the CEO Summit are available on a limited basis. For information, contact Randy Eller at reller@ellerent.com or Connie Lineberry at connie@connielineberry.com.

“We are delighted that these five industry-leading suppliers and sales agencies have signed on as sponsors for the CEO Summit,” said Randy Eller, president of Eller Enterprises. “Their sponsorship is a testament not only to the program’s value to our industry, but also to their leadership position within the gift and home industries they serve.”

The CEO Summit schedule is as follows:

• 7:45 – 8 a.m. - Conference opens, welcome remarks by Randy Eller and Bob Maricich
• 8 – 9 a.m. - Breakfast / Meet& Greet (Sponsored by Whereoware) 
• 9 – 9:45 a.m. - Keynote: The Honorable Gary F. Locke
• 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. - Q&A
• 10:15 – 11 a.m. - Break (Sponsored by One Coast)
• 11 – 11:45 a.m. - Keynote: Evan Feigenbaum
• 11:45 a.m. – noon - Q&A
• Noon – 1 p.m. - Lunch Buffet
• 1 – 1:45 p.m. - Keynote: Stephen Shapiro
• 1:45 - 2 p.m. - Q&A
• 2 – 2:45 p.m. - Break (Sponsored by GiftCraft)
• 3 – 3:45 p.m. - Keynote: Ben Stein
• 3:45 - 4:15 p.m. - Q&A
• 4:15 - 4:30 p.m. - Closing Remarks
• 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. - Cocktail Networking Reception

Registration for the CEO Summit opens April 1. Individuals whose company does not currently exhibit in an IMC property can register for $395; anyone whose company exhibits within an IMC property in High Point, Las Vegas or Atlanta can register for $295 and retailers can register for $195. Additional speaker and registration information is available at https://www.lasvegasmarket.com/plan/events/s19-events/2019-ceo-summit.