PMANC’s Professional Development Committee works diligently to deliver excellence in professional development programming for the benefit of PMANC Members. Education events held at PMANC’s annual SHOWCASE and at other times throughout the year are designed to assist members in various areas, including sales and business growth, professionalism, new technologies, and social media. Wherever possible, PMANC applies to PPAI for MAS/CAS credit for its educational programming.

To learn more about MAS/CAS certifications and how to earn credit, click here.

Upcoming PMANC Educational Events

Attendees may register for PMANC education events on the Calendar of Events page

Town Hall with PPAI’s Chair-Elect of the Board, Steven Meyer, and PPAI’s CEO, Paul Bellantone Date : February 29, 2012 Time : 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Place : Francesco’s Restaurant 8520 Pardee Drive at Hegenberger Road Oakland, CA 94621-1414 It’s leap year and, with an extra day, PMANC hopes you’ll join us for this information session with PPAI leadership. You will hear from both Steven Meyer and Paul Bellantone on issues of importance to your business. Come prepared to ask questions of your own, network with peers, and enjoy a relaxing lunch in a location we hope is convenient for all, no matter where you are located! Use this opportunity to invite your peers so they can learn the value of PMANC membership. If you invite them, we will honor the member rate for them as well as for you. There is ample free parking at Francesco’s. Member Rate: $40.00 per person Nonmember Rate: $50.00 per person

Professional Development held in conjunction with PMANC Showcase

GPS- Global Positioning Strategy – How To Position Yourself & Your Business in the World of Commoditization — Joel D. Schaffer, MAS

Date: May 11, 2012
Time: AM – specific time TBA
Place: Portola Hotel & Spa – Monterey, CA

The cry from distributors is louder each day as loyal clients turn to the internet for commodity products. Price checking has cut margins and direct sources are stealing business. Is there a future? How do you fight this trend? After a survey of over 100 top distributors this sessions focuses upon 15 key arguments to help build loyalty and maintain commodity sales. The session then turns to positioning oneself and business as an agency. Using Daniel Pink’s “A Whole New Mind” it keys in on the assets a creative consultant brings to the table. The session looks at how the industry is undergoing stratification and helps the attendee position themselves for the future.

1. Your options to fight internet sales or not.
2. Dissecting pay per click and your competition
3. Examine how you’re a positioned starting with your business card and your internet front page.
4. How to position yourself as a consultant.
5. How to position your company as an agency.
6. What buyers see
7. What buyers really want.
8. PPAI’s latest fact on buyers.
9. How right brained distributor can rule

Learner Outcomes

1. Gain the ability and momentum to reposition their company in person, in print and on the internet
2. Lear the needed tools to enter the “agency” world.
3. Understand how to compete against price busters (we do not talk about price).
4. Sharpen their ability to handle client objections

MAS/CAS Credit applied for Additional details coming soon!

Conversation Cafes

Conversation cafes are an added membership benefit where members converse openly about daily events, issues, and concerns of running a promotions business. They provide opportunities for suppliers to promote products via sell sheets or catalogs during the events.

Conversation Cafesare held quarterly throughout the PMANC Region in the Bay Area, Sacramento, Peninsula, the North Bay, and the South Bay. Other locations may be added, including northern Nevada.

Volunteer coordinators organize Conversation Cafes, which are typically held during the lunch hour, but may be held at breakfast, during the cocktail hour, or at other times convenient to the participants in specific areas.

Conversation Cafes will return in 2012 at a location near you!