To help you sustain the workshop’s benefits, and process, Monahan offers a month-long, follow-up 20 business days following the workshop every helpful, inspirational “Creative Thinking Tip of the extends the valuable insights, and ingrains the new beliefs and practices indefinitely.

Don’t hesitate, sign up early. Seating is limited

MONDAY, MARCH 22
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Morning Presentation Presenter: Jerry Epperson, Furniture Today Columnist and Industry Research Specialist.
M1 “A New Definition of Furniture?… Change”
While imports get all the headlines, a more difficult, less visible change is occurring in not just who is buying furniture, bedding and accessories but where they are buying it. A new study addresses the changing routes of distribution and the demographics of who is driving this change.

Don’t hesitate, sign up early. Seating is limited.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23
9:00 - 10:00 a.m. Breakfast Workshop
T1 Networking Breakfast
Some of the best discussions take place over coffee and a bagel at the last meeting of the clan for 2004. Catch up with friends, close that big deal, make contact with that illusive dealer, or discuss the the ups and downs you expect to experience in the upcoming year.

Did you survive the lobotomy? Are you an industry pundit of the future? What are your predictions about the Las Vegas Show? Will it be four more years of George Bush? Will the Red Sox finally win the World Series? Don’t miss this chance for breakfast and your best opportunity for networking at the show.


SPEAKER PROFILES

TOM MONAHAN
Creative Thinking Coach

Tom Monahan is president and head coach of Before & After, a company dedicated to helping people in business think more creatively. He is also the author of The Do-It-Yourself Lobotomy, a top selling business book on the topic of creative thinking. A leader in the field of applied creativity in business, Tom has worked with over 100,000 people in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia, in companies such as Target, Hewlett-Packard, Virgin Airways and Viacom. His expertise in this area has had him lead brainstorming sessions for new products and services, deliver keynote speeches, conduct professional development workshops and facilitate meetings where improved creative thinking is desired. One of the top creative directors in the advertising business during the 1980’s, Tom served major national marketers such as Polaroid, Gerber and Keds, He was honored as one of the top 10 copywriters in the country and was featured in The Wall Street Journal’s long-running creative leaders series. He writes regularly for national periodicals and has won two Emmys for television editorial writing.

JERRY EPPERSON
Furniture Industry Pundit
Jerry Epperson is Managing Director of Mann, Armistead & Epperson, Ltd., an investment and advisory firm located in Richmond, VA. The firm is internationally known for the experience of its three founders in the furniture industry. Mr. Epperson received the prestigious Distinguished Service Award from the American Furniture Manufacturers in 1993 and the Pillar of the Industry Award from the International Home Furnishings Representatives Association in 1998. Jerry was elected to the American Furniture Hall of Fame in 2002. Jerry is also a member of the Writers Hall of Fame for the furniture industry.

Jerry publishes a monthly furniture newsletter, The Furnishings Digest. In it he discusses current events, projections, ideas and performance trends within the furniture industry. In addition, he has published several studies on the demographics of American consumers.