Mid Sized Business Strategy Summit 2008
Hosted by Thought Leadership Summits, Inc.

Limited Time Offer!

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May 16, 2008
The Ritz-Carlton
Boston, MA

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For more information
please contact us at
(415) 553-4142 or tlsinfo@tlsummits.com

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register

Exclusive Sponsor:

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Media Partners:

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Agenda

May 16, 2008

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast

tlsummits

8:00 AM
Opening Remarks
Jon Munzel – Founder
Thought Leadership Summits, Inc.

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Remarks from the Chair

Ann Garrett - CEO & President
The Marketing Studio

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 Marketing Keynote Presentation

Stephanie Sonnabend - CEO & President
Sonesta International Hotels Corp.

Energizing the Sonesta Collection in North America

 

Sonesta International Hotels Corporation has owned and operated hotels for over 60 years.  While the company currently has 27 hotels operating under the Sonesta flag, plus three projects under development, Sonesta has a very small presence in the United States.  How does the Sonesta Collection capitalize on its international brand reputation to grow domestically and compete effectively with the large hotel brands that dominate the market?  Stephanie’s presentation will outline Sonesta’s domestic strategy and highlight key tactics that are enabling Sonesta to successfully compete against brands with access to significantly more resources.

sponsor logo9:00 AM
 Ralph Oliva - Executive Director & Professor of Marketing
The Institute for the Study of Business Markets

(Smeal College of Business at Penn State University)

ISBM B to B Marketing Trend Study

 

Every two years the Institute for the Study of Business Markets (ISBM) conducts their  Business-to-Business Marketing "Trends Study".  In this study (originally triggered by a request from Hewlett-Packard), the ISBM connects with its community of researchers in business-to-business marketing, as well as the community of practice of  B-to-B marketing

folks inside their member firms, and asks three key questions:

 

  • What are the key challenges business marketers will face?
  • What the key capabilities ability to build?
  • In the areas you identify, which firms represent "benchmark" practice?

 

The latest version of this study was taken from the field in November 2007.  In this presentation, seven key trends will be identified, along with insights on how business marketing practitioners can gather additional information, tools, techniques, and approaches to dealing with and capitalizing on each of these key trends.

 

Insights will be provided from ISBM research, from thought leaders connected to the practice of business-to-business marketing, and to benchmark insights from active members of ISBM.

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Networking Break

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Steve Signoff - Executive Vice President, Marketing
One Communications

Marketing in a Market and Environment of Change

Steve’s presentation will cover:

  • Marketing challenges in the dynamic sector of telecommunications and technology
  • Marketing positioning to CIO’s and other executives involved in strategic decisions impacting the productivity of their company
  • Marketing as a unifying function in the mist of a merger integration environment
  • Marketing is what you make it – because most people think it is something other than what you think it is.  I n the end it is the meeting point of art and science

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Scott LaNeve - Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Accellent

A Practical Approach to Sales & Marketing

 

Scott’s presentation will review the symptoms of common sales & marketing challenges faced by Mid Sized Businesses such as missed plans, low forecast accuracy, high sales and marketing expenses, and ineffective marketing communication materials.  He will then discuss practical and successful solutions to these problems and highlight the resulting benefits using real-world examples.

11:45 PM – 12:45 PM
Networking Lunch

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Finance Keynote Presentation

Frank Helstab - Managing Director
The Institute for Corporate Planning & Finance

Maximizing the Value of a Mid Sized Business

 

Mr. Helbstab’s presentation will cover important information that will explain how to “Maximize Your Company’s Value”.  As executives seek to grow their companies or consider a possible sale, merger, or acquisition strategy, it is critical for them to understand both sides of the equation.  Frank will provide valuable insight that will help understand the buyer side of the formula and what is needed to maximize the value of your company across all functional areas.  His presentation is specifically designed for the business executive to gain insights regarding the proper use of their financial and legal resources to support their growth, financing, or sale of their business.

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Cliff Lange - Vice President, CFO, & Chief Actuary
Boston Mutual

Beyond the Numbers

While proficiency with financial data is clearly required for a Finance group to be effective, what is often overlooked is the powerful impact of non-financial issues on achieving success.  This session will “Go Beyond the Numbers” on the following issues:

  • Trust
  • Teamwork
  • Resiliency
  • Energy
  • Vision
  • Change Management
  • Handling Adversity
  • Stakeholder Analysis

 

Specifically, the discussion will cover how to deal with challenges such as:

  • A “bright star” employee who has “sharp elbows” - a “moment of truth” conversation
  • Two “bright star” employees who won’t work together - setting a vision
  • How to motivate and inspire during adversity - finding five silver linings
  • How to stay calm and steady during a crisis - gaining perspective

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM
hp logoNetworking Break

3:00 PM

IT Keynote Presentation

Bruce Michelson - National Lifecycle Manager & Distinguished Technologist
Hewlett-Packard

Leveraging Green Technology Initiatives

Green is the hot topic today.  Everyone regardless of age, culture, and politics has a belief and opinion.  Why?  The answer is actually easy - we are all in a sense end users.  This presentation is specifically about access computing, but could easily relate to most technology topics that relate to the environment.  While there is a lot written, documented, spoken and referenced in green computing, there seems to be a lack of a single methodology, beyond traditional approaches, that assists as a playbook for a business to leverage for green access computing. 

 

Using Closed Loop Lifecycle Planning principles, combined with industry best practices and known cost drivers, this presentation is designed to be an overview of the methodology that could lead to a green(er) technology refresh cycle.  In lifecycle management there are really no right or wrong answers, only conscious and unconscious decisions.  Frequently, the technology refresh cycle for PC's and other forms of access devices have the green criteria only as an anecdotal portion of the requirements. 

 

Green extends to all platforms from desktops, laptops, servers, pc blades, workstation blades, and server blades to larger and more complex technologies.  The underpinning is an overall approach and awareness of how to tie all of the disparate content together.  It is the overall lifecycle approach that has as much to do with the greening of IT as the technologies themselves. 

 

Green access computing is not only good corporate and business citizenship, but it is also a good, solid business strategy.  Green access technology refresh cycles are sustainable, embraces innovation, and may be more cost effective than most realize.

3:45 PM

Marie Perfetti - Program Manager, MIS Operations
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority

A Green Technology Success Story

 

Marie's presentation will review the successful implementation of green technologies at the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA).  She will review the use of green IT initiaves at the MWRA and in the technology support provided by the Managemnt Information Systems (MIS) group.  Areas of focus will include flat panel monitors, PCs, printers, and the utilization of Verdiem Surveyor Software to optimize results.  She will review the key challenges and successes experienced during the ongoing green initiaves at the MWRA.

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4:15 PM
Raymond Boggs - Vice President, SMB & Home Office Research
IDC Research                                                                                                                                                             

Tapping Next Generation Technology to Sharpen Financial and Marketing Performance

 

The increasing competitive pressures on mid-sized companies make operational excellence in marketing and finance especially important.  The latest technology can make a difference in sharpening focus and providing the right information to the right people at the right time (including customers and prospects).  IDC's Ray Boggs will look at some of the priorities of mid-market firms and the technology solutions that are associated with market success.  Join the discussion and benchmark the attitudes and approaches of your own company to identify ways to take performance to the next level.

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Networking Reception

7:00 PM
Summit Closes

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