Shep Hyken, Dan Heath Headline Keynote Addresses

Part two of this four-part article looks at the keynote speakers at this year’s Annual Convention.

Attendees can expect an improved format for the 24 peer-to-peer sessions that will be held at the convention. According to Kruse, the number of experienced contractors who want to present at the convention has grown over the last few years, creating a stronger pool of speakers and topics over time.

“So what we have been able to do is vet the speakers over time and that has really improved the quality of presentations that are out there,” says Kruse. “It is not that anybody and everybody can present any longer. We used have to beg people to speak, and now we are turning people away.”

During the last couple of years, presenters at the convention have developed into not only peers in the field, but also experts in the topics that they are speaking about. They are willing to engage in discussions about their particular topic even after their presentation is finished.

“They are very accessible,” says Kruse. “When the speaker is finished, they will be holding court in the lobby area, answering more questions, and getting a little more granular and personal with the person’s problems and challenges that they are having. It is pretty cool to see.”

On Wednesday, Oct. 26, the day before the convention officially begins, attendees can go to a Registered Building Service Manager (RBSM) workshop, where they can learn how to obtain the prestigious designation. Newer BSCs can learn tips for pricing their services in the Bidding and Estimating Seminar.
 
Thursday is highlighted by the new member luncheon, which is an opportunity for new members to come and meet current members of the board of directors and other members of the association. They will be able to learn how they can best utilize their membership in BSCAI for the growth of their business. That evening, members can network even more at the Welcome Reception.

Friday begins with networking roundtables, followed by the BSCAI CLEAN Awards Luncheon. After lunch, the convention kicks into high-gear with the Opening General Session, led by keynote speaker Dan Heath, a best-selling author, who will share his insights about business. Heath has co-authored three New York Times bestsellers, including “Decisive,” “Switch” and “Made to Stick.” He is also a senior fellow at Duke University’s CASE center, where he began the Change Academy, a program intended to help social-sector leaders increase their impact.

The day rounds out with more than a dozen peer-to-peer sessions that feature topics in management, sales, insurance and training. Friday ends with an evening networking reception.

Saturday, the convention’s last day, begins with a breakfast with sponsors and then a seminar on productivity that will be led by cleaning experts Pat Fragomeni and Jeff Merrihew of Concepts4, a New York-based cleaning consulting firm.

After the seminar, keynote speaker Shep Hyken will take the stage. A customer service expert and Wall Street Journal best-selling author, Hyken, who is known for his high-energy speeches, works with businesses and corporations such as IBM and Shell Oil Company to help them achieve their goals in building loyal relationships with customers and employees.
 
Various peer-to-peer sessions make up the remainder of the day. Session topics will include expanding profits, network security, retention and email marketing.