BLAST AGENDA
Business Leadership and Superior Training
B-L-A-S-T 2017 AGENDA
Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Pre-Conference
7:30 am – 9:00 am Registration – Hermitage
8:30 am– 4:30 pm Exclusive SLA Staff Training Jointly Sponsored by the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind – Capitol I
Moderators: Curtis Glisson, Assistant Commissioner
Alabama Blind and Deaf Services
John Gordon, Bureau Chief
Illinois Services for the Blind
Terry Smith, Director
National Federation of the Blind Entrepreneurs Initiative
1:00 pm – 1:50 pm Concurrent Pre-Conference Session #1
“Maximizing Profits Through Rebates” – Knoxville
By John Murn, President
RSA Management Group
“SSDI and What the Randolph-Sheppard Vendor Needs to Know” – Memphis
By Mike Dalto, Social Security Consultant
“Profit and Loss Strategies for the Blind Entrepreneur” – Chattanooga
By Scott Cass, Instructor
Hadley Institute for the Blind & Visually Impaired
“Coffee Service 101 for the Blind Entrepreneur” – Jackson
By Ken Shea, VP for Coffee Services
C & J Marketing and Sales
“Opportunities in Inmate Commissaries: A Question and Answer Session with Vend Engine” – Capitol II
By Kevin Burke, Chief Strategy Officer
Vend Engine
2:00 pm – 2:50 pm Concurrent Pre-Conference Session #2
“Practical and Tactical Solutions to Loss – Jackson
Prevention Through Effective Hiring”
By Mark Manney, CEO
Loss Prevention Results, Inc.
“Writing Effective Business Plans for the Randolph-Sheppard Facility” – Chattanooga
By John Pirtle, Supervisor
Tennessee Business Enterprises
“Micro-Markets and How They Can Increase Profits” – Capitol II
By Amber Tucker, Marketing Specialist
365 Retail Markets
“SSDI and What the Randolph-Sheppard Vendor Needs to Know” – Memphis
By Mike Dalto, Social Security Consultant
“Maximizing Profits Through Rebates” – Knoxville
By John Murn, President
RSA Management Group
3:00 pm – 3:50 pm Concurrent Pre-Conference Session #3
“Opportunities in Inmate Commissaries: A Question and Answer Session with Vend Engine” – Knoxville
By Kevin Burke, Chief Strategy Officer
Vend Engine
By Kayla Stringer, Client Relations
Vend Engine
“Micro-Markets and How They Can Increase Profits” – Capitol II
By Amber Tucker, Marketing Specialist
365 Retail Markets
“Practical and Tactical Solutions to Loss Prevention Through Effective Hiring” – Jackson
By Mark Manney, CEO
Loss Prevention Results, Inc.
“Writing Effective Business Plans for the Randolph-Sheppard Facility” – Chattanooga
By John Pirtle, Supervisor
Tennessee Business Enterprises
“Coffee Service 101 for the Blind Entrepreneur” – Memphis
By Ken Shea, VP for Coffee Services
G & J Marketing and Sales
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm “A Special Workshop for Members of Elected Committees of Blind Vendors “ – Capitol II
By Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist
Rehabilitation Services Administration
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm “A Roundtable Discussion with Rest Area Vendors” – Capitol II
Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
2:00 pm– 6:00 pm Registration – Hermitage
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Opening Night Reception – Cumberland Ballroom
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
7:00 am– 9:30 am Registration – Hermitage
7:30 am – 10:15 am Leadership Breakfast – Cumberland Ballroom
Master of Ceremonies – Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
Opening Ceremony – “A Nashville Showcase of Talent”
Welcoming Remarks
By Daniel Frye, President-Elect
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
“A Shout Out to Our Sponsors”
By Melissa Smith
NABM Board Member
“Aira: Instant Access to Information – A Quick Demonstration”
9:00 am – 10:15 am Keynote Address
“Stress Less and Laugh More”
By Collette Carlson
10:15 am –10:45 am Break
10:45 am–12:30 pm General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #1 – Cumberland Ballroom
Moderator: Ed Birmingham, 2nd Vice President
National Association of Blind Merchants
10:45 am– 11:30 am “The Rhythm of Teamwork: An Integrative Presentation”
By the Drum Café
11:30 am–12:00 pm “FitPick: News for You”
By Roni Moore, Vice President
Marketing & Public Relations for the National Automated
Merchandising Association
12:00 pm–12:30 pm “The New D.C.: What It Means for Randolph-Sheppard”
By Catriona Macdonald, Policy Advisor
National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm TRADESHOW – Nashville Ballroom, Foyer, Capitol I
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm “Exclusive SLA Roundtable Discussion” – Cumberland Ballroom
Moderators: Curtis Glisson, Assistant Commissioner
Alabama Deaf and Blind Services
John Gordon, Bureau Chief
Illinois Services for the Blind
SLA staff ONLY are invited to this exclusive round table discussion of relevant topics affecting state business enterprises programs today. It is an opportunity for staff to learn from each other and to share ideas.
4:30 pm – 6:00 pm Exhibitor Appreciation Reception – Foyer
6:30 pm – 12:00 am “Honky Tonkin – Music City Style” (Buses go downtown)
Buses will be departing and returning every 30 minutes to take participants downtown to visit the country music honky tonks and other Nashville hot spots.
Thursday, September 14, 2017
7:00 am – 8:15 am Women’s Breakfast – Capitol Ballroom
Moderators: Sharon Treadway and Debra Smith
Guest Speaker: Pam Allen, Executive Director
Louisiana Center for the Blind
8:30 am – 12:00 pm General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #2 – Cumberland Ballroom
Moderator: Joe Higdon
NABM Board Member
8:30 am – 9:00 am “An Industry Update”
By Eric Dell, Senior Vice President for External Affairs
National Automatic Merchandising Association
9:00 am – 11:15 am “Your CIA = Customer Innovation in Action”
By Bonnie Knutson, PhD, Professor
The School of Hospitality Business
Michigan State University
By Clay Voorhees, Associate Professor
Department of Marketing
Michigan State University
11:15 am – 11:45 pm “Working with Health Advocates on Healthy Vending”
By Katie Bishop Kendrick, MS, MPH
State and Community Advocacy Manager
American Heart Association
12:00 pm– 1:45 pm Luncheon – Nashville Ballroom
Master of Ceremonies: Terry Smith, Director
National Federation of the Blind Entrepreneurs Initiative
“A Shout Out to Our Sponsors”
By Melissa Smith
NABM Board Member
Special Guest – John G. Pare, Jr.
Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy
National Federation of the Blind
Keynote Address
“Specialized Services for the Blind: Future Challenges and Opportunities”
By Dr. Fred Schroeder
Former RSA Commissioner
Presentation of Awards
Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
Call to Action
2:15 pm– 4:30 pm General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session 3 – Cumberland Ballroom
Moderator Zach Snow
NABM Board Member
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm “The Future is in the Private Sector and Beyond – A Panel Discussion”
Facilitator: John Gordon, Bureau Chief
Illinois Services for the Blind
Panelists
John Murn, President
RSA Management Group
Raven Pullium, BEP Director
Illinois
Lori Brady, BEP Director
Alabama
Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
3:15 pm – 3:45 pm “The State of Randolph Sheppard: RSA’s Perspective”
By Jesse Hartle, Randolph Sheppard Specialist
U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration
3:45 pm – 4:15 pm “Rest Area Commercialization: The Threat is Real”
By David Fialko, Vice President for Government Relations
National Association of Truck Stop Operators
By Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
4:15 pm – 5:00 pm “The War with DOD Rages On – A Panel Discussion”
Facilitator Melba Taylor
NABM Board Member
Panelists
Andrew Freeman, Esq.
Brown, Goldstein, and Levy
Brent McNeal, Esq. Deputy General Counsel
Florida Department of Education
Patrick B. Shirley, Esq.
Office of Legal and Legislative Services
Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm Banquet – Nashville Ballroom
Master of Ceremonies Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
Dinner Music by Steve Norman
“A Shout Out to Our Sponsors”
By Melissa Smith
NABM Board Member
“Carpe Diem (Seize the Day)”
By Deanna Jones, Special Guest
Presentation of Awards
By Nicky Gacos, President
National Association of Blind Merchants
“So……There’s That”
Special Entertainment by Killer Beaz, Comedian
Friday, September 15, 2017
9:00 am – 11:00am General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #4 – Salon D
Moderator: Pam Schnurr, Treasurer
National Association of Blind Merchants
Randolph-Sheppard’s Biggest Challenges: An Open Dialogue
Facilitators: Nicky Gacos, President, National Association of Blind Merchants
Terry Smith, Director, National Federation of the Blind Entrepreneurs Initiative
Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
This will be an interactive discussion of the key threats and legislative issues facing Randolph-Sheppard over the next year. Topics will include
Rest Area Commercialization
Department of Defense Troop Dining
Department of Defense Traditional Vending Facilities
Department of Veterans Affairs
Healthy Vending Mandates
Nominee Agencies
Funding Challenges
11 am – ADJOURN