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Tuesday, November 13, 2018 Pre-Conference

7:30 am – 9:00 am: Registration

8:30 am – 4:30 pm: SLA Staff Training
Hill County EF
This training is being cosponsored by the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and the National Association of Blind Merchants. It will be conducted exclusively for SLA / Nominee Agency staff. The training will focus on Randolph-Sheppard compliance issues and best practices.

1:00 pm – 1:50 pm: Pre-Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Session # 1:
ServeSafe Tips & Tricks for Taking the Test
Hill Country G
Scott Cass, Instructor, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Session #2: Making Micromarkets Work for Randolph-Sheppard
Independence 6
Sharon Treadway, Blind Entrepreneur, Tennessee Business Enterprises
Jon Floyd, AE West & International 365 Retail Markets

Session #3: Accessible Technology and How It Can Help You Be More Efficient as a Blind Entrepreneur
Independence 7
Chris Ingram, Technology Trainer and Consultant, Argh Accessibility, Inc.

Session #4: What Blind Vendors Need to Know About Their SSDI Benefits
Independence 8
Michael, Dalto, Social Security Expert

2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: Pre-Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Session #5: Serve Safe Tricks and Tips
Hill Country G
Scott Cass, Instructor, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Session #6: Making Micromarkets Work for Randolph-Sheppard
Independence 6
Sharon Treadway, Blind Entrepreneur, Tennessee Business Enterprises
Jon Floyd, AE West & International, 365 Retail Markets

Session #7: Technology and Accessibility: The Good and the Bad
Independence 1
Wayne Dye, President and Founder, NReach, Inc.

Session #8: Making Healthy Choices in Your Life
Independence 2
April Howard, Dietician

Session #9: All New Hadley 2.0 and Apple Workshops
Independence 3
Doug Walker, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Session #10: Generating Sales and Profits Through Cashless Vending
Independence 7
Bud Burke, Regional Manager, RSA Management Group

Session #11: Maximizing Profits Through Rebates
Independence 8
John Murn, President and CEO, RSA Management Group

3:00 pm – 3:50 pm: Pre-Conference Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Session #12: Making Healthy Choices in Your Life
Independence 2
April Howard, Dietician

Session #13: What Blind Vendors Need to Know About Their SSDI Benefits
Independence 1
Michael Dalto, Social Security Expert

Session #14: Maximizing Profits Through Rebates
Independence 8
John Murn, President and CEO RSA Management Group

Session #15: All New Hadley 2.0 and Apple Workshops
Independence 3
Doug Walker, Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Session #16: Generating Sales and Profits Through Cashless Vending
Independence 7
Bud Burke, Regional Manager RSA Management Group

Session #17: Accessible Technology and How It Can Help You Be More Efficient as a Blind Entrepreneur
Hill Country G
Chris Ingram, Technology Trainer and Consultant, Argh Accessibility, Inc.

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm: WISE - Women’s Initiative Supporting Entrepreneurship: A Presentation and Discussion
Independence 6
Melba Taylor, Board Member National Association of Blind Merchants

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm: Calling on Elected Committee of Blind Vendor Members: A Special Workshop for Elected Committees of Blind Vendors
Bandera
Moderators: Zach Snow, NABM Board Member and Chair of Georgia Committee of Blind Vendors
Michael Talley, Chair of Alabama Committee of Blind Vendors
Featuring: Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist Rehabilitation Services Administration

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Registration

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Opening Night Reception Luckenbach Pavilion Wednesday, November 14, 2018

7:00 am – 9:30 am: Registration

7:30 am – 9:15 am: Leadership Breakfast
Independence 4-5
Master of Ceremony – Nicky Gacos, President, National Association of Blind Merchants

Opening Ceremony – “A Rousing Salute to San Antonio”
An NFB Welcome to Texas Norma Crosby, President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas

Greetings from the National Office
Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind

Welcome to the Lone Star State
Michael Hooks, Director, Business Enterprises of Texas

Greetings from Our SLA Partners
Curtis Glisson, Co-Chair, NCSAB Randolph-Sheppard Committee

Thank You to Our Sponsors
Melissa Smith, NABM Board Member, Tennessee

Special Guest Speaker – Vera Jones, Author and Speaker
“Play Through the Foul”

9:15 am – 9:30 am: Break

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session 1
Independence 4-5
Moderator: Debra Smith, NABM Board Member, Arizona

9:30 am – 11:40 am: “FISH! Catch the Energy and Release the Potential”
Deena Ebbert, Propeller Girl

11:40 am – 12:00 pm: “Building the Partnership: An Update from the General Services Administration”
Demetria Summers, National Concessions Program Manager, U.S. General Services Administration

12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Luncheon
RW Pavilion
Master of Ceremony: Sharon Treadway, NABM Secretary, Tennessee

Greetings from Our Texas Host
Clayton Hell, Chairman, Texas Committee of Blind Vendors

Thank You to Our Sponsors
Melissa Smith, NABM Board Member, Tennessee

“Battle for the Alamo”
Presented by Goen South

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session 2
Independence 4-5
Moderator: Lewanda Miranda, NABM Board Member, Oregon

2:00 pm – 2:50 pm: “Charting the Course Through Demographic Change”
Ken Gronbach, Demographer

2:50 pm – 3:40 pm: “Sweatiquette” Robby Wagner, The Healthy Comedian

3:40 pm – 4:30 pm: “Meet the Press: A Candid Interview with Jesse Hartle” Terry Smith will interview Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard Specialist, Rehabilitation Services Administration

5:00 pm – 10:00 pm: Remember the Alamo!
Buses will be departing and returning every hour to take participants downtown to visit the site of the Alamo and world famous Riverwalk.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

7:00 am – 8:15 am: Exclusive Breakfast for Women Blind Entrepreneurs
Independence 1-3
Moderator: Sharon Treadway, NABM Secretary, Tennessee

Guest Speaker: Norma Crosby, President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session 3
Independence 4-5
Moderator: Pam Schnurr, NABM Board Member, Indiana

8:30 – 8:35: Welcoming Remarks
Julian Alvarez, Commissioner
Texas Workforce Commission

8:35 am – 9:30 am: “Tale of Two Brains”
Mark Gungor, Author and Speaker

9:30 am – 10:15 am: “The New Washington, D.C.: A Look at the Political Landscape After the Midterm Elections and Its Impact on Randolph-Sheppard”
Moderator: Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
Panelists: David DeAngelo, Principal, DL DeAngelo Consulting
Catriona Macdonald, Policy Advisor, National Council of State Agencies for the Blind
David Fialkov, Vice-President for Government Relations, National Association of Truck Stop Operators

10:15 am – 10:30 am: “AIRA: Making Blind Entrepreneurs More Independent” Daniel B. Frye, Director, Public Sector Engagement and Strategy, AIRA

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session 4
Independence 4-5
Moderator: Barbara Manuel, NABM Board Member, Alabama

10:30 am – 11:00 am: “Leveraging Consumer Insights to Improve Your Merchandising Strategy”
Amanda Sulc, Director of Category Insights and Strategy, Accent Foods

11:00 am – 11:40 am: “Creating Opportunities Beyond Randolph-Sheppard”
Moderator: Karla Martinez, Blind Entrepreneur, Texas
Panelists: Patricia Cowen, President, Rainmaker Sales Support
Neil Swindale, President, Vendcentral
Ken Shea, Vice President for Coffee Services, G&J Marketing and Sales
Michael Talley, Blind Entrepreneur, Alabama Business Enterprises
Melba Taylor, NABM Board Member, 8a Contractor, Maryland Business Enterprises Program

11:40 am – 11:55 pm: “A Convenience Services Industry Update”
Jason Eberstein, Senior Director, State and Federal Government Affairs, National Automatic Merchandising Association

12:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Trade Show
Hill Country Ballroom

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Final Night Celebration

Friday, November 16, 2018

7:00 am – 8:00 am The First Annual NABM Run/Walk to Promote WISE (Women’s Initiative Supporting Entrepreneurship)

General Session – Upward Mobility Training Session #5
Hill Country EG

9:00 am – 11:00 am: “Critical Issues: What Are the Solutions?”
Facilitators: Nicky Gacos, President National Association of Blind Merchants
Ed Birmingham, 2nd Vice President National Association of Blind Merchants
Michael Colbrunn, Blind Entrepreneur, Minnesota, NABM Emerging Leader

In May, NABM identified 27 critical issues facing Randolph-Sheppard today.

This will be a thorough discussion of these issues and potential solutions. Some of the critical issues identified that may be discussed include:

Lack of Program Growth
Apathy of Vendors and SLA Staff
Lack of Creativity in the Program
Recruitment of New Vendors
Training Issues
Lack of Funding
Healthy Vending Issues
The Role of Third Parties in Randolph-Sheppard
Absentee Vendors
And Much Much More as Time Permits

11 am: ADJOURN