brainstorming sessions and even the implementation of policies, but hearing directly from experts with well-researched, highly informational sessions allowed each attendee to not only take note of what they learned but also discuss it with their industry peers. They also sparked meaningful conversations in formal and informal networking throughout NALC. “The topics are right on cue with what we’re facing in our business,” says Chris Vernon, chairman and CEO of The Vernon Company. “The discussions about digital transformation, sustainability, the work force environment that we’re all facing, they speak to everything we’re talking about almost daily in our own company.” Keynote speakers from outside the industry were a big part of NALC’s education lineup, asking company leaders to think outside of what has been directly in front of them recently. Claudia St. John of Affinity HR Group – a PPAI partner – proposed hiring practices and employee benefits that might have seemed radical to the company leaders just a few short years ago. Tamara Ghandour, president of LaunchStreet Consultancy, even asked each table to build a rocket ship with the scant material accessible at their table. The event also included a “fireside chat” with PPAI CEO Dale Denham, who marked the nonprofit trade association’s progress and challenges. PPAI’s goal to bring together many of the industry’s top-level executives creates inevitable opportunities for networking and ideation, which NALC doesn’t shy away from. An “Executive Exchange” between speakers asked attendees to discuss issues at hand with a small group of peers they were randomly assigned to sit with, leading each attendee to hear multiple perspectives on shared issues that have come up in the industry over the past three years. “That has been a lot of the conversation,” Olds says. “Conversations around ‘How did you deal with this? How are you driving innovation in a hybrid work environment?’ There were some really great ideas that our table exchanged that I’m excited to go back and apply.” According to Duffy, the exchanging of ideas at NALC always takes a familiar pattern but with fresh ideas. “The other benefit is the networking and the connecting,” Duffy says. “I know 90% of the room, and after three years, sometimes it feels like we hadn’t been away, but I just like the connecting and the catching up. This is a room of like-minded people.” PPAI’s aimwith NALC is to encourage the industry’s leaders to push new ideas forward and solve problems together, putting mutual solutions over competition. “We all just want to do better,” Duffy says. “We all go back to our offices and have obstacles to tackle.” TENTh Anniversary Special Help Us Celebrate Our th Year! 10 PPAI/582106 SAGE/50398 hFull Color, Full Coverage on Canopy and Rear Wall hRugged Hex Aluminum Frame hWheeled Carry Bag Complete Package Includes: } Regular Price $1,210(C) NowJust Valid thru 10/31/22 Must use Promo Code TENTPP $947(C) TCT11200 - 10’ x 10’ 40mm Hex Aluminum Frame includes full color full coverage printed rear wall • 600D Coated Polyester • UV Protected • Fire Retardant • Water Resistant • One Piece Minimum • Free PMS Matches blb|;7 $bl; @;uij -bѴ-0Ѵ; orঞomv bm1Ѵ7; _-Ѵ= vb7; -ѴѴvķ 0bѴѴ0o-u7 0-mm;uķ Ѵ;] 1o;uvķ 1u;7 o;u_;-7 0-mm;u -m7 lou;ķ =ou -ѴѴ orঞomv ş v|Ѵ;v ]o |oĹ bv1om| -uh;ঞm] uo71|vĺ1ol " $ & ! "ij | OCTOBER 2022 | 99 CONNECT
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