Young Professionals University, held just before the start of Convention 2024, brought together the best and brightest from the next generation of industry leaders.
Young Professionals University delivered great content and great fun ahead of Convention 2024
By Janet Weyandt, YSN
If there’s one perfect way to kick off your participation in the BrandSource Convention, Young Professionals University might be it.
YPU, a day-and-a-half gathering of the group’s 21-to-40-something members, offers Young Professionals specialized industry insights and professional guidance, with an emphasis on togetherness. This year, it started Saturday at Paradise Springs, the waterpark on the grounds of the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas.
Brian Lawrence, BrandSource region manager and YP coordinator, said the event started out great and stayed great.
“The pool party was awesome,” he said. “You get to know YPs in a different way. There’s no business agenda, it was just networking and talking to people.”
Those connections are a big part of why YP works, he said. Young Professionals talk to each other, collaborate on solutions and help each other meet the challenges of independent retail.
“The biggest thing is making new friends and contacts, so when something arises you’ve got someone to talk to,” he said.
On Sunday, the work began with a lineup of informative education sessions designed to prepare BrandSource’s Young Professionals to take their place as leaders in the industry.
Those included:
- Speaker and author Paul Long sharing tactical tips on how to create more significant interactions in a fun and interactive keynote: “Reframing Resilience: The Power of Meaningful Connection.”
- AVB Marketing experts leading sessions on topics such as the future of AI, the importance of having a connected point-of-sale system and more.
- Chad Evans, BrandSource’s VP of merchandising, providing an in-depth industry update.
- Motivational speaker David Romano leading a session called “It’s Not Only About You,” to help attendees discover new ways of understanding and motivating others.
Lawrence said the audience was especially into Long’s session and seemed to take to heart the lessons of resilience and how to change your focus to make the best of any situation.
The marketing session, led by CMO John White and GM of Product Kate Morris, was also strong, Lawrence said.
“John White asked the room, ‘What do you see out there tech-wise that we need to be going after?’” Lawrence said. “Our YPs were able to direct feedback to the CMO on where we’re going in the tech space, and you don’t see that” in other organizations.
YPU concluded with a deep dive into the future of AI led by AVB Marketing’s Tim Hatfield, after which attendees picked up the general Convention schedule with the opening night Welcome Reception.
This year, the event was at capacity and there were people on a waiting list, Lawrence said. Overall, it was a great event, including a lively best practices discussion, he said.
Next year, YPU will be held ahead of Convention 2025 at The Venetian in Las Vegas.
YSN publisher AVB BrandSource is the nation’s largest merchandising and marketing co-op for independent appliance, mattress, furniture and CE dealers.
