St. Charles, IL (October 19, 2021) — AOPD has just concluded its first ever, virtual Annual Meeting, “Engage 2021.” The AOPD Annual Meeting provides the opportunity for AOPD Business Partners and Dealers to discuss sales and marketing strategies. This year’s agenda included some new elements such as Business Partner Group Presentations as well as Roundtables. The Roundtables provided the Dealers and Business Partners a venue to discuss together in an open forum two key issues – Selling BP products to AOPD customers and how Business Partners can get involved in Dealer sales training. Another meeting highlight was the Industry Town Hall Panel. Although held virtually, the insights from this well-respected panel of Dealers and Business Partners was very well-received by attendees.
Mark Leazer, AOPD Executive Director stated, “The response to our AOPD Engage virtual meeting has been pretty positive. This being our first ever virtual Annual Meeting, we were not sure what to expect and in all honesty were a little nervous. Beyond a few, relatively minor technical glitches, though, the virtual platform worked well. It also allowed us to try some new format concepts that should translate well into future events. With the current challenges we face as an industry, we have to continue to push the envelope and not accept the status quo where meetings are concerned. The virtual platform and format forced us to leave our comfort zone and we think that turned into a real positive for our event.”
AOPD’s President, Kim Vogel commented, “At a time of so much uncertainty and change in our industry, AOPD brings business partners and vendors together to focus on one common goal – sales. Even though our annual meeting was held virtually the takeaways were valuable and strengthened our commitment with national and regional accounts”.
At the closing session, AOPD presented the President’s Award for Dealers Tommy Sansom of Officewise, and Mike Biddle, of Smead Manufacturing Co., as the Business Partner recipient. Both awardees are well deserving of this prestigious award and have been long time supporters of AOPD and the IDC.
Justin Carpenter, Stationers, Inc.; Jon Rossman, Chuckals, Inc, and Wayne Stillwagon, Miller’s Supplies at Work were all nominated to the AOPD Board of Directors. They join; Beth Freeman, FSIoffice; Dutch Jones, The Supply Room Companies; Gordon Pepper, Ritter’s Office Outfitters, and Kim Vogel, Strickland Companies.
Leazer concluded, “A special thank you to this year’s Platinum sponsor Essendant. Special thanks also to our other event sponsors this year: Gold Sponsors, HP and Fellowes, Silver Sponsor, ECI Software Solutions and Bronze Sponsor, SP Richards.”