Why I Never Miss an ALA Conference

There are many reasons ALA members never miss an ALA Conference; for some, it’s the valuable information they receive that they can immediately apply to their businesses while for others it’s having the benefit of spending quality time with industry friends and making new contacts in a casual atmosphere. Hear what some of our regular attendees have to say about the value Conference adds to their businesses and personal lives.

“Compared to other industries, the decorative residential lighting business is a small, intimate industry.
At the ALA Conference, we come together as a group – retailers, manufacturers, and reps – and strategize for the good of all of us. When you think about great business relationships, it’s the ones where you collaborate with each other to improve your respective businesses — and that is what you will get with ALA.  There’s no question that people have started new relationships and strengthened existing ones by attending Conference. Another valuable benefit, I’ve found, is that your voice is heard and you can become part of the change."

- Rick Seidman, CEO, Quoizel

"I’ve been fortunate to work for a company that believes in supporting the American Lighting Association and encouraging employees to go to Conference. I look forward to Conference every year. ALA works very hard to present a unique program where that’s fun but also focuses on education. At Conference we learn so much. From information on technology and what’s coming, to the financial state of the world and how that’s going to impact our business, there is something for every channel of the industry.”  

- Leslie Killingsworth, CLC, SVP Marketing and Merchandise, Progressive Lighting/Lee Lighting/Savoy House

“By attending the ALA Conference every year, I’ve met lifetime industry buddies and people I can call on for their opinions on a particular situation, or to find resources or help with any challenges or questions I may face in business. One of the challenges of the lighting industry is that there’s no handbook on how things are done. We all go about things differently. Being an ALA member and going to Conference gives you access to so many other people who are in the same boat and who have come up with different solutions for the same situations.  I consider joining ALA and attending Conference to be a vital part of my – and my team’s – professional development in the industry."

-Richard Alan, CMLR, Richard Alan & Associates
 

“What I love about the ALA Conference is that I can meet like-minded people outside of my regional circle as a manufacturers’ rep.  Going to Conference and being involved in the ALA expands my network and provides me with the opportunity to build relationships and friendships with people – manufacturers, showrooms, and reps – that I wouldn’t meet otherwise.  At market, it’s too busy for anyone to really have long insightful conversations, but the ALA Conference provides that opportunity. It’s a one-stop-shop experience for expanding my network professionally and personally."

- Chad Teiber, Teiber & Company 

Register to join us in beautiful Lake Tahoe, Calif., Sept. 10-12 online here. 

Check out the videos below to hear what else your peers are saying about ALA Conference.