One of the most poignant moments of last week’s BTA IGNITE Kansas City, which marked the 100th anniversary of the venerable association’s creation, was the parade of dealer members who were introduced during the dinner held at Union Station. In all, 12 members with 50-plus years of membership were introduced (29 more are still active), a testament to the value they derive from being part of an organization whose roots trace back to the National Association of Typewriter Dealers.
That evening’s festivities were marked by elegance and unabashed fun. The party itself sported a Roaring 20s theme, with women donning period dresses and feather-and-jewel headbands, while some men opted for tweed suits, gavroche caps and suspenders. It resembled a scene out of Peaky Blinders or a Gatsby soiree. Fortunately, every Big Six and daddy in the juice joint left their bean shooters at home, so no one ended up at the clubhouse in nippers. All said and done, the bash was the bee’s knees.
Gangsters aside, the BTA evening—capped off by a 45-minute comedy routine from former Tonight Show host Jay Leno—was the ultimate showcase in solidarity. One by one, 17 current and former association presidents were called to the stage. It’s been said that the access to legal advice alone is worth the cost of membership (speaking of which, the ubiquitous Bob Goldberg handled emcee duties) but membership goes much deeper than gratis guidance. The fraternity it embodies and the willingness to share information for the betterment of all speaks to the sincerity and commitment of membership.
Leadership Glue
BTA Executive Director Brent Hoskins and his modest staff can only do so much, but their Herculean efforts are supplemented by the unwavering commitments of BTA members. So while the technologies behind these businesses have undergone massive facelifts during the past 100 years, associations can only thrive via the efforts of many, which will be essential as BTA embarks on year 101 and beyond. And it was only fitting that Hoskins was honored for his 40 years at the helm, complete with memories and photos that helped provide perspective into the enormity of his contributions.
The easily navigable Westin Kansas City at Crown Center played host to the Sept. 1-3 conference, which drew 450 attendees. The opening keynote during the full-day agenda was delivered by Jim Kwik of Kwik Brain Universe. His “Master Your Mind & Memory” presentation offered tips and tricks for those of us who are terrible with names and details. He engaged the audience with association exercises that helped reinforce and stimulate recall.
The afternoon session included an hour-plus presentation by tech guru, inventor, hacker and futurist Pablos Holman, whose “Innovate or Die Trying” theme brought the trajectory of technology into focus. Holman’s CV is decidedly top-shelf—he’s built spaceships for Jeff Bezos at Blue Origin, developed AI for stock market trading, and launched the Intellectual Ventures Lab, where unfathomable inventions (brain surgery tool, in addition to a device that suppresses hurricanes) are being developed. Donning Bono-esque glasses, Holman shocked and titillated the crowd with his often-compelling viewpoints.
Both days were also marked by presentations from industry luminaries including Kate Kingston (sales training), West McDonald (AI), Troy Harrison (selling) and Robert Palmer (hardware future). An exhibitor showcase featured 50-plus firms that serve the dealer network in every capacity; at certain junctures, it was difficult to traverse the aisles due to the crowds. Deborah Hawkins of Keypoint Intelligence brought the event home with a dealer panel that explored how Microsoft integrated technologies (WMPP, MUP and WPP) are designed to enhance print management by leveraging cloud capabilities and endpoint security, thus streamlining printing processes and improving efficiencies in modern work environments.
