2009 International Seminar: Your Passport to Global Success
March 3-4, 2009
Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
National Harbor, MD
DSA's 2009 International Seminar occurred on March 4, 2009.
Thank you for your interest, and please visit our calendar for information
about upcoming educational events.
You'll visit four distinct and unique continents when you attend DSA’s 2009 International Seminar: Your Passport to Global Success. Our experienced speakers will undertake an in-depth analysis of specific challenges in Latin America, Asia, Europe and North America, exploring both the obstacles and the benefits to direct selling in each of these regions.
We’ll also discuss topics of importance to direct selling companies with international operations, including technology platforms, the world economy, and business and compensation models and the regulations affecting them.
Whether your company has operations around the world, or has yet to enter the international arena, this seminar will provide valuable information your company is guaranteed to need for operations overseas.
Be in the metro-D.C. area this March and learn:
- Key resources your company can utilize around the world for support when strategizing its expansion plans
- How you can capitalize on the growing direct selling opportunities around the world—and the challenges of which you need to be aware as you do so
- Tips for navigating the complexities of the various regulatory environments you'll encounter as you expand operations and grow your company
Tuesday Evening, March 3
VIP International Congressional Reception
Join us on Capitol Hill and launch this year's International Seminar with a meet-and-greet function with congressmen and their staff. Get to know the individuals who will play a part in the regulations affecting your company's international operations for the next congressional term and beyond!
Wednesday, March 4
8:00 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Welcome & Overview
| ? | Neil Offen, President & Chief Executive Officer, Direct Selling Association |
8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.
Expanding Internationally: The Essentials
How does your company choose new international markets, and how do you know which countries offer the greatest opportunities for long-term success? Thorough research and advance market assessment, as well as risk and expectation management, are crucial when making these decisions. This session will explore:
| • |
Key resources your company can utilize for support when strategizing future expansion |
| • |
Specific techniques your company can use to overcome operational, marketing, salesforce and compensation plan challenges |
| • |
Tactics at your company’s disposal to confront burdensome regulations, internal bureaucracy and customs obstacles that can bog down expansion |
| – |
David Merriman, Executive Vice President, ACN, Inc. |
| – |
Kevin McMurray, Executive Director, International Development & Deputy General Counsel, International, USANA Health Sciences, Inc. |
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Workshop Breakouts
Analyze This: Latin America
Mexico is one of the fastest-growing direct selling markets in the world, and the entire Latin American region offers diverse and exciting prospects for all direct selling companies exploring or expanding international operations. Industry experts familiar with the southern hemisphere will provide a comprehensive analysis of the possibilities there, including:
| • | How your company can effectively capitalize on the growing direct selling opportunities in this region to grow your bottom line |
| • | How these diverse cultures interact with our industry and contribute to our success |
| • | How your company can maximize the opportunities and challenges offered by this region to your benefit |
| – | Brian Brisson, Regional Director for the Western Hemisphere, Office of International Operations, U.S. Commercial Service, Department of Commerce |
| – | Anne Crews, Vice President, Government Relations, Mary Kay Inc. |
| – | Adolfo Franco (Moderator), Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, Direct Selling Association |
Product Safety Best Practices for Those Crossing the Border
Product counterfeiting, substitutions, imitations . . . your company risks all three when you introduce your product line to the global marketplace—especially if you’re distributing nutritionals or cosmetics. You’ll want to be in the room to hear our speaker address important issues, including:
| • | Protective and preventative measures your company can take to avoid these difficulties |
| • | Successful industry responses at your disposal should you need them |
| • | Geographic regions in which your company may be more—or less—susceptible to product integrity concerns |
| – | Mark Mansour, Partner, Bryan Cave LLP |
| – | Howard Tarnoff, Team Leader, Regulated Products Team, Division of Compliance, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission |
10:45 a.m. – 11:45
Workshop Breakouts
Analyze This: China and Greater Asia
From China to Indonesia, Asian markets offer many opportunities and challenges for direct selling companies. As these segments grow and respond to international integration, 2009 will be an important year for companies entering China and other Asian markets. Listen as our experts share:
| • | Advice for evaluating market opportunities and obstacles in Asia |
| • | Challenges to entering China, particularly for door-to-door and multilevel compensation companies |
| • | Opportunities to be seized in Asia’s many dynamic markets |
| – | Ann Main, Senior Director, Office of China Affairs, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative |
| – | Janée Pierre-Louis, Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service - Baltimore, Department of Commerce |
| – | Jim Pruitt, International Trade Specialist, International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce |
Analyze This: Canada
Expansion to Canada is a logical first step for many companies looking to go international. Our experts have extensive experience in this area and will share crucial information you need to know, including:
| • | A step-by-step approach to entering the Canadian market and how to successfully transition to this promising market |
| • | The distinct regulatory differences between Canada and the U.S. of which direct selling companies should be mindful when engaging with this market |
| • | Best practices for ensuring a profitable expansion for your company and its distributors |
| – | Ross Creber, President, Direct Sellers Association of Canada |
| – | Wendy Hulton, Partner, Miller Thomson LLP |
| – | Robert Kreklewetz, Partner, Millar Kreklewetz LLP |
Noon – 1:30 p.m.
The New Global Reality—Achieving Success in a Slowing
World Economy
Which expansion strategies will help direct selling companies prosper and grow in a difficult credit and economic environment? We’re bringing in an outside expert to help us make sense of this confusing environment, discussing:
| • | Financing opportunities available and how your company can leverage them |
| • | Capitalizing on opportunities within our new economic reality and avoiding the pitfalls that could cripple operations |
| • | Analysis of different geographic regions and the challenges each one presents |
| – | Congressman Mark S. Kirk, 10th Congressional District of Illinois & Co-Chairman of the US-China Working Group |
| – | John Murphy, Vice President, International Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce |
1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
International Compensation: Adapting Your Plan for Optimum
Global Growth
Adjusting your business and compensation plan to meet every country’s requirements is a crucial consideration no matter the number of countries in which you do business. This session will focus on industry best practices, covering important topics including:
| • | Navigating the complexities between each regulatory environment to insure profitable operations |
| • | Preparing your plan so it can be understood and accepted in emerging markets like China and India |
| • | Resources at your disposal to help you through this process successfully |
| – | Dan Jensen, Compensation Plan Specialist, Dan Jensen Consulting |
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Workshop Breakouts
Analyze This: Europe
This dynamic region holds great potential for those looking to expand internationally. Listen as our panel of experts discusses issues affecting the European marketplace and presents valuable information on expanding into this area, including:
| • | How your company can expand in Europe, or increase your current presence |
| • | Why utilizing the national DSAs in Europe will help further your company’s success on the continent |
| • | How to engage effectively with the European Commission to encourage your company—and our industry’s—growth |
| – | Ralph Hummel, Attorney & Tax Advisor, Faegre & Benson LLP |
| – | Kerry Tassopoulos, Vice President, Government Relations & Compliance, Mary Kay Inc. |
Bridging the Gap: Translating Your Company's
Vision to a Global Audience
More than regulations change when your company’s product and opportunity move into a new country! Our expert will delve deep into the challenges direct selling companies face when introducing themselves to new cultures, regions and nationalities, including:
| • | Various considerations to take into account when creating new recruiting materials—straight translations are often not enough and might harm your company’s credibility! |
| • | Cultural mores and norms at work that can hinder—and help—sales, recruiting and your corporate reputation, not to mention your bottom line! |
| • | Branding and graphic considerations to take into account to maximize your visual impact in front of new audiences |
| – | Jack Crowley, Chief Executive Officer, Crowley Collaborative Group |
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The New Age of International IT
A seamless global commissions platform, enabling your company to translate a variety of information around the world, is a critical component of a successful expansion strategy. After all, if you can't pay your salesforce, they won't be your salesforce for long! But you also need to make sure your data security measures are up-to-snuff with international regulations, protecting both your consultants' and customers' data and pay card information. Our speakers will address:
| • | How your company can defend itself against unconventional attacks and security breaches |
| • | Successful tactics your company can implement to manage and streamline international IT challenges |
| • | Strategies that will protect your various software platforms, no matter the country, and keep your business humming |
| • | Complying with international payment requirements to insure your company can legally send and receive credit card payments |
| – | Cynthia Tysinger, Chief Executive Officer, GSAT Inc. |
| – | Darrel Welling, Executive Vice President, ProPay Inc. |
Click here for Hotel and Registration Information
The view expressed in these presentations and related materials are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, the Direct Selling Association. Any information presented is not intended as a substitute for your own legal counsel.
|
