December 19, 2006 3:13 PM CST

Midwest Builders Show & Conference Educational Line Up Features New "Survival Guide"

By Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago

The fifth annual Midwest Builders Show® and Conference is offering a timely new “Survival Guide” track for its 2007 show, “The Future is What You Make It.” The new track features sessions on several critical issues facing builders in a cooling market: understanding green building, moving existing inventory, providing superior customer service and managing change in a professional environment.

Produced by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC), the conference will be held March 21-22, 2007, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. The event brings together builders, developers, suppliers and distributors to demonstrate innovation, and to exchange ideas and information.

In addition to keynote addresses by Gianluigi Longinotti-Buitoni, former president and COO of Polo Europe, who will discuss the concept of DreamMarketing and futurist author Glen Hiemstra, the conference will feature more than 40 sessions in the areas of sales and marketing, product design and merchandising, business strategy and leadership, technology, customer service, land development, construction and a specific track pertinent to the small builder/remodelor. The popular Super Sales Rally featuring Frank Bucaro makes a return appearance for 2007 as well.

“The Midwest Builders Show and Conference is excited to offer our new Survival Guide for 2007,” said Madge Douglas, vice president of exposition and conference operations for HBAGC. “These are the issues our members indicate are top of mind for today and into the future.” The Survival Guide sessions include the following:

The market for environmentally sustainable homes is on the rise. In his presentation, Steve Easley, president of Building Media Inc., will explain the various choices in building materials, finishes and structures available to improve energy efficiency, as well as air and water quality. “Green building can boost your bottom line if you know how to streamline your design and construction to get the payback, and notice, you need,” says Easley.

In “How to Move Stalled Inventory, ”Tom Richey of Richey Resources, Inc., will provide practical methods to help builders sell out their unsold homes and get a heads up on selling new starts. “This proven program is being used by large and small builders to keep sales ahead of construction in this challenging market,” says Richey.

The importance of customer service cannot be understated in a cooling market. In her session, Southwest Airlines Marketing Manager Angie Russell will present online and offline strategies for building solid internal and external customer relationships. “Customer service starts from the heart,” says Russell. “Southwest Airlines has overcome many obstacles by giving our famous ‘Positively Outrageous Service’ to customers by applying those high standards to our employees first.”

Change is a constant in the building industry. “Our role as professionals must evolve to keep pace with the changes in our world,” says Ed Robinson, Robinson Seminars. Robinson will share practical suggestions to help builders cope, survive and thrive through the change by adding value to the organizations they serve.

For more information on the new Survival Guide and education sessions or to view all show details, visit www.midwestbuildersshow.com or call 630-627-7575.

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About the Author

The Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC) is a trade association representing members involved in home building, remodeling, design, housing finance, building product manufacturing and other segments of residential construction. Visit www.hbagc.com to learn more.

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