IMCO hosts its annual Convention and Tradeshow
“Stronger by association” was the theme of IMCO’s Annual Convention and Tradeshow, held this spring in Orlando, Florida.
“As the industry continues to change and grow, independent distributors will continue to partner with vendors to provide their mutual customers the best products at competitive prices,” said IMCO President and CEO Bill McLaughlin Jr. “This partnership between IMCO members and vendors will provide tools and services necessary to separate themselves from other competitors in the market.”
At the event, IMCO announced:
- A new B2B e-commerce platform.
- The launch of IMCO Collaborate, an open forum for members to post questions and share thoughts and ideas with other members.
- An exclusive group purchasing organization for nursing home distributors.
- A redefined home care program “designed to better help members compete in the growing home care market,” said McLaughlin.
Education highlights included the following:
- Keynote speaker Mike Rayburn kicked off the event by asking attendees to challenge themselves to keep asking “What if,” to create solutions, and then to follow up on the ideas. Rayburn mixed his remarks with accomplished guitar-playing and song modification skills.
- Rebecca Gecan-DiGiaimo of KBK Communications presented a standing-room-only presentation on “Understanding social selling and how to get started.”
- Chris White from Traction Florida provided insight into business management in a presentation titled “Do you have a grip on your business, or does your business have a grip on you?”
- Joe Colavito, Corvu, discussed “Becoming a trusted partner” and “Reaping a harvest from telesales opportunities.”
- Joey Asher, Speechworks Inc., discussed “Effective messaging in the C-suite” and “Capturing an audience and building relationships.”
- Josh Babb, director of government affairs of HIDA, provided an update on governmental and regulatory programs affecting the healthcare system.
- Product Showcases highlighted solutions for patient and provider needs. Vendor partners DUKAL Corp., GOJO Industries, Health o meter Professional Scales and ZOLL Medical Corp. provided product information and selling strategies.
- Market-specific roundtable discussions provided members an open forum in which to discuss key issues in the market.
- The Owners/Managers Roundtable provided a casual session where member owners and senior management had an opportunity to exchange insights, workshop problems, and explore shared opportunities. The collective knowledge and experience of this group provided an excellent forum to examine issues impacting our industry, said McLaughlin.
Award winners
IMCO awarded five SEL Convention Scholarship winners based on nominations from vendor partners:
- Matt Rabin, Cara Medical.
- Nick Merritt, Grove Medical.
- Jennifer Ramirez, Medical Wholesale.
- Lindsay Tarter-Medina, Quick Medical.
- Ryan Boshulte, Supply Resources.
The top 10 EPIC (Equipment Performance Incentive Contest) participants in 2017 were announced and presented with travel voucher awards:
- Kyle Miller, Booth Medical Equipment Co.
- Sergio Bustamonte, American Medical Supplies & Equipment.
- Pam Gall, Foremost Medical Equipment.
- David Gordon, Unimed USA.
- Gloriana Feddema, Canada Medical.
- Tyler Reichenbach, Medical Resources
- Jonathan Leiva, Dealmed Medical Supplies.
- Marie Rabin, CARA Medical.
- Gerry Volponi, Canada Medical.
- David Ellis, Atlantic Medical Solutions.
Arkray USA was announced as IMCO 2017 Vendor of the Year. “They were voted as our top vendor in 2017 for their incredible products, customer support, communication from field level to top management, and overall support of IMCO and our members,” said McLaughlin.
Meanwhile, Tradex International captured the Best Booth Award, with a circus theme that featured two performers displaying acts of strength and flexibility throughout the day.
Nighttimes
The Convention encompassed more than learning about medical products sales. One night began with “an incredible Pentathlon featuring some amazing athletic prowess by many of our members and vendors,” said McLaughlin. “All the games required intense focus, incredible talent, and a lack of fear of moving your hips.”
But it was all for a great cause, he added – providing backpacks full of food for kids in elementary school who don’t get a meal outside of school hours. IMCO donated more than $12,000 to Provision Packs, a group that puts together backpacks full of food every week to help these children and their families.
Tuesday evening featured a ‘Super’ Evening, in which members and vendors showed up dressed as their favorite super hero. The night was capped off with a drawing for two $3,000 travel vouchers. The member winner was Dennis Loflin of NH Medical Services, and the vendor winner was Mark Schnoerr of Nurse Assist.