CEDAR RAPIDS, IA, – NSCA, the leading not-for-profit association representing the commercial integration industries, is excited to announce topics and sessions for the 23rd annual Business & Leadership Conference (BLC), to be held virtually on Feb. 24-25, 2021.
NSCA’s BLC is the industry’s most notable platform for executive-level education and discussion. The event attracts hundreds of executives annually to learn from other leaders and hear about new ways to embrace technology and motivate employees.
The 23rd annual BLC is particularly crucial for the integration community, which is battling through once-unpredictable market-challenges. BLC content is precisely focused on helping integration company leaders make smart decisions while delivering takeaways that can realistically be implemented.
“There’s no doubt that this is our most important BLC ever,” says NSCA Executive Director Chuck Wilson. “At NSCA we know what our role is – to be a trusted advisor to member companies and to help them run their businesses better. We’ve consulted with countless company leaders and watched integration companies battle through 2020. This year’s BLC content is laser-focused on helping them be successful in 2021. We take this very seriously.
“As always, NSCA and our integrator-led Events Committee identified pain points to be addressed at BLC and built substantive content sessions around critical objectives, including:
“Need for Agility – Let’s be clear, this BLC is not about COVID-19. Meanwhile, we recognize how vitally important it is for businesses to be nimble in the current market. A leading agile innovation expert, Pamela Meyer, Ph.D., will deliver a powerful keynote and breakout session on agile and effective leadership.
“Reliable Indicators and Dashboards – Reading the tea leaves is not an option as we enter unchartered ground in 2021. NSCA companies need trustworthy analysis before making key investments or backing off spending. NSCA Chief Economist Dr. Chris Kuehl is back to deliver his industry-specific market perspectives (and trademark wit).
“Leadership Infrastructure – It takes a well-built company to weather tough times. A BLC breakout session challenges the way NSCA companies think about their finance, legal, and HR leadership groups. It guides attendees on how to rebuild for sustained success. This might be the most important session this year.
“Processes, Workflows, & Outcomes – These days it’s all about prioritizing high-value tasks. Through clear, consistent processes NSCA companies can achieve more. A workshop led by leading EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementer Jill Young will help you get your operations and processes on track.
“Innovating Your Own Solutions – Why depend on manufacturers to innovate? Many integrators with their backs against the ropes due to the pandemic came out swinging by recognizing new customer challenges and solving them. Futurist Brian Solis leads an Executive Power Hour discussion on how to drive breakthrough innovation.
“Trusted Advice – As your trade association and trusted advisor, NSCA is in this with you. From an outlook by Executive Director Chuck Wilson on legislative challenges for integrators in 2021 to a closing keynote on how smaller companies can battle against big brands, all BLC content is 100% channel-specific and aimed at helping you succeed.
“While this 23rd annual BLC is the first to be in a virtual setting, NSCA conducted 2020 Pivot to Profit Virtual in September. Although we’d all prefer to network in person, NSCA received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the content and attendee experience. Our second virtual event, BLC, will be even stronger.”
“We’ve all been on more than our share of virtual events. NSCA knows that and makes sure the sessions are worth attendees’ valuable time,” says Shedan Maghzi, corporate strategic advisor for Avidex and an NSCA Board member. “I attended NSCA’s 2020 Pivot to Profit Virtual in the fall and the content was extremely strong. It was the best virtual event experience I’ve had.”
Confirmed BLC 2021 keynotes and speakers for the two-day, mid-week event include:
Economic Outlook 2021 for Integrators by Dr. Chris Kuehl
Making the Agility Shift: Creating Agile and Effective Leaders, Teams and Organizations by Pamela Meyer, Ph.D
Business Benefits of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion presented by Ignite 2.0 Committee
Digital Transformation and Innovation by Brian Solis
Making Strategy Happen by Michael Canic
Becoming No. 1 in a Crowded Market – What Big Brands Know by Gerry O’Brion
For continually updated session descriptions, including the lineup of Business Breakout and Workshop sessions, visit NSCA.org/blc.
“We all want to get back to networking in person, and that’s exactly what we’ll do with BLC in 2022,” says Mike Boettcher, CEO-PA at New Era Technology and NSCA Board president. “However, we have important business and leadership objectives right now. I agree that this one-time virtual BLC is actually the most important ever.”
NSCA members pay $495 to attend; non-members can attend for $899. To register, visit www.nsca.org/blc. Or call 800-446-6722 to register and ask about same-company group discounts and bundled pricing.
