The Business at Hand
Dental Trade Alliance meeting in Washington emphasizes the work to be done in dental industry
"Changing Course Through Challenging Times" was the theme of the Dental Trade Alliance’s annual meeting, held in late summer in Washington, D.C. And, with healthcare reform looming, a more suitable theme probably couldn’t have been chosen.
CEO Gary Price used the meeting to kick off the organization’s "Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait" public awareness program. Two full-page ads for the initiative appeared in USA Today during the meeting, while information was distributed to lawmakers on Capitol Hill and in the White House. "Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait" is a DTA initiative designed to help dentists alert their local markets to the need for ongoing, thorough dental care. Sponsors include Benco Dental, Darby Dental, Henry Schein, Iowa Dental Supply, Patterson Dental, National Dentex, Preventech, 1-800-DENTIST and other associations and media companies.
All about business
Attendance at the meeting exceeded 300, including representatives from 30 distribution companies. Approximately 25 new member companies and prospects attended the meeting for the first time. "The focal point of the meeting was all about business," says DTA Director of Marketing Fred Freedman. "To that end, all of the keynote speakers and breakout workshop sessions were designed to enhance the dental business and provide a snapshot of the industry." Sessions and breakouts included:
- Washington Report: Andrew Steen and Michael Adjodha, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Device Evaluation, Dental Devices Branch.
- "Dental Practice Challenges," Roger Levin, DDS.
- "Making Talent Management a Competitive Advantage," Chuck Cohen, Benco Dental. Rather than obsess about managing inventory, how about obsessing about managing our talent?
- "A-dec’s Lean Journey," Devin Layman, A-dec Inc. A discussion on the company’s discovery, implementation and sustaining of lean improvement principles in the manufacturing and office environments.
- "Enhancing Sales in Hard Times," Michael Norton, Burkhart Dental Supply. How to grow sales in a challenging economy.
- "State of the Dental Economy," Richard Fishbane, Strategic Data Marketing. A discussion on key areas where the economy has had an impact on the dental industry.
- "The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers," by author Keith McFarland.
- Closing speakers were James Carville, Democratic political consultant; and Mary Matalin, former assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to former Vice President Dick Cheney.
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