The program committee has completed the schedule of events for the year. To see the complete schedule Click Here.

The program committee has been working all spring and summer to bring you programs that respond to the survey you filled out in May. A couple of the upcoming program highlights include:

The Making Sales Connections Happen Workshop

All entrepreneurs are in sales, just at a very high level. Making Sales Connections Happen is all about helping you to identify, understand and adapt to the essence of your customer's style During this session you will understand how you "naturally" operate through utilizing the DiSC Behavioral Program which provides a scientific approach to understanding yourself and others. DiSC is a workshop that provides a safe way to get to know better “who” you are and “how” you can adapt to relate effectively to customers and colleagues.

The workshop will be held in the LSC Conference Room in the Lombardo Student Center on the John Carroll campus on Wednesday, September 17^th from 7:30 until 11:15 a.m. The cost of the workshop is $100 and includes breakfast and all materials.

Building PETCO – A Pet Store Giant

Jim Myers, the CEO of PETCO will speak at the association’s opening event on Tuesday evening, October 7^th. Starting at 5:30 p.m. with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking, Jim will tell the story of the building of the company in both the public phase and the return to being a private company.

Like many companies, this is a great story that you will not want to miss. PETCO is a holding company for PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, which is the second-largest specialty pet supplies retailer in the US with more than 850 stores in 49 states. The company is barking up the tree of PetSmart, which leads the market. PETCO Animal Supplies holding company was formed in early 2005 to create a foundation for the firm's upcoming growth strategies. The holding company also changed the name of its operating subsidiary. In 2006 two buyout firms -- Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners -- took PETCO private in a deal worth $1.8 billion.

This event is free for all association members and their spouses, so come and meet Jim, hear this fascinating story, and learn the lessons from the “horse’s mouth!”