I had the opportunity to attend the Direct Selling Association’s 2010 Annual Meeting & 100^th Anniversary Celebration in San Francisco this past week.

With well over 1,000 direct selling CEOs, founders and executives, it was the most attended DSA conference ever.  The atmosphere was electric and the speakers were mesmerizing (including Southwestern Company’s Dan Moore!).  The event closed with a black-tie Centennial Celebration Banquet that blew away all attendees with the amazing talents of singer Sandi Patty, the charm of Powerhouse (inspiration group for Glee!) and the powerful motivation of direct selling industry icons.

At the banquet, the focus was on four companies that have contributed to the direct selling industry in positive ways for over a century.  In emotional video tributes, these companies were honored for their longevity and contributions to the industry. 

The honorees were:
Southwestern Company, 155 years
Avon Products, Inc., 126 years
Fuller Brush Company, 104 years
Regal Ware Worldwide, 100 years

Both Southwestern greats from the past and present were in attendance during various parts of the conference.  Dan Moore participated in the DSA and DSEF Board meetings and presented a part entitled “The Training Triangle” in a heavily attended workshop in which he taught the three most crucial success factors for working with your sales force.  Trey Campbell (me) moderated roundtables on PR and communications and represented Southwestern Company in various committee meetings. Henry Bedford and wife, Barbara, were able to attend the banquet in which Henry graciously accepted DSA’s Century Award on behalf of Southwestern Company.  Former Southwestern Company President Jerry Heffel and current Southwestern Investment Services financial planner Bob Sircy were also present and were recognized as pillars of the industry several times throughout the week – Jerry as a member of the DSA Hall of Fame, and Bob as a member of the Direct Selling Education Foundation (DSEF) Circle of Honor.  Also there as part of the Southwestern Family of Companies: Howard Lewis, President of Family Heritage Life Insurance Company of America and Gina Thayer, Vice President of Sales at Wildtree.

When accepting the Century Award, Henry did so “on behalf of all of the student dealers in Nashville attending Sales School, those on the bookfield and those who have carried the sample case in the past.”  He further added what great company we were in alongside the other’s being recognized.

In addition to all of the celebrations, there was a full slate of general sessions, workshops and roundtable discussions.  We were also able to contribute locally by participating in an ocean-front beach clean-up initiative sponsored by the DSEF.  Another great addition, for which Southwestern Company played a large role was a walk-through, museum-like history of direct selling – including timeline, display case and story board about the history of door-to-door. 

All in all, it was a great week of education, networking, saving the environment and award-receiving!

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