EDPA PRESIDENT’S UPDATE – Dan Serebin
Happy New Year!
EDPA’s ACCESS 2022 in San Antonio, just five weeks ago, was a huge success. If you weren’t able to attend I urge you to put Access 2023 on your calendar. It will be in Bonita Springs Florida from November 28th to November 30th.
The positive energy felt at ACCESS was a reflection of what we are seeing in the industry and 2023 has started out just as strong. CES released their attendance figures on January 8th - 115,000 attendees with 40,000 of that total coming from 140 countries outside the United States. Still not up to the pre-COVID 2020 attendance of 171,000 but a sure sign of a continuing comeback.
Another good predictor of 2023 activity will be EuroShop. It starts on February 26th in Dusseldorf, Germany. Every indication so far is that it will be well attended by both exhibitors and attendees. The EDPA Pub-Crawl Dinner is on February 27th and is always a must attend event. Don’t forget to sign up if you haven’t already.
You’ve been bombarded with experts predicting a recession starting sometime in 2023. I can’t tell you who is right and when a downturn might begin. I can tell you now is not the time to get defensive. Stay on offense. EDPA sure is.
A major 2023 priority for us are the Economic and Compensation surveys. We know that the surveys are an important component of the value EDPA brings to you as a member of EDPA. We will be moving up the timing of those surveys so they are completed and distributed earlier in the year. We need everyone’s participation this year and will be reaching out to you in the coming months with 2023’s survey questions.
On behalf of Dasher and your EDPA Board, thank you for your commitment to EDPA. We all look forward to seeing you in 2023!
Dan Serebin
EDPA President
Please save the following dates for EDPA happenings in 2023:
EuroShop 2023 - EDPA booth 2/26/23- 3/2/23 (IFES Village – Messe Duesseldorf)
EDPA EuroShop Pub-Crawl Dinner 2/27/23 (Schumacher Brewery – Duesseldorf)
Engage 2023 – 4/23/23 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm cst
(Copper & Kings Distillery – Louisville, KY)ExhibitorLive 2023 - 4/24/23 - 4/26/23 (EDPA Booth #327)
Legislative Action Day 2023 – 6/6/23 (Washington, DC)
ACCESS 2023 – 11/28/23 – 11/30/23 (Hyatt Coconut Point – Bonita Springs, FL).
EDPA Foundation Board of Directors
Alex Hill - Chair
Rob Cohen - Grantor Program
Norm Friedrich - University Affiliations
Derek Gentile - Scholarship Program
Bill Haney - Investments
Amanda Helgemoe - Silent Auction & Gala
Mark Johnson - Treasurer
Robert Laarhoven - The Randy
Jim Obermeyer - Secretary
Rebecca Thompson - Scholarship Program
Dave Walens - Past Chair
EDPA FOUNDATION UPDATE – Giving Back to Our Industry
The EDPA Foundation was created in 2001, with a commitment to supporting three essential pillars: Scholarships – Education - Financial Support of Those in Need.
To date, the EDPAF has raised over $1.4 million to support key industry causes:
Annual scholarships to individuals and their immediate family members in our industry totaling more than $400,000
Provide mentorship, industry expertise and financial support to the educational programs and students at Bemidji State University and the Fashion Institute of Technology – programs to train the future design community of our industry
Largest contributor annually for the Randy Smith Memorial Golf Tournament supporting the financial needs of people in our industry who have suffered
The EDPAF has ensured its ability to continue to provide long term support for these programs by consciously raising over $1.4 million that has been invested through the EDPAF’s endowment.
How can you help to make sure that these and additional programs are supported to assist the future well-being of our industry and its members?
As a company, make a 3-year commitment to becoming part of our grantor program. The financial commitment for these 3 years is based on your annual revenues and you will receive recognition as one of the EDPAF’s Grantor Companies who acknowledge the importance and need to give back to maintain and build the strength of our industry.
As an individual, commit to make a $500 contribution this year and give back to the industry from which you earn your living and help to support these great causes.
Come to EDPA ACCESS and participate in the great activities that lead to raising money to help the support the causes backed by the EDPAF.
If you are interested in becoming an EDPAF Grantor or making an individual donation, please contact Rob Cohen (EDPA Foundation Grantor Chair) - rcohen@dslgroup.com.
The EDPA Foundation is your industry foundation, supporting the critical needs of our industry and its members! Thank you for your consideration of supporting the EDPA Foundation.
Last Call for EDPA’s Pub Crawl Dinner Tickets - EuroShop 2023
EDPA will be attending EuroShop 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany and hosting our “Pub Crawl Dinner”. This must attended social event will be held on Monday, Feb. 27th, 2023 at the Brauerei Schumacher on Oststrasse (East Street).
This festive social gathering includes free-flowing beer, traditional German fare, and fun is a long-standing tradition for EDPA’s EuroShop attendees.
You don’t want to miss the excitement. The event is open to all EDPA members, but there is a limited capacity of 100 people.
Ticket Costs - $175 per dinner ticket
(discounted price for current EDPA International members)
Midwest
Event: EDPA Economic Survey
Date: January 19
Location: Zoom
Time: 4:00-5:00pm CST
Description: Guest speaker, Joe Federbush, will present the Economic Survey findings originally presented at the EDPA Access event last month in San Antonio. This is a great opportunity to revisit the information presented or to hear the findings for the first time if you couldn’t attend Access.
Registration link: Join the following Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85113909014?pwd=bytIaGdaUjl4SHR1NnBWWStrR3ZSUT09&fbclid=IwAR3tJdKf6JnfXGuI_suMuSxE9j3iAVbTAj3qYKlg08P-9hXHfaAs0_8vrRE#success
Texas
Event: Trivia Night
Date: February 8th
Location: Zoom
Time: 5:00-6:00pm CST
Description: SPONSORED BY CLASSIC EXHIBITS - Join us for a fun evening and test your trivia skills aiming to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Registration link: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86951770992?pwd=K2N5bzgzMkZNNjZsU2Q0cjZjOVBDZz09
Meeting ID: 869 5177 0992
Passcode: 264690
Free for all, email Noelle Webster at noelle.webster@willwork.com for a calendar invite.
EDPA Las Vegas
Event: EDPA Las Vegas 2023 New Year Mixer
Date: January 17th
Location: Ellis Island Casino – Upstairs Terrace in The Front Yard
Time: 5:30-7:30pm PST
Description: January mixer with industry professionals - $25/person includes appetizers and 2 drink tickets.
Registration link: https://form.jotform.com/230087869303157
