This year's show included a number of new features to enhance the show experience for the attendees and exhibitors. One of the show's hits was the Dealer Conference held on Wednesday, March 21. The day-long learning environment included 12 sessions on four different tracks: marketing, best practices, curriculum, and trends. The Dealer Conference featured a "speed dining" format for the luncheon that proved to be not only an effective networking tool to meet new industry friends, but also allowed dealers to "talk shop" and share business secrets that they could use when they returned home during three separate courses with new people to meet at each setting. 

"I LOVED the new Dealer Roundtable Luncheon," said Shawn Deignan of Teacher's Delight in Indiana. "We really discussed a lot and I took away lots of great ideas."  

"The Dealer Roundtable was great," said member dealer Jolee Bishop Beamer of The Learning Curve in Winter Haven, FL. "I got some great ideas from fellow dealers and was able to share some as well. Plus...the chocolate dessert was amazing!!" 

Keynote & New Show Hours 

Innovative New Products   

 Evening With the Stars & Award Recipients

At the NSSEA Annual Meeting on Thursday, March 22, new leaders of the association were elected and outgoing members were thanked for their years of service to NSSEA. Chairman Kevin Fahy, owner of Fahy-Williams Publishing, presided over the meeting and awards presentation. Former NSSEA Chairman Jamey Firnberg presented the $2,500 college scholarship to Hunter Winslett sponsored by Scholar Craft Products, Inc. in Birmingham, AL.  

Todd Merryfield, Chair of the NSSEA Retail Store Council, presented awards for the most creative, engaging, and dynamic booth design at the show to:  

Most Dynamic Staff: Ashley Productions 

Outstanding Exhibit - Single Booth: Bonitas International 

Most Innovative Booth: Plan Toys

In addition to the Booth Awards, the Retail Store Council sponsored awards to two companies that demonstrated the very best in customer service based on nominations submitted by the dealer membership at large. The winners were The Pencil Grip and TREND enterprises.

Dennis Gosney, President of Wood Designs, presented the first annual Tim Holt Bright Start Award to the Jenkins County High School in Millen, GA. Dr. Kirkland spoke of his county's dire need for educational products resulting from the recent economic downturn. NSSEA President/CEO Jim McGarry then presented Dennis Gosney with the highest honor, the David McCurrach Distinguished Service Award, and outgoing Chairman Kevin Fahy with a ceremonial gavel plaque.   

"The marketplace for educational products continues to change and NSSEA is committed to transforming with it," said Jim McGarry, President/CEO of NSSEA. "We will continue to innovate and respond to the needs of the industry as we provide the venue to showcase lifelong learning."