If the measure of an event's success is the number of positive comments and a genuinely upbeat feeling flowing through a conference venue, then this year's Benefits Selling Expo was an overall winner.
Close to than 800 benefits professionals converged March 21-23 at the Dallas Fairmont for an action-packed business event that blended old-fashioned Texas hospitality with an endless variety of educational and networking opportunities.
If the measure of an event's success is the number of positive comments and a genuinely upbeat feeling flowing through a conference venue, then this year's Benefits Selling Expo was an all-over winner.
More than 800 industry people converged March 21-23 at the Dallas Fairmont for an action-packed business event that blended old-fashioned Texas hospitality with an endless variety of educational and networking opportunities.
The Dallas event offered showgoers the chance to interact with some of the most influential and well-informed figures in the business, ranging from motivational speakers Sarano Kelley and Scott Halford to lively (but mostly good-spirited) debates between industry insiders such as Fort Worth's Sharon Alt and Philadelphia's Jim Christenson. Legendary Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett offered some upbeat and inspirational testimony on the power of positive thinking.
Attendees also had the opportunity for more direct and issue-oriented learning through a series of educational breakout sessions featuring a cross-section of experts. Presenters included Jesus Bustillios (speaking on small group disability secrets), Dan Robinson, Adam Fields, Web expert Fred Stover and William Kramer.
The entire gathering was also a great opportunity for attendees to socialize and make plenty of new contacts, and nearly everyone who attended has some story to tell about the vibrant duo of celebrity impersonators -- including a larger-than-life Marilyn Monroe -- who greeted guests during the fun-filled American Express networking party. That event, held the first night of the show, was literally standing-room only and prompted plenty of observations the next day that those in the benefits selling world are indeed very social animals.
Networking action was also busy at the Expo's exhibit hall as more than 80 companies offered information on products and services.
Day One's most memorable moments came in the life-affirming motivational strategies of keynote speaker Kelley, a Benefits Selling columnist who has observed that most of us really only do about two and a half hours of productive work a day. Kelley suggested that a more focused existence, living in the present, can lead to a happier, more successful life and career, rather than constantly holding yourself back.
There was absolutely no holding back, however, as Alt and Christenson faced off to discuss the divisive subject of consumer-driven health care plans. Alt, also a Benefits Selling columnist, was more than happy to take off the gloves and get into a Texas-styled throwdown with Christenson on the notion of personal responsibility when it comes to health care.
Alt suggested that consumers are better off by not only doing their own research on health services -- something she illustrated with a story of her own husband's decision no to make an expensive trip to the emergency ward -- and that the public's isolation from the real costs of health care has led to over-use.
Christenson countered that the high deductibles associated with consumer directed health care plans amount to nothing more than cost-shifting on the part of employers. He also suggested that an expansion of Medicare and Medicaid would do more to help control health care costs than any savings provided by CDHCs. Despite the theatrics, the two left on good terms and prompted plenty of discussion on the topic.
Day two's keynote address by Halford continued the theme of the positive benefits of an optimistic approach to life -- and business. Despite the insurmountable obstacles in our daily existence, Halford said optimism is a state of mind that can be learned and used to your own benefit. He also suggested that those who provide ways to simplify the world for others will become more in-demand as time goes on and said that simplifying your own life is a first, important step.
Many attendees also made the trip home with some hot new tunes in their future. Exhibit hall sponsors gave away dozens of gifts, including a deluge of Apple iPods and golf equipment.
Christina Medina, a rep with Ca?on City, Colo.-based Sunflower Insurance Group, was the very ecstatic winner of the event's grand prize, an all-inclusive six-day trip to Malaga, Spain, provided by Benefits Selling and Genesis Travel Benefits.
Next year's Expo will take place April 2-4, 2008, at Atlanta's Westin Peachtree Plaza; for event and pre-registration information, visit www.BenefitsSellingExpo.com.
From the May 2007 issue of Benefits Selling Magazine • Subscribe!
