The Direct Marketing Association said yesterday that it would begin its 85th Annual Conference & Exhibition in San Francisco this October by adding eight new pre-conference programming tracks.
The expanded pre-conference weekend will cover in detail the challenges, opportunities and strategies of specific vertical markets, including agency, financial services, list, pharmaceutical marketing, publishing, technology marketing, teleservices and travel marketing. The staple business-to-business and catalog tracks will remain on this year's program.
The DMA, New York, said this change addresses the increased use of direct and interactive marketing among vertical industries.
“As the use of direct and interactive marketing continues to expand beyond its traditional users, so does the need for information,” said H. Robert Wientzen, the DMA's president/CEO. “This year's expanded industry program will allow participants to join a select group of like-minded professionals for an intimate and intense learning and networking experience.”
The pre-conference begins Saturday, Oct. 19, with opening remarks from Jon Pearson, principal, Creative Learning. Pearson's presentation, “Secrets of a Creative Life: How to be Happy and Productive Forever,” will show how to turn problems into opportunities.
On Oct. 20, Tim Sanders, chief solutions officer, Yahoo, presents “Experience Economy Marketing: Where It Will Take You.” Sanders' team matches marketers' needs with Yahoo products and services. The pre-conference concludes that afternoon with the opening of the exhibition hall.
Further information is available at the DMA's Annual Conference Web site at www.dmaannual.org.
