2012 EC Conference Recap

Conference Highlights

One of our best delegate-attended conferences in the last 20 years took place in Whistler this year.

Conference Photos (Click to Enlarge)

This gallery is made up of staff and attendee contributions. If you have any photos of the conference you would like to share, please send them to Ryan Moore, rmoore@electrofed.com

Brief Synopsis of our Conference Speaker Topics:
A major highlight of the conference was the speaker program, which dealt with the theme “Leadership for the New Generation”.

Peter Sheahan, on new employees:

– The success of a new employee will depend more upon your expectations of them, rather than on their own individual abilities.

Justin Hall-Tipping, on new generation:

– Nanotechnology changes everything, a micro thin layer of carbon on a sheet of plastic is 1000 times more conductive than copper, and can produce and store electricity from light.

Steve Bieszczat, on e-commerce:

- You can buy the infrastructure…but you can’t buy the data! If you’re a manufacturer, your data is a key asset and an essential enabler for your customers to compete in today’s environment.

Bruce Kirkby, on your ability as an individual to grow:

– Challenge and growth lie outside your comfort zone. You are either challenging your comfort zone, or it is getting smaller.

Michael Campbell, on the economy:

– If you want to see your investment grow long term, invest in things that the Chinese will need.

David De Yagher, on the smart grid:

– Smart Grid is just the first step in a new era that will support new products, new sources of power and give the home owner more control.

E-Commerce Industry Data Warehouse – Enriched Data and Pricing

A panel focused on the need for more enriched product data reached three conclusions:

1. Major Canadian distributors will be using this data in the very near future, for both internal and external use. (An example of an industry already doing this is the aftermarket auto industry)
2. Manufacturers must provide the enriched information if they want to visible on the Internet.
3. Manufacturers are unsure about the process, and a great deal of communications is needed to help get them started.

Thanks go to Bill Hammond, HPS, facilitator, Elaine Gerrie-Valentini, Gerrie Electric, Todd Barlow, Siemens, and Steve Bieszczat, EPICOR, for their work as panelists.

EC Book now available – Industry Profile: Electrical Manufacturers

Conference delegates received a book produced by the Electrical Council describing the size and scope of the industry in Canada: Province by province, numbers of employees, size of market as well as number of factories. The book also reviews all 14 EC industry sections, describing their issues, dollar volume, and growth forecast.
Members can receive a copy by contacting Sue Adler at sadler@electrofed.com

Manufacturers and Reps

CEMRA started a committee that will allow reps to work more closely with manufacturers. The committee will be chaired by Greg Guisso, of Venture Lighting.

Conference Awards

This year’s Honorary Member Awards go to:

Wayne Donaldson, formerly Rexel  (Distributor, not present)

Jean-Marie Falquet, formerly Convectair (Manufacturer)
(Click to enlarge)

CEMRA’s Person of the Year Awardgoes to Patrick Marion, Desdowd.
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Tim Horsman, of EB Horsman & Son, stepped down as Electrical Council Chair; He now passes the gavel to Mark Schroeder of Rockwell Automation. (click to enlarge)