Owners’ Gather to Benchmark and Improve Their Businesses

Employing timeless innovation methods in today’s global economy

January 19, 2012

Sarah Miller Caldicott, author & great-grandniece of Thomas Edison

Sarah Miller Caldicott, a great-grandniece of Thomas Edison, will deliver the Friday keynote presentation at The FABRICATOR®'s Leadership Summit: 7th Annual Metal Matters and FMA's 16th Annual Toll Processing Conference. Both events will be held at the Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale, Ariz., Feb. 29 – March 2, 2012.

Sarah Miller Caldicott has been engaged in creativity and innovation throughout her life. Inspired by a family lineage of inventors dating back five generations, Sarah began her 25-year career as a marketing executive with major brand-driven firms, including Quaker Oats and the Helene Curtis subsidiary of Unilever.

Concerned that America was losing its innovation leadership, Sarah spent three years researching Edison's innovation methods with experts at Rutgers University and co-authored Innovate Like Edison.

Sarah will present insights on how today's executives can apply Edison's extraordinary approach to identifying new markets, targeting new customers, building new product/service platforms, and transforming his customers' buying experience. She will also identify how Edison leveraged his Five Competencies of Innovation™ to build a sustainable culture of innovation and attract the best and brightest employees.

Planned by executives of progressive job shops, The FABRICATOR®'s Leadership Summit 2012 theme is "Competing Locally, Navigating Globally." The program will begin with an assessment of the current business environment featuring FMA's economic analyst, Dr. Chris Kuehl, and other industry experts, followed by collaborative dialogue in World Café Conversations.

Additional highlights will be business management roundtables as well as case studies presented by the recipients of The FABRICATOR® and TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal® Industry Awards. Review more information about the conference featured on page 31.

Toll Processing Conference alumni and attendees new to the event will enjoy the Phoenix backdrop and the entertainment options at the Talking Stick Resort and Casino. Playing off the fun atmosphere, the theme of this year's event is "Don't Gamble with Your Business." In addition to hearing from inspiring keynotes, participants will enjoy the Transportation Panel Discussion with representatives from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the American Trucking Association; a Steel Industry Overview; an Automotive Market Update; and the popular Economic Forecast session featuring industry analyst Glenn Kidd and FMA economic analyst Dr. Chris Kuehl.

Valuable networking time rounds out the conferences, including a Welcome Reception on Wednesday, "A Night in Monte Carlo" on Thursday evening, and a golf outing on Friday at the Talking Stick Golf Club.

Don't miss out on your chance to gain new ideas and build strategic partnerships that will give your company an edge in today's competitive market. Conference registration is $845/$945 (FMA/TPA/OPC members; nonmembers) per person, $695/$795 each for two registrants, or $495/$595 per person when you register three or more team members. Make plans now to participate in order to receive the special FMA conference rate at the Talking Stick Resort and take advantage of airfare deals.

Additional details can be found at fmanet.org or by calling 888-394-4362.

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