From the Publisher

It's said that experiences that don’t kill us make us stronger. If that’s true, then the death-defying rollercoaster that was 2020 has taken our strength training to whole new level.

I like to think that we, our families and our companies begin each year with a fresh page…a clean start.

Considering what we’ve all been through to get us to this point, it’s clear that we, as individuals, as companies, and as an industry, have what it takes to not only survive, but to adapt and thrive.

When it became clear that our plan for an in-person event in Boston wasn’t in the cards, we decided to jump feet-first into the bleeding edge world of virtual conferences.

2020 has been an adventure for everyone in our industry. Instead of a fun, “choose your own adventure,” it’s been the type in which we expect one thing (a healthy year for business) and are hit over the head with something completely unexpected (global pandemic).

Our goal remains the same: to deliver the best information and insights available to help you build your sales, your business, and your brand.

It started, like so many great things do, with a simple suggestion.

Faced with an incomprehensible threat, Dee didn’t run and hide and hope the problem would solve itself. She picked up a broom and went into battle.

History shows clearly that every economic downturn results in winners and losers. The winners work hard to use the downturn to study their business and their operations—to leverage their strengths and work on their weaknesses.

If you’re reading this, you’re a member of an industry that’s a cornerstone of every city and town in the U.S. It’s not just an industry...it’s a community.