Courier Weekend: Tampa

Showcase Sites
Visit two local courier companies on Friday, and start your networking early! Check out the details here.

2:00 - 5:00pm: Vendor setup.
4:30pm: On-site registration opens at the entrance to the Exhibit Hall.
6:30 - 8:00pm: Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall; sponsored by SubContracting Concepts

Keynote Address

The messenger-courier industry has been struggling with the independent contractor/employee issue for years. This year, we are honored to have Dennis Perez, an expert in the subject, as our keynote speaker.

Perez is a principal in the law firm of Hochman, Salkin, Rettig, Toscher & Perez (Beverly Hills, CA). He has been handling employment tax matters for the courier industry and related transportation industries since 1989, and has successfully litigated employment tax cases, including the independent contractor-employee issue, at all state and federal administrative levels, before the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board and in the federal courts.

He has been retained by the California Delivery Association (formerly the Association of Messenger & Courier Services) to represent its membership in employment tax matters and has advocated on behalf of the Messenger Courier Association of the Americas on tax legislation and related employment tax issues affecting the courier industry.

He is certified by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization, as a specialist in taxation law and is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He previously served as a senior trial attorney in the Los Angeles office of District Counsel, Internal Revenue Service and currently specializes in the area of civil and criminal tax litigation and controversy matters before the Internal Revenue Service and various state taxing agencies.

10:00am: General Session 1 in Meeting Room A.

Hot Topics: “Professionalizing” the Delivery Industry

Are you ready to think outside the box and participate in the standardization of the delivery industry? This interactive brainstorming session will evaluate and launch changes to the industry that increase professionalism and profitability. Its aim is to promote concrete standards and incorporate programs to de-commoditize the services you provide.

With an eye on increasing barriers to entry, the proposed standards would enhance the image of value-added service, preserving margins and veering away from the downward spiral of “lowest common denominator” thinking.

Peter Schlactus (KBS International; New Rochelle, NY) will moderate the panel. Members include such industry stalwarts as Bruce Ross (ExpressAir Delivery Systems; Costa Mesa, CA); Carrie Ehlers (Bonded Messenger; Milwaukee, WI) and Aaron Driben (City Express; Boston, MA), among others to be announced.

11:00am: Coffee Break in the Exhibit Hall; sponsored by Key Software Systems
11:30am: Breakout Sessions 1 in Meeting Room A and 2 in Meeting Room B.

1. Employees vs. ICs: the Bottom Line

Keynote speaker Dennis Perez will join Bob Lorgeree of CMS (Glendale, AZ), Tom McGrath of NICA, Inc. (Braintree, MA) and Paul Gapp of SubContracting Concepts, Inc. (Glens Falls, NY) to define what an independent contractor really is and explain the basic requirements and pitfalls of using them for your delivery company. They will also explain the role of various government agencies and how they can affect your decision to use ICs. Most important, they will teach you how to protect your business from unwarranted audits and hefty fines.

2. Direct Mail Marketing

In real estate, it’s the “location, location, location.” In direct mail marketing, it’s the “list, list, list.” Courier Magazine Publisher and university professor Bruce Joffe will explain the three critical elements comprising all direct mail efforts — the list, the offer, and the packaging — so that you can conduct your own successful campaign.

Joffe returns to the podium this year after unprecedented success at last year’s conference. His “Making News for Your Company” seminar has had a record number of requests for follow-up information and materials. You will not want to miss this opportunity to drive your company’s profits up with a direct mail campaign.

12:45pm: Luncheon in the Exhibit Hall; sponsored by NICA, Inc.
1:15pm: Presentation of 2004 Business Promotion Awards in Exhibit Hall

Click Here for a Business Promotion Awards Entry Form

2:15pm: Breakout Sessions 3 in Meeting Room A and 4 in Meeting Room B.

3. Buying, Selling, Acquiring a Courier Business

Chet Obieleski and Kathy Bertone, founders of CO Group (Reston, VA) will present a variety of merger, acquisition and buy/sell options for your company. Whether you are looking toward retirement or continued growth, this session will give you the information you need to make informed decisions about your future and that of your delivery company.

Obieleski’s specialty is restructuring troubled companies, strategic national expansion, start-ups, mergers, acquisitions and consolidations. With an intricate understanding of entrepreneurial endeavors and owners’ needs, Bertone has a special understanding of - and interest in - the courier and package delivery service industry, having sold nine such companies in the past few years.

4. Dealing with the Ever-Escalating Costs of Insurance

Jeff Ice of Kandrin, Ice and Kreiger (Strongsville, OH) and Carl Gerson of Capacity Coverage (Saddle River, NJ) will join forces to bring you advice and information on how your company can most effectively deal with the escalating insurance market.

“During the second half of 2003,” notes Jeff Ice, “we began to see some stabilization of the insurance market for most of these coverages essential to the courier industry. However, it can still be a challenge to secure the necessary coverages under favorable terms, conditions and pricing.”

Ice is president of Kandrin, Ice & Krieger, and Gerson is executive vice president of Capacity Coverage Company. Both have a long history of providing insurance products and services to the delivery industry and will discuss the present state of the insurance world, the outlook for 2005 and how to best handle your insurance investments.

3:30pm: General Session 2 in Meeting Room A.

The Metrics of Success

Yes, it’s all a numbers game … and if you take care of your numbers, they’ll take care of you. In this exciting session, Claudia Post (Diamond Transportation Group) and son, Philippe Gabay, bridge the generation gap, combining Post’s experience with sales, marketing and work flow with Gabay’s financial expertise. This integration of youth and wisdom will empower you with the tools you’ll need to succeed financially.

Post is a well known industry dynamo and Gabay recently joined Diamond as controller.

4:30 - 6:30pm: Reception and Networking in the Exhibit Hall; sponsored by Courier Complete

Sunday, September 19

9:00am: Exhibit Hall opens with coffee service.
9:30am: General Session 3 in Exhibit Hall

NTLA Seminar: Getting Shippers & Carriers on the Same Page

New technologies and regulatory changes are dramatically altering many aspects of same-day transportation … and are putting pressure on the industry's existing business model. As a result, customers and carriers have a shared interest in adapting to these changes and a need to network in an open forum to find solutions, partners and technology to manage this transition. In this 90-minute session, Dan Byrne from BeavEx (Atlanta, GA) will overview the National Transportation & Logistics Association (NTLA), an industry group working to deliver top-notch educational programs on topics that impact both shippers and carriers. The session includes a presentation on Check 21, the subject of this year's NTLA Bank Transportation Roundtable. Senior executives from the medical distribution, automotive, financial services, offices products and laboratory services sectors will then participate in an interactive panel discussion of critical issues in their respective industries that affect their delivery agents.

10:30am: Deluxe Brunch in Exhibit Hall; sponsored by Key Software Systems
12:00pm: Courier Weekend: Tampa concludes.
12:00 - 3:00pm: Vendor Teardown