The National Sporting Goods Association is sponsoring the first-of-its-kind workshop that will seek ways to stimulate growth in the nearly $15 billion athletic footwear market. The workshop will be held Tuesday, May 24, at the 41st Annual NSGA Management Conference & 7th Annual Team Dealer Summit, which will be held May 22-25 at the new JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa in Tucson, AZ.

Under the guidance of a professional facilitator, who will help stimulate fresh thought and “out-of-the-box” suggestions, attendees will be divided into table groups, each of which will create a list of ideas. The table leaders will then share the table’s ideas with the group for further discussion, and a master list of ideas will be compiled and shared with attendees.

Workshop discussion leaders are: Joe Amoruso, Vice President-Sales, Jack Schwartz Shoes; Bob Carr, Editor, Inside Sporting Goods; Keith Daly, Executive Vice President-Sales, And 1; Rick Graham, Vice President-Sales, Skechers USA; Russ Hopcus, National Sales Director, adidas; Rick King, President, Rick King & Associates, Inc.; Craig Levra, President & CEO, Sport Chalet, Inc.; Glenn Lyon, President & Chief Merchandising Officer, Finish Line; Beth Menuet, Executive Vice President-Footwear, Academy Sports & Outdoors; Bill Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer, New Balance DFW; Todd Vore, President, Sof Sole; and Joe Wood, President, Famous Footwear.

“This workshop was carefully planned with feedback from previous Conference attendees, who said they wanted a ‘meatier’ footwear session,” said NSGA President & CEO James L. Faltinek. “This format will encourage more sharing and interaction among retailers, manufacturers and agents who sell athletic footwear.”