With nearly 450 sporting goods industry leaders in attendance, the 42nd Annual NSGA Management Conference and 8th Annual Team Dealer Summit-held at The Westin La Cantera Resort & Spa in San Antonio, Texas-provided retailers, dealers, manufacturers and agents exactly what they were looking for-the best educational and networking experience available in the sporting goods industry.

This year’s Conference/Summit was the fourth consecutive sellout, and the final count didn’t include an additional 50 persons who attended the 50th anniversary Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“This turnout shows that the industry really values an event that delivers strong educational content and great networking year after year,” said Bruce Ullery, President of MC Sports and newly elected NSGA Chairman of the Board.

“The conference just keeps getting better,” said Joe Wood, President of Famous Footwear. “The numbers and quality of attendees are a confirmation of such. I get more done in three days by networking with people than I could in six months, both on the wholesale and retail side.”

“I’ve been going to the conference for 10 or 11 years, and every year it gets better,” said Don McClelland of Sportline. “The speakers’ relevancy to our business is excellent. The interaction between the vendors and the dealers is extremely beneficial.”

“I wouldn’t miss these for the world,” said Burt Steinberg of American Rod and Gun. “There’s a lot of great networking. We meet new people every time. I’m going to take a lot of good ideas back with me. It was a very worthwhile experience.”

“We had four tremendous speakers who presented ideas we knew, but maybe they said them in a different way or gave us a great reminder,” said Bruce Johnson, Gazelle Sporting Goods. “Whether it’s Lou Holtz or Jeffrey Gitomer, there were some great ideas we can take back and utilize.”

“The programs were very, very good,” said Mike Metcalfe of Saucony. “I think it’s always good for the trade and the industry to get together. The program you put together here was outstanding.”

“I think it’s a great conference,” said Ray Fowle of Champion Products. “I think it’s a fabulous experience. In the team workshop, when we talked about what dealers expect from vendors, it was a real eye-opener for me. It was a complete different perspective from what the manufacturer thinks they expect. If we take those messages to heart, I think it will be a huge boost for both the team dealer and the manufacturer.”

The 2007 Conference/Summit will be held May 20-23 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, Fla.

CONFERENCE NOTES

New NSGA Officers and Directors

Bruce Ullery, President of MC Sports, Grand Rapids, Mich., was elected to a two-year term as Chairman of the Board. Ron Kruse, President of Hayden’s Athletic, Montgomery, Ill., will serve as Past Chairman.

NSGA members chose Curt Munson, President of Playmakers, Inc., Okemos, Mich., to represent members in District III (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin), and Buddie Clendenin, Assistant General Manager of The Sport Mart, Inc., Charleston, W.Va., to represent District VI (Delaware, District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia).

The Board of Directors elected three Directors At Large: Bob Dickman, President of Kesslers Team Sports, Richmond, Ind.; Jeff Rosenthal, Vice President of Merchandising, Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc., Birmingham, Ala.; and Joe Wood, President, Famous Footwear, Madison, Wis.

Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

The industry turned out to honor six new members of the Hall of Fame-Alan Cohen, The Finish Line, Inc.; the late Dave Koch, New Era Cap Co.; Don Pfau, Sports, Inc.; Joachim Schroeder, retired from Karstadt Sports in Germany; Jim Soffe, M.J. Soffe Company; and Ed Stack, Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The Hall of Fame Dinner was co-sponsored by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., LYCRA® fiber and COOLMAX® fabric from INVISTA, Mizuno USA and New Balance Athletic Shoe.

Golf Winners

The first-place foursome of Joe Schmidt, Dick’s Sporting Goods; and Tom Hearn, Dan Pedrotti and Mark Solda, all of GolfPro2Go, shot 60 on the Palmer Course. The runnerup team of Mike Thompson and Roman Bormet, Rawlings; Don Leonard, Crown Sport Sales; and Wells Anderson, Positive Ions, shot 63 on the Resort Course.

On the Palmer Course, Jeff Hieminga of the Canadian Sporting Goods Association won the longest drive on hole No. 3, and Nancy Harding, Kep Harding’s Sport Stores, was closest to the pin on No. 13. On the Resort Course, Tim Marsho of DeLong was closest to the pin on No. 13, and Roman Bormet had the longest drive on No. 10.

The tournament was co-sponsored by Sporting Goods Business and Sporting Goods Dealer. Wilson provided golf balls, and Gatorade provided sports drinks.

Sponsors

Accusplit, Inc.; ADT Security Services, Inc.; DeLong Sportswear; Edifice Information Management; Gatorade; W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; K2, Inc.; LYCRA® fiber and COOLMAX® fabric from INVISTA; Messe Munchen GbmH (ISPO); Mizuno USA, Inc.; Mueller Sports Medicine, Inc.; New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.; New Era Capt Co., Inc.; The NPD Group; NSGA Team Dealer Division; Rawlings Sporting Goods Co.; Russell Corporation’s Family of Authentic Athletic Brands (Russell Athletic, Spalding, Bike Athletic, Moving Comfort, Huffy Sports, American Athletic, Inc.; and Brooks Sports); Schutt Sports; SGI Media; M.J. Soffe Co.; Sporting Goods Business; Sporting Goods Dealer; SportsOneSource/SPORTSCANINFO; Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Scholarship Providers

Alleson Athletic; American Sporting Goods; And 1; Ampac Enterprises, Inc./All-Star Division; Bison; Irwin Broh & Associates; Champion Athletic; Cramer Products, Inc.; Global Brand Marketing, Inc.; Holloway Sportswear, Inc.; Jack Schwartz Shoes (Lugz); Leisure Trends Group; McDavid Sports/Medical Products; Mueller Sports Medicine; Outdoor Cap Company; Physi-Cal Enterprises, LP; Rawlings Sporting Goods; Russell Corp.; Skechers USA; Sof Sole Footcare; Sporting Goods Agents Association; Sportline; TAG Team Uniforms by TMMG; Team Athletic Goods (TAG); Twin City Knitting Co., Inc.; and Wilson Sporting Goods Co.