Waterloo, Iowa

It rained at times, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the more than 400 attendees and 80 exhibitors at the Heartland Conference sponsored in August by member services organization VGM Group.

“I thought it was a great turnout,” said Michael Crouch, chief operating officer for Atlanta-based Graham-Field Health Products. “For its first time, I was impressed with the professionalism with which the show was handled and I think it will continue to grow, particularly in May 2003 when it's next scheduled.”

The Heartland Conference has its roots in the former Heartland Seating and Mobility Conference held in Topeka, Kan. According to Carolyn Cole, director of communications for VGM. It mainly focused on the rehab market. VGM saw an opportunity to expand the conference's offerings and include home medical equipment, respiratory and case manager markets, Cole said.

And judging by the response, attendees were pleased with the format, which combined product exhibitors, educational seminars and, of course, several opportunities for those in attendance to let their hair down, including at a pub-crawl, golf tournament and pig roast.

“For its first year out, I think [VGM] did a good job,” said Mani Cohen, president of Toronto, Canada-based Unicare Medical. “The educational seminars were strong and so was the quality of exhibitors. Also, since it was a smaller show, we had the chance to meet people that we wouldn't normally meet at some of the larger shows.”

The next Heartland Conference is scheduled for May 14-17, 2003. There won't be a conference in 2002 because of a busy industry conference and trade show schedule in 2002.

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