What do John Deere tractors, a hog roast, good beer and HME products have in common? They all come together in Waterloo, Iowa, once a year for the annual Heartland Conference put on by the Van G. Miller Group (VGM). This year’s conference takes place June 12–15; don’t miss out on your opportunity to register and attend.
The Heartland Conference is marked by a myriad of educational sessions packed with opportunities to learn how to grow your business and succeed in the tough HME market. On June 13, CMS and SBA officials will join a panel discussion that will cover the future of the competitive bidding program and provide an opportunity for attendees to ask questions and share feedback about the impact of regulation on business.
Heartland mixes in “Big Idea” concepts that are inspirational and aspirational. This year’s keynote address, taking place June 13 at 8 a.m., is speaker Kevin Lacz, a former Navy SEAL, best-selling author, and one of the stars of “American Sniper.” Lacz will address the topic of risk and reward in the business world—how to identify, mitigate and overcome risks. This is a session attendees of the conference surely do not want to miss.
Heartland offers a full slate of networking opportunities—from a charity golf tournament in memory of VGM founder Van Miller and the signature John Deere tractor tour June 12, as well as a hog roast and fireworks that evening, to the new-in-2017 HME YP Meet-Up June 13. The HME YP Meet-Up will be held at the SingleSpeed Brewery and is open to young professionals under 40 for an evening of networking, beer and best practices.
Wrap up the week at Heartland with Dinner at the Farm June 15; enjoy scenes of rural Iowa including cornfields, the company barn and a tractor or two, along with a home-cooked meal served family style.
Also new this year is the Retail Training Lab, demonstrating how to incorporate retail and incremental sales into your business plan, presented by VGM Retail Services and VGM Forbin.
As with any conference, the expo hall offers attendees a great chance to meet with manufacturers to see new products and supply their store inventory gaps. The tradeshow will be open Tuesday, June 13 and Wednesday, June 14.
For more information on the Heartland Conference, including a complete list of speakers, networking events or to register, visit www.vgmheartland.com. We hope to see you in Waterloo!
