Thank You Cincinnati! | Agency Sales Magazine

2024	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2023	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2022	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2021	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2020	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2019	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2018	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2017	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2016	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2015	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2014	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2013	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2012	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2011	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2010	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2009	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2008	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2007	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January
2006	December	November	October	September	August	July	June	May	April	March	February	January

A couple of months ago I thanked Texas MANA members for their warm welcome and hospitality when we met for lunch and conversation in Dallas. Now I have the opportunity to extend those same thanks to Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky MANA members, and members of the Manufacturers’ Agents of Cincinnati (MAC) who met me for a joint MANA/MAC lunch and conversation at the Montgomery Inn in Cincinnati.

A good turnout at the joint MANA/MAC lunch.

Why were Dallas and Cincinnati some of the best meetings I’ve ever had? I think it’s because we established a “PowerPoint-Free Zone” for our meetings. No projector. No screen. Just informal questions, answers and conversation about topics important to representatives, and some friendly networking.

There are still topics best communicated with formal presentations, but it seems that there is less appetite for a classroom setting and more of an appetite for conversation. The message I’m getting is, “Talk with me, not at me.” Message received!

MAC (www.maccincinnati.org) is an association focused on representative and principal best practices much like MANA, except that, as the name suggests, it focuses its attention on the area surrounding Cincinnati.

A special treat for me during this visit was the opportunity to meet with most of MAC’s Board of Directors, MANA past Chairman Tom Hayward, and MANA Board member John Davis before the meeting. Getting together face-to-face to share ideas and best practices with other associations that share MANA’s interests is a very important part of MANA’s role in promoting the representative system of selling.

My biggest takeaway from Dallas and Cincinnati is that my role at those meetings has been to get the conversation started, and keep it on track. The combined experience of 20 or 30 representatives in the room brings more expertise to the table than any MANA CEO could bring.

So, again, thanks to Dallas and Cincinnati, and I’m looking forward to an upcoming (at press time) “PowerPoint-Free Zone” in New Jersey. Where’s next? I’m open to suggestions, e-mail me at [email protected].

Left to right: Jeff Witt, John Davis, Larry Roy, Chris Schnetzer, Charlie McDonald, Dick Harvey, Tom Hayward, Rick Pierce and Charles Cohon.

Attendees at the MAC Board meeting (left to right) Jeff Witt, John Davis, Larry Roy, Chris Schnetzer, Charlie McDonald, Dick Harvey, Tom Hayward, Rick Pierce and Charles Cohon.