As a provider of resources, solutions and information to the work truck and trailer industry, the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) will offer its 2007 Business and Market Planning Summit
(formerly the Economic Outlook Conference) Oct. 3–4, 2006, at the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago-O’Hare Rosemont.
During this revamped, two-day conference, top economists and industry experts will present an array of business planning tools and insights geared to sales, marketing and planning professionals. The summit will feature profit and productivity planning sessions that demonstrate the benefits of good business and market planning in support a company’s strategic objectives.
Also top economists from several market segments will provide forecasts for 2007 on U.S. economic growth and the work truck and trailer industry.
Presentations include:
• Increase Profitability the SPEQ Plan Manual Way — Albert Bates, Ph.D., chairman and president, Profit Planning Group (Boulder, Colo.)
• Using the NTEA Application Market Survey Report as a Planning Tool — Doyle Sumrall, director of strategic opportunities, NTEA (Farmington Hills, Mich.)
• Improving Sales Results Through Innovative Communication — L. Fred Yetka, president and CEO, and Frank Schimberg, vice president of Career Transition, both with Yetka Management Group (Richfield, Ohio)
• North American Economic Forecast — James Meil, chief economist, Eaton Corporation (Cleveland, Ohio)
• U.S. Construction Market Forecast — Don Johnson, chief economist, Caterpillar Inc. (Peoria, Ill.)
• State Government Fleet Forecast — Joe O’Neill, vice president, Chanticleer Inc. (Litchfield Park, Ariz.)
• Truck Industry Market Forecast — Kenneth Kremar, principal, Industry Forecast Practices Group, Global Insight (Eddystone, Pa.)
• End-use Market Review — Eli Lustgarten, senior vice president, Longbow Research (Cleveland, Ohio) and, principal, ESL Consultants (St. Louis, Mo.)
· Work Truck and Trailer Market Forecast, Domestic and International — Stephen Latin-Kasper, Market Data and Research director, NTEA (Farmington Hills, Mich.)

Those attending the program will take away a CD-ROM and binder containing data and analyses to create a well-informed business plan. Early bird registration (on or before Sept. 1) for the 2007 Business and Marketing Planning Summit is $249 for members and $299 for nonmembers.
After Sept. 1, registration increases to $299 for members and $349 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, visit www.ntea.com or call (800) 441-NTEA (6832) or (248) 489-7090.
Established in 1964, the NTEA is the leading association supporting the $116 billion work truck and trailer industry. The association represents more than 1,700 companies that manufacture, distribute, install, sell and repair commercial trucks, truck bodies, truck equipment, trailers and accessories. Buyers of work trucks and the major commercial truck chassis manufacturers also belong to the association.