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Mary H. King
APICS Communications Division
(703) 354-8851 or (800) 444-2742, ext. 2251

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APICS Announces General Session Speakers for
2002 International Conference

Alexandria, VA (January 9, 2002) Four business giants will be featured speakers at the general sessions of the APICS—The Educational Society for Resource Management 2002 International Conference and Exposition, October 27-30, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Glen Barton, chairman and CEO, Caterpillar, Inc.; coauthor of FISH, Steven Lundin, Ph.D.; Jim McCann, CEO, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM; and William Taylor, cofounder, Fast Company, will headline the four-day program with the theme, “Knowledge, Fusion, People.”

“Our conference is about people coming together to gain and share knowledge. These outstanding speakers will examine practical, real-world solutions and tools that attendees need to succeed in the ever-changing, competitive global business environment. They will provide the necessary knowledge and inspiration to implement new strategies and remain on the journey to lifelong learning,” said Bill Luttman, 2002 APICS Conference Committee chairman.

Barton began his career with Caterpillar in 1964 where he served in various marketing capacities and as manager of sales, merchandising, product support for the Industrial Lift Truck Division, and products control and strategic planning. He was vice president of Caterpillar and president of Solar Turbine, Inc. Barton was also group president with responsibility for the design, development, and production of Caterpillar’s extensive line of forest, agriculture, mining, and construction equipment.

Coauthor of FISH! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results, Lundin will discuss the simple principles of the FISH! philosophy inspired by Seattle’s Pike Place Fish Market. The audience will learn how to recruit and retain talented employees, create loyal customers, inspire employees, promote teamwork, and stimulate innovation.

Having built an international business from a single Manhattan flower shop, McCann will discuss lessons learned from being an e-commerce pioneer. Within a decade, McCann transformed a small company into an industry leader using a thorough understanding of his customer base and market. Today, 1-800-FLOWERS is the world’s largest florist.

Taylor, cofounder of the magazine, Fast Company, will provide insights and discuss the business revolution, a synopsis of how every facet of the business world is changing. Also coauthor of The Big Boys, Power and Position in American Business, No Excuses Management, and Going Global, Taylor served as associate editor of Harvard Business Review for more than three years.

In addition to the Executive Forum, the conference features more than 120 educational sessions addressing the latest trends in e-business, collaborative commerce, customer relationship management, inventory control, supply chain management, and other key business drivers. The exposition showcases the leaders in software, systems, services, and information technology for e-commerce and c-commerce solutions, supply chain management, MRP/ERP, electronic data collection, planning and scheduling, training, CRM, systems integration, human resources, and business consulting.

For information regarding the 2002 APICS International Conference and Exposition, visit www.apics.org.

APICS—The Educational Society for Resource Management provides lifelong learning for lifetime success through its certification programs, training tools, and networking opportunities.  The society supports nearly 60,000 members in 20,000 manufacturing and service industry companies worldwide.

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Members of the press receive complimentary registration to the 2002 APICS International Conference and Exposition, October 27-30, in Nashville, Tennessee.  Please call the APICS Marketing and Brand Management Division (800) 444-2742 or (703) 354-8851, ext. 2351, for information regarding press registration.