Business Marketing Association Unveils Lineup for 2012 International Conference

CHICAGO, March 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Business Marketing Association (BMA) invites business-to-business (B2B) marketing and sales leaders from all over the world to participate in its 2012 International Conference to be held, May 30-June 1, 2012 at the Swissotel in Chicago. IL.

The conference, one of the largest B2B focused events in 2012, is themed "Grow," highlighting the primary objective of most C-suites and boards for 2012. The conference will feature 12 keynote sessions and eight breakout sessions exploring how B2B marketing organizations are efficiently generating growth in customer demand, sales and profitability. The two-day event is expected to draw as many as 600 participants from 10 countries.

"Grow" will focus on the latest trends and information around the emerging field of demand generation, inbound and outbound marketing, sales enablement, innovative business models, customer strategy and sales and marketing integration.  

"There is a lot of excitement and interest building around this year's conference," said Al Maag, 2011-12 National BMA Chairman and Chief Communications Officer of Avnet.  "In addition to being the single largest B2B conference of its kind in the world, we have lined up some of the most influential marketing leaders to share their insights and perspectives . We are adding more panels, speakers and content designed to elevate the discussion and help our members accelerate their own growth and the growth of their organizations."  

Confirmed speakers for "Grow" include:

• Jim Stengel, former CMO, Procter & Gamble, and author of Grow: How Ideals Power Growth and Profit at the World's Greatest Companies;
• Greg Brown, Chairman and CEO, and Eduardo Conrad, CMO,  Motorola Solutions;
• Brian Chermside, VP and Chief Commercial Officer, Dow Corning;
• Fred Reichheld, author of The Ultimate Solution 2.0;
• Neil Rackham, author of Spin Selling and Rethinking the Sales Force;
• Kathy Button Bell, VP and Chief Marketing Officer, Emerson;
• Steve Liguori, Executive Director, Global Marketing, GE;
• Saga Shoffner, VP of Global Marketing Communications, Owens-Illinois;
• Evelyn Neill, Co-Executive Creative Director, Doremus;
• Tim Riesterer, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, Corporate Visions;
• Matthew Dixon, Managing Director, Corporate Executive Board, and author, The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation;
• Kipp Bodnar, Inbound Marketing Strategist, Hubspot; and
• Jeffrey Cohen, Social Strategist, Radian6.

Grow will also feature a series of general sessions panels, including sessions on B2B marketing creativity, social media and sales enablement, as well as many formal and informal networking opportunities. In addition, BMA's 2012 national "B2s" Marketing Awards winners and the annual G.D. Crain Award recipient will be announced and showcased during the international 2012 conference.

"In the 48 hours of our conference, attendees will hear 40 of the world's best business to business marketers, 10 agency leaders and 10 authors and consultants who will help you grow your business immediately," added Gary L. Slack, 2012 National Conference Organizer and Immediate Past BMA Chairman.

Conference participants are eligible for the early bird registration rate until March 31.  To register, or for more information, please visit www.marketing.org/Grow. 

About Business Marketing Association

Started in 1922, today's Business Marketing Association (BMA) works to increase the importance, impact and value of marketing in business worldwide.  BMA is the only professional organization with an exclusive focus on business-to-business marketing and its key drivers: customer engagement and relationships, product and service innovation, value pricing, channels, online/offline marcom, and analytics.  BMA's members represent state-of-the-art expertise in business-to-business marketing and communications, and share best practices for the benefit of the global business community.  For more information about BMA, call 630-544-5054 or visit www.marketing.org.

SOURCE Business Marketing Association