National Active Retirement Association Conference Set for Oct. 20-22 in Columbia, SC

As many of you know, I speak at a lot of conferences on boomers, seniors, and the mature market, so I’m hard to impress but this is a conference that I can’t wait to attend (let alone speak at). America’s top professionals involved in building for, marketing to and serving people 50+ will be speaking at the National Active Retirement Community (NARA) 11th Annual Business Conference in Columbia, SC October 20-22 (http://www.retirementlivingnews.com/).

Think about it, you’ve got three major associations represented at this one event! The National Active Retirement Association with Dan Owens … the International Council on Active Aging’s (ICAA) Colin Milner … and the National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB)!

Professionals, academicians, real estate developers, marketers, sales people and other businesspeople seeking to capitalize on the unprecedented aging of America will attend. Topics will range from internet marketing to strategies to attract retirees to invest in your community to advice on how to successfully design, build and market 50+ housing.

Hearing Colin Milner speak is worth the price of admission alone. In addition to being a dynamic speaker, Colin is the founder of the ICAA, a spectacular association focused on promoting healthy aging. Today, Colin’s vision is shared by over 8,200 organizations connected to the ICAA network across the world.

In addition, I always like to be where the money is. John Randolph of Lancaster Pollard, one of the powerhouses in financing senior housing, will be speaking.

Dr. Joe Gribbin, head of the masters’ program at the Erickson School of Aging at the University of Maryland, will give a detailed presentation about the future of Social Security and Medicare.

I’ll be speaking (Tom Mann of TR Mann Consulting) on “Selling to Boomers and Retirees – A Boot Camp on Getting to ‘Yes’ in a Challenging Market.” For those of you who don’t know me, here’s a short bio.

Throw in the honorable Andre Bauer, Lt. Governor, State of South Carolina and you have one powerful event!

Plus, NARA will be collaborating with the National Association of Homebuilders to offer special 55+ courses to builders in conjunction with the conference.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Wednesday, October, 20 2010
(Open to the General Public)

8:15 – 8:45 a.m. Coffee/Juice/Networking 

8:45 – 9 a.m. Convene/Welcome/Recognition of Guests

9-10:15 a.m. Opening Speaker

10:15-10:30 a.m. Break

10:30-12 a.m. Taking a Sharp Eye at Social Security and Medicare
Dr. Joe Gribbin, College Park, MD, Dean, Masters’ Program
Erickson School of Aging, University of Maryland

Special Conference Seminars:

1-4 p.m.  Retirement Relocation Seminar (Separate Conference Event)
Trends and Tips on Luring Retirees to Your Community

Sponsors/Hosts: Thomas,Warren + Associates of
Phoenix, AZ, Retirement Lifestyles™ magazine and NARA.
Facilitators:  Gene Warren and Alan

1-4 p.m.  Selling to Boomers and Retirees (Separate Conference Event)
“A Boot Camp on Getting to ‘Yes’ in a Challenging Market”

Sponsors/Hosts: TR Mann & Associates, Retirement Lifestyles™ magazine and NARA.
Facilitator:  Tom Mann, co-founder of TR Mann Consulting and Mature Market Experts

6 – 8 p.m.  Welcoming Reception/Networking – (Dinner on your own)
Thursday, October 21, 2010

8:15 – 8:30 a.m. Coffee/Juice/Networking 8:30 a.m.  

8:30 – 8:40 a.m. Convene/Welcome/Recognition of Guests and Introductions

8:40-9:30 a.m. A Look at Our Aging Future

Colin Milner, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
CEO, International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)

9:30-10:30 a.m. Trends in Boomer Services, Retiree Marketing and 55+ Building

PANELISTS:

*Dick Ambrosius, South Dakota, NeoCorta

*Dave Segmiller, Charlotte, NC, Freeman White

10:30-10:40 a.m. Break

10:40-11:45 a.m. Serving a Growing and Powerful Market:  55+ Active Adults

David Reitz, Chicago, Ill, 55+ Active Adult Expert

11:45-12:45 p.m. Lunch at Columbia Convention Center
   Preparing for an Aging State (And World!)

The Honorable Andre Bauer, Lt. Governor, State of South Carolina

BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

1-2:30 p.m.  A Study of the 55+ Housing Market:
Designing, Building and Selling Active Adult Housing

PANELISTS:  

*Nancy Borum, ID Collaborative, Greensboro, NC

*Dan Horner, Tribute/True Homes, Charlotte, NC

*Jim Chapman, Jim Chapman Communities, Atlanta, GA

1-2:30 p.m.  Retiree Recruitment for Towns, Cities, States:
Recruiting Retirees through Tourism & Special Programs

PANELISTS:  

*Simon Hudson, Columbia, SC

*Miriam Atria, Capital City/Lake Murray Country

*Sherri Gothart-Barron, Director, GO TEXAN program, State of Texas

2:30 – 2:45 p.m.  Break

2:45-4 p.m.  Internet Strategies to the 55+ Consumer

2:45-4 p.m.  Getting New Projects Financed

 John Randolph, Atlanta, GA, Lancaster Pollard

6 – 8 p.m.  Reception/NARA Awards (Offsite:  Directions and transportation options to be provided; dinner on your own)
Friday, October 22, 2009

8:30-9:30 a.m.  Opening Speaker

9:30-10:45 a.m. Economic Development through Rural Retiree Attraction

John Cromartie, Washington, D.C., Senior Demographer, USDA

10:45-11:45 a.m. Speaker Roundtable/Final Thoughts on Marketing to “Boomers and Beyond”

11:45 a.m.  Door Prizes/ADJOURMENT