Have you ever wished for the chance to ask questions in a safe setting, get practical and personal advice, or discuss aspects of your business with a respected industry expert in a one-on-one session? Hot Spot sessions give you 30 minutes to pick the brains of an industry expert on a specific topic that’s important to every business in the balloon industry. Many times, business issues are specific to the location of the business, the experience and interests of the owners, and the opportunities that exist in the local market. With each Hot Spot session, you’ll get the chance to ask questions about your business. This is your opportunity to focus on setting your future path to success.

Hot Spot session topics include:

Sales Strategy and Planning: The Lifeblood of Your Business
Woody Burger, CBA, Regional Sales Manager, Pioneer Balloon Company
Chris Hennessy, CBA, Regional Sales Manager, Pioneer Balloon Company
Mark Cross, CBA, Regional Sales Manager, Pioneer Balloon Company
This is your chance to work out how to plan your sales strategy, prepare for your most important sales calls, and follow up for success afterwards. You'll have a chance to sit down with Pioneer's most experienced sales pros and identify your strengths and develop your weaknesses. From identifying your key accounts and sales opportunities, to planning a consistent sales-call campaign, this one-on-one session will help you drive your top-line growth for the next several years.

Personal Presentation
Julie Coheley, CBA, Big Fun Balloons, Tempe, AZ, USA
The first 30 seconds you meet someone largely determines if, and how much, they buy from you. Personal selling style may be the most important factor in growing a balloon business. This session is designed to give feedback for how to develop a strong sales persona for your business. How does personal appearance impact a client's perception and willingness to spend? What should I wear to meet clients and does it reinforce buying confidence? How do I integrate personal branding into my selling style? Should I present myself as creative and progressive, or conservative and reliable?

Accounting and Key Performance Indicators
Cherie Warchuck, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA
The basic financial statements of the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement provide a score card on the financial position and performance of your business. This is your chance to discuss your statements with an independent expert and understand what they’re saying. What other key performance indicators should you be tracking in your business? How do you measure progress in key areas that can lead to better financial results? Get answers to these and other important questions, and gain the knowledge you need to efficiently track your business’ financial performance and achieve overall growth.

Employee Management
Christy Vasconcellos, Employee Strategies Director, Pioneer Balloon Company, Wichita, KS, USA
Hiring, training, and motivating staff can enable your business to grow and prosper. Do you want a few pointers from an expert on how to implement simple training programs that reduce turnover and increase productivity? Do you have a key employee that you’ve put up with for years, but don’t know whether to fire him or promote him? Get personalized advice on your unique situation and learn how to manage your employees more efficiently.

Business and Family Dynamics
Marie Mandoli, The Balloon Lady®, San Francisco, CA, USA
Most small businesses are privately held, and virtually all either employ multiple family members or have a direct impact on family life. This is your opportunity to identify the strengths and opportunities you have in your business and in your family. Bring your questions and learn how to keep a balance between work and family life, maintain healthy relationships with family members you currently employ, and manage your business to create an enjoyable atmosphere for all of your employees—whether they‘re a part of the family or not.

Finance and Growth
Ted Vlamis, President & CEO, Pioneer Balloon Company
Betty Vlamis, Executive Vice President, Pioneer Balloon Company
Tim Vlamis, CBA, Managing Director for Business Development, Pioneer Balloon Company
Using your financial resources to the best advantage is critical for your business’ success. Have you ever wanted to talk with someone about how to get a business loan? Ever wanted help in working through which options will generate the best returns for your business, including what equipment to purchase, when to hire new employees, or how much to spend on a new Web site design? Get answers to all of your financial questions and return home with new knowledge of how much to spend, how much to save, and how to maximize your profits.

Photography and Portfolio Review
Kathy O'Brien, CBA, Art Director, Pioneer Balloon Company
Taylor McMillin, CBA, Graphic Designer, Pioneer Balloon Company
Your portfolio is your most powerful personal sales tool. This is your opportunity to get personal feedback on your strengths and the opportunities you have to improve your overall portfolio. Learn what photos and designs are best to include and which format is most appealing, and get the personal direction you need to take your portfolio to the next level and set yourself apart from the competition.

Marketing and Public Relations
Chelsea Ott-Gaspard, CBA, Marketing Communications Manager, Pioneer Balloon Company
Have you ever wanted to discuss your marketing and public relations plan with a genuine marketing maven? Bring your press releases, brochures, promotional material, and standard e-mail responses for feedback and critique, and make the necessary adjustments to your marketing strategies to more effectively promote your business.

Business Strategies
Lois Devlin, Managing Director, Pioneer Europe, Ltd.
The discipline of business strategy offers frameworks that help owners and managers choose between alternatives that have both advantages and disadvantages. Should you position your business as creative and fun or serious and trustworthy? What is it that you love doing the most? Should you concentrate on design and project execution and leave the selling and marketing chores to someone else, or should you balance your efforts across a range of roles? Leave the guessing behind, and get all of your business strategy questions answered on the spot.

Business Identity
Kathy Flynn, Seasonal Product Director, Pioneer Balloon Company
The face of your business is almost as important as its daily operations. Make sure your business’ identity is not only catching people’s attention, but also coming across as attractive and professional. Have a design expert review your logo and corporate identity, from your business card, to your letterhead, to your Web site, and more. Receive guidance to determine your tagline and positioning statement, and leave knowing how to ensure your customers are getting the very best impression of your business.

Getting Started
MaryLynn Borondy, National Sales Manager, Pioneer Balloon Canada
There are a thousand things to do and decisions to make. Which are most important to starting your business on the road to success? Get your chance to sit down with an experienced industry expert and who can help you map a path through what can sometimes seem like the balloon business wilderness. This is your chance to ask for perspective and hear how sound your ideas and preferences are from an objective viewpoint.

NOTE: Each full-package WBC delegate can sign up for two (2) 30-minute Hot Spot sessions. Spaces are limited.