International Market Centers enhanced the schedule of speakers and roster of sponsors for the second annual CEO Summit, scheduled Jan. 29-30 during the Winter 2014 Las Vegas Market, running Jan. 26-30 at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Two additional speakers — author and professor Luke Williams and economic forecaster Samuel Wardwell — and three new sponsors — Grace Management Group, Uttermost and The Fisher Wealth Management Group of UBS — have confirmed participation in the event, an executive-level forum for CEOs, presidents and business owners, addressing key financial, operational and global issues and opportunities.
“The CEO Summit will bring together the industry’s best and brightest to address today’s significant business issues,” said Robert Maricich, CEO, International Market Centers. “This educational forum and vital networking opportunity furthers Las Vegas Market’s position as [a] home furnishings and gift destination in the Western United States.”
Luke Williams will draw on his book “Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business” for his speech, “Disrupt — Sparking Business Transformation with Innovation.” Williams is an internationally recognized authority on innovation leadership and works with organizations all over the world on challenges ranging from creating new products and services to transforming organizational processes and behaviors. He is professor of marketing and executive director of the Berkley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at New York University’s Stern School of Business and a fellow at frog, a globally recognized innovation company. Williams’ views are regularly featured in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fast Company, The Atlantic and National Public Radio.
Samuel Wardwell, provided by The Fisher Wealth Management Group of UBS, will address the “Global Economic Outlook for 2014.” Wardwell is senior vice president of Pioneer Investments, and he and his investment strategy specialist team are responsible for providing updates on overall financial market performance, economic trends and the firm’s economic outlook to clients and their advisors. Wardwell began his career with Bank of Boston as a commercial lender specializing in transportation companies during the Carter administration’s deregulation of the transportation sector and imposition of credit controls in an attempt to slow inflation, then moved to its investments division as a fixed-income position trader during the years when the Volcker Federal Reserve raised interest rates to unprecedented levels in its attack on inflation.
Williams and Wardwell join previously announced high-profile speakers Charles Garcia, who has worked for four presidents, both Republican and Democrat, and is a nationwide leader in the Hispanic community, who will address the rising consumer influence of Hispanics in the U.S.; Vivek Kundra, the first U.S. chief information officer appointed by President Barack Obama, who will speak about proper IT planning for businesses and the role that data will play in the future to transform businesses into worldwide organizations; and Susan Packard, co-founder of HGTV, who will address “Entrepreneurship: How to Create and Build Great Companies.”
The CEO Summit is co-produced by International Market Centers (IMC) and Eller Enterprises, and Las Vegas Market is a home furnishings and gift marketplace in the Western U.S., presenting 2,000-plus gift and home furnishings resources.
