Rolling for Success

Start gathering up those quarters. The 2006 Athletic Business Conference and Expo is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Las Vegas. The event, which will be from Nov. 14-17 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Convention Center, features 91 seminars for CEU credit, a trade show with more than 300 exhibitors, and slot machines and crap tables galore.

The conference will kick off with a welcome reception at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay. The event will feature hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and live music by the band Louie Louie, which has worked on and off the Strip for the past decade.

Other notable events include early morning workouts, a basketball free-throw competition, exercise classes and two keynotes. Kevin Carroll, founder of The Katalyst Consultancy and author of Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, will deliver the opening keynote, “Rediscovering Play: Bringing Fun and Passion to Your Work and Life,” from 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15. At his keynote, Carroll will show the audience how to become change agents who inspire and motivate their organization, allowing it to reap the benefits of a healthy, fun environment where people enjoy their jobs — and their lives.

Legendary quarterback and Fox NFL Sunday analyst Terry Bradshaw will headline the Athletic Business keynote session from noon-1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16. As a Hall of Fame quarterback, two-time Super Bowl MVP, two-time Emmy Award-winning co-host of America's most-watched pre-game show, author, television and film actor, and gospel singer with three hit albums, Bradshaw will speak on his life experiences. In “Why Not Your Best,” Bradshaw will share his strategies for maintaining success through persistent self-improvement and discuss how attendees can make their dreams come true by managing their most important asset — their attitude.

Preconference workshops will begin Tuesday, Nov. 14. That day from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., attendees can also get in a round of golf at the Legacy Golf Course for the fifth annual Athletic Business Golf Classic.

The show floor will have its grand opening at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15 and stay open until 7:30 p.m. Attendees can also visit the show floor from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 and from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. In conjunction with the Athletic Business Conference and Expo, the International Council on Active Aging will present its fourth annual conference, Active Aging 2006, and the Medical Fitness Association will present its conference, Medical Fitness Highway: Steering in New Directions. Both conferences are free for Athletic Business Conference and Expo attendees.

For more information about these conferences or for registration information, visit www.athleticbusinessconference.com.

2006 Athletic Business Conference and Expo Schedule of Events
Monday, Nov. 13
4 p.m.-6 p.m. Registration
Tuesday, Nov. 14
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration
8 a.m.-noon Preconference Workshop: Designing Your Dream Facility: Survival of the Fittest — Christopher Chivetta and Erik Kocher
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Preconference Workshop: Aquatic Risk Management Series: Pools and Waterparks — Tom Griffiths and Shawn DeRosa
9 a.m.-noon Preconference Workshop: Happy Customers, Empowered Staff and Huge Profits Through Effective Teams — Tom Alber
9 a.m.-noon Preconference Workshop: Developing Best Practices in the Delivery of Exceptional Customer Service — Scott Chovanec
9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. 5th Annual AB Golf Classic — The Legacy Golf Course, Las Vegas
1 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Preconference Tour: City of Henderson Recreation Facilities
1 p.m.-4 p.m. Preconference Workshop: 100 Questions to Ask Before Opening a Commercial Athletic Facility — Lisa Clark, Norm Gill and Steve Michener
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Preconference Workshop: Leadership Strategies: Things You Must Know to Survive — Ruby Newell-Legner
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Preconference Workshop: Get to the Sponsorship Superhighway: Taking Sponsorship to the Next Level — Chris Moler
Wednesday, Nov. 15
7 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration
8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Educational seminars
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Lunch break
12:45 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Educational seminars
2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Keynote address: Kevin Carroll
3:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Trade show grand opening
8 p.m.-11 p.m. Welcome reception, House of Blues, Mandalay Bay
Thursday, Nov. 16
6:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Early morning workouts
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Registration
8:30 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Educational seminars
noon-1 p.m. Keynote address: Terry Bradshaw
1 p.m.-5 p.m. Trade show
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Educational seminars
5 p.m.-7 p.m. Facility of Merit Awards Reception with Mike Greenberg
Friday, Nov. 17
7:45 a.m.-noon Registration
8 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Educational seminars
9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. American Council on Exercise (ACE) certification exams
9 a.m.-5 p.m. ICAA Active Living Every Day by Human Kinetics Workshop
9 a.m.-5 p.m. ICAA Falls programming workshop
9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Trade show

For more information and a list of exhibitors, visit www.athleticbusinessconference.com.