PMA EXPECTING TO REAP ATTENDANCE BONANZA

AMY I. STICKEL

NEWARK, Del. -- The Produce Marketing Association is expecting its biggest turnout ever for the 47th annual PMA convention and exposition, scheduled for Oct. 13 to 15 in Atlanta.

The trade show, with a theme of "Setting the Pace," will also mark the end of an era for PMA, which is based here. Bob Carey, PMA's long-time president, will retire and hand over the reins of the trade group to his successor at the show.

"We'll be introducing the new president in Atlanta," said Lee Mannering, communications specialist for PMA.

Carey will step down after having headed PMA for nearly 40 years, during which he helped shape the association into its current permutation as an important player on the produce scene.

Besides marking the momentous change in leadership, the Atlanta event will usher in the largest exhibit show floor PMA has ever assembled, according to Bruce Peterson Jr., chairman for the 1996 exposition. Peterson is produce director for Wal-Mart Supercenters, Bentonville, Ark.

The 1996 trade show will incorporate 360,000 square feet of exhibiting space in the Georgia World Congress Center. The trade association is anticipating as many as 525 exhibiting companies will participate, and they are expected to occupy 1,405 booths. The association is also estimating the event will attract up to 10,000 attendees, Mannering said.

"The expanded floor space will allow more and more exhibitors to attend," Peterson said. "We're very excited about it."

At PMA's sold-out 1995 show in San Diego, there were 1,083 booths and 250,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Peterson said the convention and exposition will follow the 1996 Summer Olympics that Atlanta is hosting. "The atmosphere in Atlanta will be electric after the Olympics," he said.

PMA's International Trade Conference will precede the convention. The ITC, scheduled for Oct. 11 and 12, is expected to attract participants from more than 40 countries.

The 1996 convention chairman is Ted Campbell, corporate director of produce for Supervalu, Minneapolis. W. Powell Jones, president of W.J. Powell Co., Thomasville, Ga., is convention program chairman.

Jones said the program will feature six general sessions and 21 workshops, in addition to the international trade conference.

The general session agendas for the most part center on presentations by motivational speakers and management experts. The Sunday keynote will be delivered by Denis Waitley, recognized as a world authority on high-level achievement and personal excellence.

Jerry Harvey, professor of management science at George Washington University, will speak Monday morning on "The Abilene Paradox," which describes how projects and events can gain momentum and take on a life of their own despite the fact that nobody wants to take part in them.

At lunch on Monday, Joseph Mancusi, president of the Center for Organizational Excellence, will look at why some people and organizations succeed, while other, equally talented, organizations and people don't.

Tuesday morning features a split session: "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," presented by Joe Calhoon of Covey Leadership Center, and "Basic Service Brilliance: The Key to Profitable Survival," presented by consultant Bruce Merrifield.