Fall Inside NIRMA Issue

By Bruce Walters, CRM/NS
L
ast year, the Board kind of chuckled at Bob
Larrivee’s prediction that we will hit 150
attendees at the 2023 Symposium. Heck, we
had hardly surpassed 100 attendees in 2022 so that
seemed like a big stretch. With a plethora of great
speakers, brand-new topics being presented, and more
vendors in 2023, we looked like we would do it. Then
came company cutbacks and some people were forced
to cancel their plans. In the end, we had 132
attendees, but our Bob Nostradamus would have been
accurate otherwise. For 2024, many of you there
heard him predict 200 attendees. I’m not chuckling
this time around.
I am thankful for all the sponsors who financially
supported this year’s symposium and our vendors for
turning out. And, of course, to all of you who came
and participated. We had five international attendees
from Japan, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates.
Plus there were 37 first-time attendees.
And what a pleasure it was to bestow Lifetime
Membership Awards to Mr. Sadamaro Yamashita
and Bill Clover. Both are so deserving of this honor.
You might take a moment to congratulate them both.
What a great event! What great support all of you
provided by turning out in volume. The speakers were
awesome. There were topics that I didn’t even know
existed. There were sessions that we had been
pleading to hear about and they came to fruition this
year. The Exhibitor Hall was filled with 12 vendors
and an ICRM representative who sincerely enjoyed the
crowd. And our Keynote Speakers knocked it out of
the park. Our meals and receptions were fantastic and
the Banquets staff at the JW Marriott are second to
none!
Next year, you are going to want to be at the 48 th
Annual Symposium. I am eager for my next role on
the NIRMA Board and know that your new Vice
President, Kathi Cole, will have all the support in the
world to take on this task. I have learned a lot as VP
and plan to help Kathi put on an even better
symposium next year. To conclude, in the wise words
of Lou Rofrano … All the best!
6 Fall 2023 NIRMA.org Inside NIRMA