Industry leaders gather to network and learn sales strategies to grow their businesses

CLEVELAND – Proforma’s 2017 Annual Convention & Family Reunion, held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, recently concluded with more than 700 industry professionals in attendance. This powerful four day event was packed full of education sessions, motivational presentations, networking and more.

“It is exciting to see how Proforma’s Convention has evolved into one of the premier events in our industry,” said Greg Muzzillo, Founder of Proforma. “We are fortunate to have the industry’s most driven, talented and successful distributors, supplier partners and support staff come together to share ideas, collaborate with one another and help each other achieve even more success.”

Headlining events included a keynote presentation from Jack Canfield, New York Times best-selling author of Success Principlesand the popular Chicken Soup for the Soul series. As America's #1 Success Coach, Canfield shared powerful strategies and sales principles designed to help attendees double or triple their sales. Greg Muzzillo introduced a motivational business development program designed to inspire owners and sales reps to be proactive in executing wealth-building activities. Vera Muzzillo, CEO of Proforma, updated the network on the hi-tech advancements recently integrated into Proforma’s proprietary eCommerce platform, ProStores.

“Proforma’s Convention is a stellar event,” said Ryan Law, Executive Director, Distributor Services at Advertising Specialty Institute and Titanium Sponsor. “ASI and Proforma represent one of the strongest partnerships in our industry. Year-after-year we continue to grow and support one another, and this event is the gold standard for relationship building, education and fun.”

Several new programs were also introduced, including a new direct mail marketing campaign and “Proforma Show & Grow,” a program in which Proforma owners and sales reps are paired with supplier partner reps to grow sales through direct client interaction.

“The dedicated one-on-one time with our supplier partners is just one reason Proforma’s Convention is so unique,” said Andy Fornaro, Owner of Proforma R&E Graphics and Million Dollar Club Member. “There is no other place that I can build relationships and learn about more than 300 of the top suppliers in our industry in a private and confidential setting.”

During the annual awards ceremony, a record-breaking 34 Proforma businesses were recognized for qualifying to apply for the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. Proforma’s top performers were recognized with the top 12 Proforma businesses alone accounting for more than $110 million in sales. Fred and Suzette Albrecht, co-owners of Proforma Albrecht & Co., took the top honors with $34.2 million in sales in 2016. Proforma presented Centurion awards to 79 owners who increased their sales by more than $100,000 and 28 suppliers who increased their sales with Proforma by more than $100,000 in the 2016 calendar year.

“You seldom have the opportunity to be among this many successful people one place,” said Fran Ford, President of Castelli North America. “That is what makes Proforma’s Convention so special. It speaks volumes about Proforma’s resources and partnerships to draw this many high caliber industry professionals to one event.”