INDA EVENTS

VISION 2008 FOCUSED ON SUSTAINABILITY AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

INDA president Rory Holmes meets with Wal-Mart's Kim Brandner (left)
and Kim Strassner of Kimberly-Clark.

Topical and informative presentations on corporate sustainability from Wal-Mart and Kimberly-Clark enthralled a standing-room-only crowd during the VISION 2008 Consumer Products Conference, just one of many highlights of the three-day event held February 12-14 in Fort Worth, Tex.

The seventh annual Conference, organized by INDA, brought together more than 300 executives from both the consumer products and engineered fabrics industries from around the world.

Another of the many highlights of the three-day Conference was the presentation of the coveted 2008 Visionary Award to Kimberly-Clark for its new SpaSensials beauty care product. SpaSensials was selected over five other finalists from in voting by VISION 2008 attendees. (See story below.)

In the most well attended session at VISION 2008, Kim Brandner, senior manager-sustainable textiles, for Wal-Mart Stores, and Ken Strassner, VP-Global, Environmental, Safety, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at Kimberly-Clark, focused on Corporate Sustainability as a key business strategy in the 21st Century.

“Wal-Mart will only work with suppliers who maintain the sustainability standards we want in our relationships,” said Brandner. “Sustainability is more than just a responsibility, it is a business opportunity.”

Added Strassner, “Sustainability development issues will shape the future of business. Yet we have only begun to tap the surface of sustainability and it is a continual process that helps to better position Kimberly-Clark as a global health and hygiene company.””

Among the other highlights of VISION 2008: 

-- A look at the “7 Irrefutable Rules of Business Growth,” by Inc. Magazine senior consultant Steve S. Little. Among his rules: Everyone needs a reason for getting out of bed in the morning, and it is not about money. “”It takes many forms, but one thing is certain: Wealth accumulation is not a sense of purpose of business growth leaders,” Little said.

-- A two-part presentation by business consultant John Brandt, of MPI Group, educated attendees on “Creating Value - Swimming In A Profit Pool.”

-- A final morning session presented an “Economist's Vision” by Dr. James Smith, of Parsec Financial Management and Western Carolina University. Dr. Smith told attendees how they can project the winner of the 2008 presidential race and also predicted that the stock market will be at record highs by the end of the year.

-- Tabletop displays filled a hotel ballroom for the two nights of networking receptions. More than 35 companies - along with the six Visionary Award finalists - took part in the displays.