NEWS FROM GAWDA
Northwest Regional Meeting
2021 GAWDA Regional Meeting Recaps
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fter having to cancel all of its 2021 Regional Meetings, this year saw the return of these important networking and educational opportunities. For the first time since 2019, GAWDA members had the opportunity to gather at three regional meetings. Below is a synopsis of each of these meetings as well as a sampling of pictures from each event. For a full photo gallery for each of the regional meetings, visit gawdamedia.com. For a sneak peek of the 2022 GAWDA Regional meeting schedule, visit gawda. org/activities/regional-meetings.
NORTHWEST REGIONAL MEETING After not hosting a Regional Meeting since August 2019, GAWDA Regional Meetings returned for 2021 with the Northwest Regional Meeting, which was 58 • Fall 2021
held from July 21-23 in Sunriver Oregon. The event was a major success, with 136 registrants who were treated to amazing industry presentations from industry heavyweights including Dave Lambert, Dave Weitzel, Hector Villarreal, and Mary Carter, as well as networking opportunities like an opening reception and dinner, a golf outing and bocce ball. A great time was had by all who attended. “This meeting was an impressive feat,” says Northwest Regional Meeting co-chair Eric Bliss. “Back in March, we had to make the decision on whether or not we would be able to conduct the meeting in a manner that is fit for the Northwest. Especially in the state of Oregon, which, at the time, had some of the strictest COVID restrictions in the country. The distributors got together and decided to move ahead with it. Our expectations were fairly low, we were
going to be thrilled if we could get 50 attendees to join us. As it turns out, people have a desire to travel again. We had over 130 attendees at the event! I want to give a big shout out to all of the people that came and sponsored this event. Without their help, these events just wouldn’t happen. I would also like to thank Brent Laing and the great people at Industrial Source for helping co-chair the event. Robert Gerry was instrumental in organizing our speakers, which provided fantastic content and made it easy to grab takeaways that help provide a ROI on the trip. To our speakers: Dave Lambert, Hector Villarreal, Dave Weitzel and Mary Carter, thank you for your presentations and time it is greatly appreciated. Thank you everyone for helping with the 2021 NW regional meeting it was fantastic to see everyone in person again.”
