March 2 Supplemental Session for Managers

Creating Advantages:
Managing Complexity, Capital & Competition

For the second year in a row, Forum attendees have the option to attend a bonus session on Wednesday morning, March 2. Designed to help owners and managers to profit in plastics, this supplemental session costs $95, includes a continental breakfast and will run from 8-11 a.m.

This session is being jointly organized and presented by law firm Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff LLP and accounting/consulting giant Plante & Moran PLLC and sister firm P&M Corporate Finance LLC. See below for details about the topics and presenters. Be sure to adjust your travel schedule accordingly, to allow you to take advantage of this value-added program.

Session 1: Differentiate Through Strategic Alliances
Matt Jamison, Director – P&M Corporate Finance
James M. Hill, Managing Partner – Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff

As the plastics industry continues to segment itself into the "haves and have-nots," partnering in the plastics sector is becoming increasingly prevalent. Driven by the need to differentiate, grow, globalize, innovate and reduce costs, successful companies will look to alliances to remain competitive. Matt and Jim will discuss the current alliance environment, the supply and demand drivers of alliances, typical alliance structures in the plastics industry and how to manage the alliance continuum to maximize value inside and outside of the alliance. They will review recent alliances to identify the strategic rationale driving those alliances and to provide insight into potential alliance strategies for 2005 and beyond.

Session 2: Capitalize on Your Intellectual Capital
Steven Auvil, Partner – Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff
Megan Mehalko, Partner – Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff

Steven and Megan will discuss how to build value through recognition and protection of intellectual capital, including human resources and retaining key employees, know-how, trade secrets, proprietary technology, patents, trademarks and copyrights. They also will review globalization considerations as they relate to determining how best to protect your business' intellectual capital.

Session 3: Manage Manufacturing Complexity
Jeff Mengel, Partner – Plante & Moran
John Banks, COO & CFO – Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff

Plastics processing is becoming increasingly competitive, driving processors to accept a wider variety of product, resins and customers to meet sales goals. This wider array of product/process offerings significantly increases the manufacturing complexity and stress of the processor. Jeff and John will help explain out how the various elements of complexity relate to one another, and how to align your organization to manage complexity and create a competitive advantage.

Supplemental Session Sponsors

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