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Top Speakers and Experts to Present At TOM Conference

March 26, 2018

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (March 26, 2018) — Dozens of top speakers and experts will present at the fifth annual Tennis Owners & Managers (TOM) Conference, which will focus on innovation, growth, business leadership and development. The conference runs from April 9 to 11, with optional specialty courses on Sunday, April 8. Visit TheTOMConference.com for information and to register (day session registration available).

The TOM Conference brings together tennis business owners, managers and decision-makers to share ideas, experiences and best practices. Manufacturers and companies taking part in the event will be exhibiting and networking in the Resource Center throughout the event. The conference also will include a Manufacturer-Retailer-Technology “hub” that will feature new and innovative products, which attendees will be able to demo in on-court sessions.

MONDAY, APRIL 9

The TOM Conference will open on Monday with “Industry Insights and Applications,” by TIA President Jeff Williams and TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer, which will include a look at the latest data about the state of the industry, along with upcoming initiatives and messaging, including Play Tennis Month in May.

A presentation on “Building the Future Pipeline” will feature Kurt Kamperman and Craig Morris of the USTA on how clubs, facilities and parks can use the new Net Generation and other initiatives to help increase business with both juniors and adults. PHIT America founder Jim Baugh will discuss “Getting America Moving & Healthy” and how the current inactivity pandemic is impacting business. Keynote speaker Doug Conant, the founder and CEO of ConantLeadership, will present “Developing Leadership Within.”

Monday also will include a unique “TOM Talk” on “Growing the Game Using Instant ROI Tools.” The TOM Talk format includes short presentations by experts in their areas, followed by roundtable discussions to generate and share ideas and best practices.

In addition, Monday afternoon will feature the Tennis Innovation Challenge, where finalists from a national competition present their innovative tennis products or services to a panel of judges in a “Shark Tank”-like competition to determine a winner. Following the Innovation Challenge will be on-court demos and play with new products, and with on-court coaching legend Nick Bollettieri, followed by dinner.

TUESDAY, APRIL 10

Dr. Jack Groppel shares the “Secrets to Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro” in a session Tuesday morning (hint: training using tennis was a key to his adventure). Then keynote speaker Stephen Tharrett, the co-founder of ClubIntel, will explore how the club business is changing and how providers can come out ahead in “The Perils and Promises Inherent in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

Sports club sales and marketing expert Casey Conrad will discuss “Selling Fitness at Your Tennis Club Through Social Media.” Tuesday also will include three TOM Talks on “Turning Challenges Into Opportunities,” “Creating Staff Solutions & Hiring,” and “Facility Case Studies/Best Practices,” which will include segments dealing with commercial tennis facilities, park & rec facilities, resorts, private/member clubs, and municipal facilities.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

During breakfast on Wednesday, Tennis Industry magazine will present its annual Champions of Tennis Awards to winners who are in attendance at the TOM Conference. Then a panel discussion moderated by Doug Cash of CashFlow Tennis will address “What Does the Facility of the Future Look Like?”

A TOM Talk discussion on the “Future of Tennis and Innovation” will be followed by a presentation on “Understanding the Importance of Data Analytics,” by Rishi Bhatnagar, CEO of Syntelli Solutions, who will discuss how to make data work for tennis businesses.

SPECIALTY COURSES

Specialty courses on the afternoon of Sunday, April 8, will include:

Continuing education credits are available for TOM Conference sessions. The start of the conference also coincides with the finals at the nearby Volvo Car Open women’s professional tournament on Daniel Island, S.C. Visit TheTOMConference.com.