The Association Education Alliance Presents:
SAVE THE DATE
2027 University of Innovative Distribution
March 15–18, 2027
Registration opens this fall
AEA/UID Year-Round Webinars
Introducing the UID Year-Round Webinar Series! We're excited to bring back another year of expert-led sessions designed to help you and your team navigate today's biggest challenges — from leadership and sales culture to AI adoption and economic forecasting. Mark your calendars and register today for any (or all!) of the sessions below.
August 19, 20261:00PM – 2:00PM EDT |
October 21, 20261:00PM – 2:00PM EDT |
November 11, 20261:00PM – 2:00PM EDT |
AEA Webinar Series with Todd Cohen: The Secret to Handling Objections |
AEA Webinar Series with Mike Marks: AI for Distribution |
AEA Webinar Series with Alex Chausovsky: Economic and Policy Update: What to Expect in 2027 and Beyond |
UID Year-Round: "From Status Quo to Status GROW: How Leaders Build a Sales Culture"
Presenter: Todd Cohen, CSP, The Sales Culture Architect®
Wednesday, August 19, 2026
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Session Description:
Growth doesn't happen by accident — it's led. In this high-impact webinar, Todd Cohen, CSP, The Sales Culture Architect®, reveals how leaders break free from status quo thinking and build a sales culture where everyone contributes to revenue. Drawing from his book From Status Quo to Status GROW, Todd shows leaders how to unlock the truth that everyone's in sales — and that every conversation, every interaction, and every employee influences the client's decision to say "yes."
You'll learn how to:
- Lead a culture where everyone sees their connection to revenue
- Shift your organization from "status quo" thinking to a growth mindset
- Empower every employee to embrace their role in the sales culture
Stop managing the status quo. Start leading the GROW.
Bio:
Todd Cohen, CSP, is a globally recognized keynote speaker, sales culture expert, and author who helps organizations redefine growth and leadership. With over 40 years of experience, he delivers a powerful message: Everyone's in Sales — and that makes everyone a leader. Known as The Sales Culture Architect™, Todd teaches that sales is not a department but a mindset. He empowers professionals at every level to influence outcomes, build relationships, and create value — driving a unified culture of leadership and collaboration. His work is especially impactful in the distribution and supply chain industries, where success depends on influencing without authority and navigating complex relationships.
UID Year-Round: "AI for Distribution"
Presenter: Mike Marks, Co-Founder, Indian River Consulting Group
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Session Description:
Learn how to leverage AI tools to stay one step ahead in your market. In this session, we’ll explore practical, easy-to-implement ways to monitor competitors, track supplier activity, and gain deeper visibility into customer behavior and needs. You’ll discover how to turn real-time data and signals into actionable insights—helping you make smarter decisions, anticipate changes, and build stronger, more strategic relationships across your business ecosystem.
Bio:
Mike Marks is co-founder of Indian River Consulting Group and a leading authority in B2B distribution, with over 40 years of experience in channel-driven markets. A former Executive Vice President of Lex Electronics, he has built deep relationships across multiple industries and is widely recognized for his insights on distribution strategy. Mike has served as a Research Fellow for the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors and held faculty roles at Purdue University and Texas A&M. He currently serves on several industry boards and mentors students at the Florida Institute of Technology, where he teaches AI prompt engineering and critical thinking.
UID Year-Round: "Economic and Policy Update: What to Expect in 2027 and Beyond"
Presenter: Alex Chausovsky, President & CEO, 3DM Consulting
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
Session Description:
The latest economic data suggests growth, and the labor market, are decelerating while inflation continues to ramp up. Will we see a boost to investment and a rebound in confidence, or will the malaise intensify into the year-end? What about our prospects for 2027? This presentation will assess the current macroeconomic landscape and deliver practical and actionable advice designed to help industry leaders plan for future operating conditions.
Learning Objectives:
- An objective assessment of time-sensitive economic indicators such as consumer spending, business investment, inflation, interest rates, and tariffs
- Concrete advice on how to navigate the current macroeconomic climate and plan for the future, with a particular focus on tactical advice
- Tools that leaders can leverage to be data-driven decision makers for their organization
Bio:
Alex is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than two decades of expertise across industries such as automation, industrial technology, healthcare, business services, and manufacturing. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the U.S. and Canada, Europe, South America, and Asia. Alex has delivered more than one thousand presentations, webinars, and workshops to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies, and is the go-to source of industry data and insights for hundreds of enterprises across a spectrum of industries.
