LPA Annual Meeting

We hope to see you at the 2019 LPA Annual Meeting on November 9-12 at the beautiful Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, CA. Along with a day and a half of professional development, education, and inspiration, members will have the opportunity to participate in optional outings, which are great ways to get to know your colleagues in a relaxed setting, as well as learn more about the area the meeting is held. Guests and spouses are always welcome to register in order to attend the evening meals and optional outings. 

REGISTER ONLINE or DOWNLOAD THE PDF

See who's attending here


2019 LPA ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 9
6:00-8:00 PM                       Informal Networking Reception

Sunday, November 10
8:00 AM-2:00 PM                Golf Tournament (optional, off-site at Eagle Vines)
11:00 AM-1:00 PM              Gourmet Fun Food Tour (optional)
6:00-9:00 PM                       Opening Reception & Dinner (Meritage Estate Wine Cave)

Monday, November 11
8:00-9:00 AM                       LPA Board Connection Breakfast
9:15-10:30 AM                     Alex Chausovsky (ITR Economics Group) Managing in an Uncertain Economy
10:30-10:45 AM                   Break
10:45-11:45 AM                  Rob Smith, Government & Regulatory Affairs Update
11:45 AM-12 PM                 Annual Business Meeting
12:00-1:30 PM                     Networking Luncheon
1:30-3:00 PM                       Cara Siletto, They Drive Me Crazy! The Generational Story You HAVEN’T Heard
3:00-3:15 PM                       Break
3:15-4:15 PM                       Julia Bramante, Cannabis in the Lab
6:00-10:00 PM                     Reception & Dinner (off-site at Artesa Winery)

Tuesday, November 12
8:00-9:00 AM                       Open Networking Breakfast
9:00-10:00 AM                     Eric Maddox, Tracking Saddam: The Power of Empathy Based Listening
10:00-10:15 AM                   Break
10:15-11:30 AM                   Scott Parazynski, The Opportunity and The Obligation to Innovate
11:30 AM                               Meeting Adjourns
1:00-5:00 PM                        Wine Tasting Tour (optional, off-site)
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About the Hotel
The Meritage Resort & Spa
875 Bordeaux Way
Napa, CA 94558
LPA rate: $279
707-251-1900
Hotel Deadline- October 18
Check-in: 4pm; Check-out: 11am
Click here to reserve your room online
Please note that the hotel is sold out of rooms on Tuesday, Nov. 12. When registering online, do not choose Tues, Nov. 12.
Please make alternative arrangements at a hotel nearby if you need rooms beyond the LPA Meeting dates.

Airport and Transportation information can be found here.
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Meeting Registration Fees
LPA Members
1st Attendee                 $1,895
2nd Attendee                $   995
3rd or more Attendees $  895
Spouse/Guest               $  350 (Includes evening receptions and dinners.)
Non-Member                $2,095

REGISTER ONLINE or DOWNLOAD THE PDF
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Optional Networking Activities (per person fees)

Sunday, November 10
2019 LPA Annual Golf Tournament
Eagle Vines Golf Club
580 S Kelly Road
American Canyon, CA 94503
8:00 AM-2:00 PM
$190 Includes lunch & golf cart
Please call the Golf Club to reserve clubs: (707) 257-4470
(Rental sets are $60 and include two sleeves of balls and tees.) 

Eagle Vines Vineyards & Golf Club is tucked away in the foothills of Napa Valley, offering one of the most scenic courses in the area. It is also considered by many locals to be one of the most challenging. Every hole on the golf course provides stunning views of the surrounding vineyards. The layout sprawls across gently rolling hills that weave through stands of mature cherry and oak trees, shimmering waterfalls, and meandering creeks. 

The golf course offers challenging multi-tiered greens and postage-stamp landing areas that demand well placed iron shots. The memorable seventh hole features an even more difficult island green. There are also some tricky fairways that seem much more open than they are. Eagle Vines numerous risk-reward opportunities that will have golfers using every club in their bag.
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Sunday, November 10
Gourmet Walks Fun Foodie Tour
11:00 AM-1:00 PM
($140 includes transportation, 7 hot spot restaurants and beer/cocktail at 1 or more locations.)

• 7 stops with tastings at each (enough food for lunch!)

• Flat route, 1 mile long, with time to sit

• Begins at Oxbow Market, ends in town

The menu includes organic tacos from C Casa, a California cheese tasting from Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant, artisan charcuterie from Fatted Calf, olive oil/balsamic vinegar/jam tasting at Napastäk, hummus/crudites/pita-beef kofte with roasted kale-zucchini fritters and a glass of beer from Tarla, chocolate truffles and brittles from Anette’s Chocolate, and we finish with a wine tasting at Wine Thief.
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Tuesday, November 12
Wine Tasting Tour
1:00-5:00 PM
($185 includes transportation, two wineries tours & tastings, and a light meal)

Enjoy an air-conditioned mini-bus to Bouchaine Vineyards for a tasting, tour, and picnic lunch and then off to Etude Winery for a tasting and tour. 
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Keynote Speakers
Alex Chausovsky
ITR Economics Speaker

Managing in an Uncertain Economy

The session will provide ITR's expert views on what to expect from the economy 2020 and beyond, covering such topics as industry trends, business to business activity, trade, inflation, interest rates and more. Attendees will also learn about a method by which their company can take advantage of their own data to make better informed decisions based on the economic environment. Using leading indicators, attendees will find out how to identify where they are in the business cycle and which inputs should guide their business strategy to help them make the right decisions at the right time.

Walk away from this session with:

• Clear, practical, and actionable business advice based on the current economic environment
• Understanding of the impact of trade policy on the economy
• Inflation and interest rate expectations
   

About Alex
Alex Chausovsky is a highly experienced market researcher and analyst with more than a decade of expertise in subjects that include macroeconomics, industrial manufacturing, energy efficiency, automation and advanced technology trends. He has consulted and advised companies throughout the US, Europe, Brazil, China and Japan for the last fifteen years. Alex is currently responsible for providing reliable industry and company forecasts, presentations, webinars, and economic consulting services to small businesses, trade associations, and Fortune 500 companies across a spectrum of industries. In his prior role, Alex led a group of analysts covering the industrial manufacturing domain. He was also the lead analyst for 3D printing at a major international firm.

His research has been featured in major industry trade publications and magazines such as the Wall Street Journal. He has also appeared in interviews on NPR and the BBC. Alex takes part in more than 50 speaking engagements each year, and his presentations have helped thousands of business owners and executives capitalize on emerging trends. Alex regularly delivers keynote addresses at leading industry events to rave reviews. His charisma, engaging personality and refreshing demeanor on stage always surpass the audience’s expectations. 

His extensive consulting expertise is greatly valued by management teams of companies both large and small. ITR Economics’ clients rely on his input when developing strategic plans for the future, as he helps them find areas of opportunity and plan for risk conditions.

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Cara Siletto, MBA
Workforce thought leader

They Drive Me Crazy! The Generational Story You HAVEN’T Heard

Tired of hearing generational programs that list off mind-numbing statistics? You’ll love our award-winning unique approach to bridging today’s generational gaps! Our real-life first-hand stories about the real issues on the T.A.B.L.E. (technology, authority, balance, loyalty, and entitlement) fuel an eye-opening discussion about today’s changing workplace that will shift your mindset about those you work with.

Learning Objectives:

• Define the updated generational cohorts and why their definitions of “professionalism” vary
• Uncover exactly why today’s new workforce thinks and acts so differently in the workplace than previous generations
• Learn how to see others’ views to reduce judgment and improve relationships and retention
   

About Cara
Cara works with organizations to reduce unnecessary employee turnover by bridging generational gaps and making managers more effective in their roles. Workforce Magazine named Cara a “Game Changer” and Recruiter.com named her in their “Top 10 Company Culture Experts to Watch.” Cara is the President & Chief Retention Officer of Crescendo Strategies, and is also the author of the 2018 book, “Staying Power: Why Your Employees Leave & How to Keep Them Longer." 
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Rob Smith
Mercury PR

Government & Regulatory Affairs Update

Rob Smith of Mercury PR will update members on everything going on in DC what it means for you and your company.  With a new presidential election cycle starting up, Rob will share his perspective as to what the impact may be for the LPA and lab products industry.

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Julia Bramante
Marijuana Reference Laboratory Lead Scientist,  Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

The Evolving Cannabis Industry from the Laboratory Perspective

Julia will discuss the evolving cannabis industry from the lab perspective to include:
 

• The differences between THC, CBD, and Hemp;
• What the typical cannabis testing lab workflow is like;
• Explaining the cannabis testing process and the guidelines that have to be followed;
• What are the various regulations that cannabis labs need to keep apprised of;
• The challenges her lab and others are facing in terms of testing, growth, proper equipment/chemicals, etc.;
• How do cannabis testing labs typically go about finding the products they need for testing;
• The current and future demand for cannabis testing; and more.

About Julia
Julia began her career in the cannabis industry in 2015 at Gobi Labs, one of the first cannabis testing facilities to open in Colorado. She then transitioned to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Marijuana Reference Laboratory as the Quality Assurance Officer, where she is currently in her role as Lead Scientist. Julia is also the Chair of the Cannabis Chemistry Subdivision of the American Chemical Society, the Co-Chair of the AOAC CASP Microbial Contaminants Working Group, and serves on the Colorado Marijuana Science and Policy Work Group.
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Eric Maddox
Tracking Saddam: The Power of Empathy Based Listening

Eric Maddox gives audiences the behind the scene story of how he tracked down Saddam Hussein, the Ace of Spades, while serving as an interrogator for a Delta Force team.  Down to the last two hours of his deployment, Eric was able to penetrate Saddam’s most trusted circle to its core without using torture or physical contact of any kind. How did he do it? During the hunt, he was desperate to get cooperation from his prisoners and after many hours of trials and failures, found that the quickest, most effective and gainful way to get it was through what he calls Empathy Based Listening. Simply put, Empathy Based Listening is listening done without distraction and which helps one gain trust. It is listening not just with the ear but is rather a psychological process which can be learned. Eric lays out this process in order that audience members can use it in their own lives. Eric believes that in a world of many choices, the most effective way to gain and keep clients is by gaining their trust and by having a team of coworkers and leaders who are courageous and trustworthy though the process of constant change.

About Eric
Upon graduating from the University of Oklahoma in 1994, Eric Maddox joined the U.S. Army as an infantry paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division. After spending three years as a paratrooper, jumpmaster and a qualified ranger, Eric reenlisted as an interrogator and Chinese Mandarin linguist. Since 9/11, Eric has conducted over 2,700 interrogations while deploying eight times in support of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.  In 2003, while assigned to a special operations task force in Tikrit, Eric conducted over 300 interrogations and collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. As a result, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Director’s Award and the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement. After being hired as a civilian with the Department of Defense, Eric continued to help fight the Global War on Terror (GWOT) until 2014. In May 2015, he earned his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis and is now a private consultant and negotiator and lives in his hometown of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. Eric is also the author of Mission: Black List No. 1 (Harper Collins, 2008), which he wrote.
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Scott Parazynski
Innovator and Former Astronaut
The Opportunity and The Obligation to Innovate

To be an Innovator, you need an open-mindedness and the relentless hunt for problems that need to be fixed. For a company to be truly disruptive and grow, it must create an environment wherein every employee is not only allowed to contribute to the advancement of the mission, they must also feel an obligation to innovate. That's the kind of environment and work ethic Scott has spent a lifetime advancing: from developing tools and techniques to recover from the Space Shuttle Columbia accident to developing innovative medical devices and enhancing safety on the slopes of the world's highest mountains. He draws on his background working in extreme environments as a catalyst for innovation in daily life. In this presentation, he transfers that mindset to your workforce with powerful examples from aerospace, medicine, mountaineering and everyday life, along with a healthy dose of engaging, relatable stories and good humor!

About Scott
Dr. Scott Parazynski is a graduate of Stanford University and Stanford Medical School and trained at Harvard and in Denver in preparation for a career in emergency medicine and trauma. In 1992, he was selected to join NASA’s Astronaut Corps. Over his 17-year career as an astronaut, Scott flew five Space Shuttle Missions and conducted seven spacewalks (EVAs). 

His presentations offer important lessons on teamwork, risk management, and innovation under the most demanding circumstances, on or off the planet. In October 2007, Dr. Parazynski led the EVA team on STS-120, a highly complex space station assembly flight, during which he performed four EVAs. The flight’s fourth and final EVA is regarded as one of the most challenging and dangerous ever performed. Tasked with repairing a fully energized solar array wing, Scott was positioned by a 90-foot robotic boom farther than any orbiting astronaut had ever ventured from the safety of the airlock. That coordinated effort in orbit and on the ground by Mission Control is often likened to the Space Shuttle/Space Station era’s “Apollo 13 moment.” 

A life-long SCUBA diver and accomplished mountaineer, Dr. Parazynski’s treks have taken him around the world, including the top of Mt. Everest and scientific dives in the world’s tallest lake inside the Licancabur volcano. He has numerous publications in the field of space physiology with expertise in human adaptation to stressful environments.

REGISTER ONLINE or DOWNLOAD THE PDF