Making a difference: a record number of Platinum Sponsors are prepared to deliver their message at the industry's largest annual meeting.

Far the 2007 NAA Education Conference & Exposition's record-number 18 Platinum Sponsors, getting brand-name recognition at the apartment industry's greatest event of the year helps them to Make a Difference. For the thousands of apartment management employees who will attend the show June 28-30 at Mandalay Bay Conference Center and Casino in Las Vegas, the education gained will help them to Make a Difference in improving performance and developing their careers.

For volunteers throughout the industry, their year-round efforts of compassion and support through various causes, Making a Difference is the theme that runs through their daily lives. Those who have put energy to goodwill will be recognized here before this enormous national audience.

This year's conference theme, Making A Difference, promises to headline all aspects of the three-day extravaganza, which includes a 50-session education program designed with eight distinct tracks based on all aspects of apartment management.

Apartment professionals have the chance to invest in themselves and follow a professional development education track path, be it in leadership, human resources, technology, specialty housing, small/independent owner, maintenance or marketing. Or, attendees may choose to attend various sessions to gain knowledge on a variety of fronts.

The 2007 Education Conference & Exposition will host the largest national trade show in the apartment industry with more than 700 booths on a 160,000 square-foot hall, filled by companies showcasing their latest products and services to help apartment professionals stay ahead of the pack in today's competitive market.

"The Platinum Sponsors see the value of name recognition throughout the country," said NAA Chairman of the Board Dave Watkins, CAPS. "They are leaders when it comes to supporting the industry as a whole and have stepped up to the plate to make things happen."

The 18 industry leaders who are Platinum Sponsors, representing a wide variety of products and services, have that distinct opportunity. They are: AZUMA Leasing, Comcast, Intuit Real Estate Solutions, Apartment Finder, Apartment Guide, AT&T, Coinmach Corporation, Lowe's, For Rent Media Solutions, Verizon, The Home Depot Supply, RealPage, Rent.com, Move, Sears, Yardi, Time Warner Cable and Mac-Gray. Wilmar is a Silver Sponsor; First Advantage SafeRent and Resident Data Inc. are Bronze Sponsors.

Face lime With Decision-Makers

For Rent Media Solutions, whose Vice President/General Manager Terry Slattery is NAA's National Supplier's Council Chair and 2007 Conference Co-Chair, said "with the largest captive audience of apartment industry decision-makers, there is no better place than the NAA Education Conference & Exposition for a company to showcase its products and services, introduce a new company name or build on a strong branding campaign."

Andrea Massey, Senior Vice President, Marketing, RealPage, a first-time Platinum, said NAA's annual conference is one of the most anticipated events of the year.

"Not only does it offer our staff the chance to interact and network with thousands of apartment professionals, but it also provides us with the opportunity to speak directly with our customer base to understand the full range of needs for the conventional, affordable and student housing markets that we serve," Massey said.

Senior Vice President, Apartment Finder, Marcia Bollinger, said having her company appear before a record crowd is important because the apartment industry is the lifeblood of their business.

"As Platinum Sponsors, more multifamily housing people means more opportunities to communicate our message, introduce our products and services, and most importantly, more opportunities to build relationships with our customers," Bollinger said. "At the NAA conference, the networking isn't just invaluable--it's fun. Customers become trusted friends, working alongside each other in the industry we know and love."

Tina West, Senior Manager, Sales, Rent.com, said the NAA conference is all event not to be missed.

"It has always proven to be the best way for us to meet a diverse group of multifamily housing professionals in person," West said. "By attending and being a Platinum Sponsor, our product managers, engineers and sales representatives are able to listen to what the community is saying."

Stephen Feltner, President, Move, said, "Our Platinum Sponsorship gives us the chance to network with our industry peers, allowing us to stay on top of the new trends within the industry. The information received during this conference is invaluable."

Sarah Malone, For Rent Media Solutions' Vice President of Sales for the Western Region, said her company is proud to have sponsored the conference since 1990.

"We enjoy being surrounded by key decision-makers in our industry," Malone said. "By having so many years of experience at one conference, our employees have the opportunity, to learn more about the industry to better serve our clients."

Bill Story, Vice President, Sales, AT&T Community Technologies, said, "AT&T found last year's NAA Education Conference to be an incredible opportunity to continue to develop new relationships and expand our client base. Having a large part of our management team attend the conference was very helpful as we continue to execute our mission to provide one-stop shopping for AT&T's full range of communications and entertainment services to a wide range of communities."

Star Power

Several top-rated NAA speakers return to share their expertise, including Tom Asacker on branding, Dan Thurmon on work-life balance, and Larry and Megan Johnson and the Apartment All-Stars on marketing.

All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning, speaking with his father Archie, are keynote speakers set for June 28. Manning is the 2007 Super Bowl most valuable player of the reigning champion Indianapolis Colts. 60 Minutes anchor Leslie Stahl will speak on June 29.

2007 NAA Conference Chair Bill Boston, noted that the significant contributions of the sponsors enable NAA to assemble a world-class lineup of speakers and educators. Last year. WinnResidential brought 100 of its staff.

"We use the conference as an opportunity to bring together people from around the country," said Wollinger said. "The NAA venue provides an incredible value and allows for people in our organization to network with each other and with professionals from other generations. The trade show exposes our people to what's new, what works and it provides take-home knowledge that can be put into action at our communities immediately."

Also among the new speakers added to the NAA education schedule are J. Walker Smith, described by Fortune magazine as "one of America's leading analysts of consumer trends." Mel Kleiman, a leading expert on hiring hourly employees and life-long learning expert Julia King Tamang of LERN.

Other individual education sessions as part of the tracks include personal development and motivation topics, strategies and solutions for small owners, special sessions for property managers to help them do their jobs better and with less stress, demographic trends--who are the future apartment residents and employees, and up-to-the minute trends.

All of that education is complimented by three common interest roundtables where industry professionals will be able to share best practices in peer-to-peer exchanges facilitated by industry dynamos about human resources and hot topics.

John Lafferty, Greater Boston Real Estate Board. is 2007 Affiliate Executive Committee Co-Conference Chair, representing NAA's affiliate leadership. "Without our generous sponsors. NAA would not be able to deliver the industry's best education conference and trade show," Lafferty said. "This conference is what NAA national headquarters works toward all year and we are proud to support it and promote it from the local and state level."

Trade Show Floor: The Big Give-Away

The ultimate thrill for attendees comes during the June 30 grand-prize giveaway, sponsored by the Platinum sponsors. One grand prizewinner's name will be drawn at random that afternoon. The winner will have the choice of $30,000 cash or a brand-new car--which would you choose?

Other highlights will the NSC-sponsored Opening Party on June 28 and the performance of The World Classic Rockers (WCR) at the Closing Gala on June 30. WCR features former members of classic rock bands Journey, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Steppenwolf and Toto. Four NAA members will win the chance to sing a set with the band based on their entrance in the first-ever NAA Idol, based on the popular television show.