Finding new service providers to work with makes the Summit worthwhile

“We hired an interesting service provider we met at the Summit. I wouldn’t have considered them otherwise as I had another company in mind” said Angie Schlemmer, VP Tax, Varsity Brands, a delegate at the Marcus Evans Tax Officers Summit.

What new business opportunities did the Summit bring your way?

We found two excellent resources. We have started working with one service provider, and we are getting a proposal from another. We did not know either of them before the Summit. We saved almost a million dollars in the first year that we worked with the new service provider.

Prior to your meeting, would you have accepted cold calls from these service providers?

No, I receive so many calls and emails, and there is an overwhelming number of them in the field. Having a face-to-face meeting with them was extremely important. I wouldn’t have considered them otherwise as I had another company in mind. However, I was so impressed with this service provider’s presentation, how they do things, how organized and professional they are, that I decided to work with them on a go-forward basis.

Is it a tough process to get through your door, to become one of your service providers?

Yes, very tough.

What do you think of the one-on-one meeting format?

When we find a service provider we really like, it’s like striking gold. It makes it all worthwhile. We are now trying to engage another provider for a service they were not even marketing at the Summit. While talking to them, I discovered that they offer a completely different type of product that would be extremely beneficial for us. We are going to try to license a software from them. That made my whole trip worth it. You don’t know what you don’t know. You have to go to the Summit and ask questions of the service providers.

How would you compare the Summit to other industry events?

I attend mostly tax professional events, which are very technical. The Tax Officers Summit attendees are senior tax executives and the opportunity for face-to-face meetings with the other tax executives makes the event very valuable.

Do you “strike gold” at other events?

Not with this type of vendors. We get lots of good information and ideas.

Do you find the speaker presentations valuable?

Yes, they are usually very relevant to issues my tax department faces.

Any comments on the Marcus Evans team?

The team is very helpful and attentive. Outstanding.

Find out more about the upcoming Tax Officers Summit.