CR Bard - Global Sales Meeting

Bard 2007 Global Sales Meeting

Orlando, Florida
Monday, January 29 - Friday, February 2, 2007

Orlando, Florida was recently the “hot spot” of celebration for almost 2,000 members of Bard’s sales, marketing, senior management and support teams from around the world. Just under a quarter of Bard’s entire workforce gathered for five days of education and revelry at the 2007 Global Sales Meeting. Breakthrough: Power of the Past, Force of the Future was the theme for this unique event, which also served to kick off Bard’s 100th year anniversary.

Though the event was as much about Bard’s present and future as about the past, the company’s rich history was on display throughout the week. The festivities opened with a product fair on January 29, where attendees learned about the variety of innovative new products from each Bard division. To gain entrance to the fair, attendees navigated through a “time tunnel” that regaled Bard’s rich history in words and pictures.

Proof that “anything is possible” was demonstrated when history came alive – literally - in the opening ceremony. An actor portraying Charles Russell Bard guided the attendees through a retrospective of Bard’s history as he introduced Bard’s centennial video. The session was also highlighted by attendance of a number of distinguished guests including former CEOs George Maloney and William Longfield; Jack Willits, a longtime Bard employee (and son and grandson of former Bard leaders); members of Bard’s Board of Directors, and executives from Medicon, Bard’s joint venture in Japan.

This was also the week to recognize the top sales and marketing personnel who helped drive Bard’s continued success in 2006, as divisions held their annual awards nights.

Midweek, attendees took a break from the hectic schedule of meetings – over 500 separate sessions were conducted over the five days – for some relaxation and recreation. At the same time, 150 employee volunteers gave up their day of recreation and instead chose to participate in the first of Bard’s 100 Acts of Kindness at Orlando’s Primrose Center.

Performances by Chicago and Huey Lewis and the News highlighted the last full day of meetings, and by Friday afternoon, thousands of Bard employees headed back to their offices around the globe, recharged and reinvigorated – full of enthusiasm to get Bard’s next 100 years off to a great start.