Educational sessions and events themed around product safety and other legal concerns to the industry continue to play a large part of this year’s PPAI Expo. Many events are being offered over the week-long show, providing numerous and varied opportunities to learn about product safety and other legal issues from speakers with vast personal experience and technical knowledge.
On Tuesday the safety/legislative sessions seemed well-attended, though not too full that it was difficult for attendees to ask questions (as is the case sometimes with larger, more sales-oriented sessions). Many of the speakers were veteran leaders from large industry companies, such as Prime Line’s CEO Rick Brenner and Geiger’s CEO Gene Geiger. Legal and technical experts were also present at some of the sessions, offering clarification and detail on complex issues such as the legal value of handheld heavy-metal scanners or how difficult it can be to trace lead contamination sources in apparel. Additionally, many of the session speakers seemed to work in pairs (though not always listed on the event schedule), allowing for speakers to double-check their information and sort out difficult issues.
While product safety is certainly an emphasis at such sessions, it is not at all the only legislative area covered. Several sessions at the expo, such as “Legislative Watch 2012,” where John Satagaj, Esq., covered the broader legal challenges facing the industry as a whole, offered a wide picture and understanding of the many legal issues facing the industry today, from 2012’s impending tax changes to product safety to the coming elections.
Said Glenda Stormes-Bice, MAS, of Tuesday’s legislative sessions: “My favorite sessions are always John Satagaj’s. I find his grasp of the political climate and what’s coming to be incredibly detailed and I’m always impressed with his ability to explain very succinctly, in very few sentences, exactly what’s going on that makes it very palatable and understandable.”
PPAI’s safety and legislation sessions and events will continue throughout the week. For more information, visit The PPAI Expo’s website.
