FAIRFAX, Va. -- The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has announced that adventurer Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person in history to reach the summit of Mount Everest, will be a keynote speaker at the AWMA Marketplace & Solutions Expo, Feb. 24-26, 2015, at the Paris Las Vegas.
Weihenmayer, who has reached the summits of the tallest mountain peaks on each continent, will speak on February 26 at the association's annual convention.
Redefining what it means to be blind, Erik has opened the minds of people around the world. "Erik continues to inspire others with motivational talks, charity work and wild adventures. We are delighted that he will be with us to open the final day of our exciting new 2015 Expo," said AWMA president and CEO Scott Ramminger.
Weihenmayer became one of only 100 mountaineers to climb all Seven Summits. He completed the Primal Quest, billed as the toughest adventure race in the world. He spoke to the U.S. president at 26,000 feet on Everest, then visited him with his team in the Oval Office. And he led six blind Tibetan teenagers to 21,500 feet on the north side of Everest, higher than any group of blind people have ever stood.
Also, Charlotte Beers, former undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs under Secretary of State Colin Powell and national advertising agency CEO, will address attendees at the Women's Leadership Breakfast during the expo. Beers, once named the "most powerful woman in advertising," is author of I'd Rather Be in Charge.
The AWMA Marketplace & Solutions Expo is dedicated to convenience store distribution, where buyers who are purchasing for more than 150,000 stores come to see new products, make buying decisions and learn about the latest trends. It is the only industry event focused specifically on supply-chain issues and solutions.
AWMA is the international trade organization working on behalf of convenience distributors. Associate members include manufacturers, service providers, technology companies, brokers, retailers and others allied to the convenience retailing industry. In addition to convenience stores, the distributors also service grocery stores, drug stores, tobacco shops, mass merchants, newsstands, concession stands, gift shops, fundraising groups, restaurants, institutions and more.
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