Fort Lauderdale, Florida will again play host to the Road Race Management Race Directors' Meeting and Trade Show, October 20- 22. Thousands of race officials, corporate sponsors, advertising and public relations executives, and others interested in road running have attended this annual fall gathering since it started in 1983.

"Given the advance requests for information, we expect a great turnout at the meeting and trade show," said meeting coordinator Jeff Darman. "Fort Lauderdale offers a great destination for event directors not only to obtain valuable information, but also as a great spot to unwind and network," he added.

The weekend offers informal "networking" opportunities and race officials also get a chance to "shop" for all their equipment and service needs at the two-day Trade Exhibit, held in conjunction with the meeting. Exhibits include clocks, awards, competitor numbers, banners, fencing, finish-line services, computer products, t-shirts, jackets and other apparel, magazines, photographic services and web services.

Sessions will include information on, Good Ideas Under $250, event layouts, financial planning, race participation of athletes with disabilities, post race sponsor reports, marketing and as always the trade show will feature a wide variety of products and exhibitors. The full program is available at www.rrm.com. Keynote speaker will be Mary Wittenberg, new president of the New York Road Runners Club and ING New York City Marathon Director.

The Road Race Management meeting is supported in part by the Atlanta Track Club, Bank of America Gasparilla Distance Classic, BKB Ltd., Electric City Printing, Gatorade, Leslie Jordan, Inc., MarathonFoto, Marathon Printing, Running Times, Winning Time U.S.A. Chip Timing, and the World's Best 10 K.

FACULTY

Amy Berner
Corporate Accounts Manager, LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon; formerly with IEG Consulting (Events) and DDB Advertising

Jeff Darman
Marketing Consultant (Moving Comfort and Running Times); Director; ACLI Capital Challenge; past President, AARC and RRCA.

Bob Hall
Wheelchair Champion, Boston and New York Marathons Sport/wheel Chair designer and manufacturer (New Hall's Wheels) Disability Coordinator, Boston Marathon

Susan Harmeling
Director, Bank of America Gasparilla Distance Classic and Marathon by Tampa Bay

Michael Hughes
Director of Operations, Atlanta Track Club; Course Vehicle Coordinator, 1996 Olympic Marathon

Dave McGillivray
Director, Boston Marathon; Director 2004 Women's Olympic Marathon Trials, Beach to Beacon 10K; MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year (2000)

Tracey Russell
Director Ukrop's Monument Avenue10K and Suntrust Richmond Marathon; Director of Events, Richmond Sports Backers

Phil Stewart
Editor and Publisher Road Race Management; Director Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-mile

Mary Wittenberg President, New York Road Runners; Director ING New York City Marathon