What’s the APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference?
The APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference brings together stakeholders from across the country who have an interest in legal issues in the areas of public policy, tax law, regulation, and legislation, including representatives from industry, law firms, accounting firms and the academic community. In addition , the APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference serves as a forum for you to discuss with other industry professionals some of the most significant legal issues impacting all of the industries represented in APPA. The program features session tracks and networking opportunities for you to connect with other industry professionals from across the country.
What Was Discussed at the Conference
The conference program covers a number of key topics, including legal trends, regulatory compliance, and the latest in renewable energy policy. The first day of the conference featured three breakout sessions addressing topic areas that included retail and wholesale power sales, sales tax on electricity, and state public utility commission rate-setting. On the second day, the keynote speaker was Susan Combs, former Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, on the issue of "electricity deregulation in Texas and how the Texas experience may be used to justify deregulation in other places and times." In addition, the plenary session on the third day of the conference covered a number of important issues in the areas of reliability, electric grid security, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance.
Featured Speakers and Sessions
The conference hosted a number of prominent speakers and sessions. One of the earliest sessions was Demand in Rural Markets: Opportunities for Innovative Payment Networks, moderated by research manager Marshall L. Porter of the Demand Institute. The panelists included executive vice president Mindy Stoll of Parkway Bank; chairman and president Rex Johnson of FreeState and member of the Kansas Corporation Commission from Sterling, Kansas; and James "Artie" Green III, director of effective growth practices at Citizens Bank. Porter asked the panelists to provide examples of how banking has changed over the past decade through their unique experiences.
All agree change has been particularly prominent in rural markets, evolving quickly from ATM services in the early 1980s to the mobile apps of the present. On behalf of the Demand Institute, Porter cited five key findings in their research: (1) that one in four banking relationships formed with institutions with fewer than five branches; (2) that one in three relationships formed on the basis of innovative electronic payment systems; (3) that the "average bank consumer" is 54 years old; (4) that digital influence is the main driver of consumer decisions despite a reliance on traditional banking methods; and (5) the rural market offers huge potential for banks.
In the coming weeks we will be posting summaries of the sessions and discussions that took place at the APPA’s conference. The panelists gave us a wealth of information worth passing along regarding the nitty-gritty-and sometimes nitpicky-details of what Community Banking is all about. We hope you’ll check back often to read our blog posts and discover the healthcare trends and ideas that appeal to you!
Unique Solutions and Best Practices
One of the conference’s most popular sessions reviewed innovative business models used by manufacturers and suppliers that are effective and efficient in accomplishing what they are intended to do and that can be applied by others. Innovative business models were identified from various industries. After listening to the session, participants were better able to identify ways to apply these models to their own businesses and the benefits of implementing these innovative business models.
Another session reviewed best practices in regulatory compliance management. Speakers discussed real-world legal examples that were risk mitigation strategies used by animal health product companies. These strategies demonstrated how to improve regulatory compliance efforts , as well as meet labeling requirements. The application of these successful strategies also resulted in improvements in the speed to market, product registration and compliance. Improvement in quality compliance also reduces costs. The combination of these benefits provides a competitive advantage. By applying these successful strategies to different aspects of their businesses, participants can reduce regulatory risk and be operationally efficient.
Networking Opportunities and Participant Feedback
Beyond the education sessions, the APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference also serves as a tremendous networking opportunity for attorneys and industry professionals. The conference brings hundreds together, with dozens of in-depth discussion and networking opportunities throughout. The conference is divided into two days of learning and collaboration. The second day of the APPA Legal & Regulatory Conference is devoted primarily to a series of small group discussions and roundtable sessions. All sessions are led by expert panelists and moderated by general counsel from member associations. Participants have the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue specific to the pet industry and to learn from one another’s experiences. The "roundtable" concept has been well received by all. Several session attendees spoke of enjoying the ability "get their questions answered" by a panel full of industry experts. Others voiced their appreciation for having panelists "who are both knowledgeable of and heavily involved in the pet industry." Overall, feedback from participants has been positive, affirming the value attendees found in both the conference sessions and unique networking opportunities afforded by the event.
Participating in Future APPA Conferences
Attending these conferences is by invitation and requires APPA membership. You can become a member of APPA by completing a membership application and submitting it to the APPA National Office (2914 S. Silverbrook Avenue, Suite 205, Ontario, CA 91761-2766). You can download an APPA membership application here . All attendees at the conferences are expected to advance the APPA mission and purpose via active participation and collaboration with other attendees. Although the permitted attendees are limited, APPA welcomes all new members and seeks to cultivate an inclusive networking environment among all members of APPA.
The annual APPA Legal and Regulatory Conference is currently scheduled for April 16-19, 2024 in San José, California.