Creating Growth in a Down Economy

Strategic Account Management Professionals Convene to Learn and Share Tactics
During Economically Uncertain Times, Xerox Company's CEO Anne Mulcahy to
Deliver Keynote

CHICAGO, April 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In today's economic climate,
businesses are asking the same question: How do you grow customer loyalty in
a slow economy? For companies with strategic account management programs, the
answer is to find quick payback through collaborating, co-creating and
innovating with customers. This message is echoed throughout the Strategic
Account Management Association's 45th Annual Conference, scheduled for
Hollywood, Florida, May 10-13, 2009.

"The bottom line for many complex national and global companies is often
price, price, price," says Bernard Quancard, president and CEO of the
Strategic Account Management Association (SAMA). "It is up to the supplier to
demonstrate a unique customer value to stand out from the crowd. This year's
conference offers opportunities to learn how demonstrating sustained
productivity can create that intimate partnership, which will reward you long
after the economy picks back up."

Strategic Account Management is the concept of developing a synergistic
relationship which emphasizes collaboration between key customers and
suppliers in primarily national and global settings. The result of this
relationship is future mutual growth.

The SAMA Annual Conference is the only event of its kind, bringing together
people from hundreds of global companies across all industries. In addition
to networking, case study sessions and in-depth workshops, this year's
conference will feature a keynote address from Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox
Corporation, whose speech "Innovation: America's Lifeline," will focus on how
investing in innovation has remained a crucial part of Xerox's success. Other
keynoters include Jim Andrew, Senior Partner, Global Head of the Innovation
Practice, The Boston Consulting Group and Jeff Cochran, Principal, Shapiro
Negotiations Institute.

Founded in 1964 and with close to 4,000 members worldwide, SAMA is a
knowledge-sharing organization devoted to promoting, developing and advancing
Strategic Account Management -- the concept of customer-supplier collaboration
-- on a national and global scale. For more information, visit
www.strategicaccounts.org.
Contact: Matt Micou
312-251-3131 x18
micou@strategicaccounts.org

SOURCE Strategic Account Management Association

Matt Micou of Strategic Account Management Association, +1-312-251-3131, x18,
micou@strategicaccounts.org