SPESA To Host 2024 Executive Conference in Montréal, Quebec, October 8-10, 2024

Press Release

Raleigh, N.C. - June 12, 2024 - The Sewn Products Equipment & Suppliers of the Americas (SPESA) will host its annual Executive Conference Tuesday, October 8 through Thursday, October 10 at the historic Le Mount Stephen. The event will bring together industry professionals for learning, networking, and the opportunity to explore the beautiful city of Montréal. 

Known as Canada’s fashion capital, Montréal is North America’s third largest clothing manufacturing hub after New York City and Los Angeles. In 2006, it was the second city in the world — just behind Buenos Aires —  to be recognized as a UNESCO City of Design. The impressive list, now encompassing 40 cities across the globe, includes other notable locales like Beijing, Mexico City, Istanbul, and Berlin. 

“Montréal is an exciting location for the 2024 Executive Conference,” said SPESA Board Secretary & Treasurer, and Montréal local Michael Rabin. “Having spent most of my career in this city, I’ve seen the sewn products industry here overcome exceptional hurdles, like offshoring. I’ve seen the industry reinvent itself, through the adoption of new technologies, the establishment of large manufacturers and brands in the region, and a collective drive to build on and grow a passionate workforce.”  

The 2024 Executive Conference will feature a combination of keynote addresses and panel discussions that focus on challenges and opportunities facing the sewn products industry today, while also blending in topics specific to the region. Attendees of the conference can expect to learn more about the manufacturing landscape in Quebec (and across Canada and North America), how new tech is driving industry change, and what needs to be done to secure the future of the industry — most notably in regards to supporting a next-generation workforce. 

“Whether through the adoption of new business models or technologies, we’re seeing our industry across the Americas constantly changing. If we don’t actively participate in that change, we cannot remain competitive,” said SPESA Chairman Mark Hatton. “At the 2024 SPESA Advancements Conference in L.A., we discussed how companies can implement technology to boost their production, and featured industry professionals committed to forward-thinking change. I look forward to continuing this conversation in Montréal, focusing on how we marry progress through technology with progress through people. How to provide the next generation with the tools they need to be successful is not only a topic of our Executive Conference, it remains a part of SPESA's long-term strategy as an organization.”

In addition to educational sessions and networking, SPESA will also be hosting an offsite tour that will not only showcase the local industry but also highlight some of Montréal’s key attractions. This optional activity is a value-add for all registrants interested in attending. More information to come on where the offsite tour will be held. 

“We’re thrilled to host the 2024 SPESA Executive Conference in Montréal,” said SPESA president Michael McDonald. “This is an event that intentionally moves from market-to-market each year. Just as we prioritize the evolution of event content and speaker line-ups, we also prioritize hosting events in new locations that — we hope — will inspire new ways of thinking, provide new opportunities for connection, and allow folks to cross-off a destination on their bucket list. We are drawn to Montréal because of its rich industry presence, but we’re also excited to showcase a beautiful, fun, and historic city.”

Early bird registration for the Executive Conference is currently open. The SPESA member early bird registration rate is $650. The non-member registration rate is $750. The early bird registration deadline is Friday, July 12, at which point rates will increase. Registration for both members and non-members includes all education, the offsite tour, and networking events. A spouse rate of $275 is also available, which includes access to networking events.

An agenda for the 2024 Executive Conference will be available soon. Visit https://www.spesa.org/spesa-executive-conference to learn more, take a peek at past events, and register for the Executive Conference. 

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