2026 Education Series

 

Opening Keynote Speaker

Denis Dreni, CEO, NextGen AI Technologies

“AI for Real Work: A Thrilling presentation on how AI will drive your company to new heights!”

In “AI for Real Work,” our Keynote Speaker cuts through the hype and shows how to put AI to work in the areas that actually move the needle for office furniture dealerships and remanufacturing operations: sales velocity, quoting accuracy, marketing output, operations execution, and management visibility.

This keynote is built for leaders who want practical, low-risk ways to start (or accelerate) adoption—without a massive tech overhaul. The Speaker will translate “AI” into concrete workflows your team can implement quickly: using AI as a day-to-day copilot for writing, analysis, research, customer communication, training, and process documentation—plus how to set guardrails so quality and brand voice stay consistent.

Attendees will leave with a clear framework for where AI creates immediate ROI, what to tackle first, how to avoid common pitfalls, and how to build internal momentum so adoption sticks. Expect real examples, fast wins, and a playbook you can put to work the Monday after the conference.

Date/Time: Monday 3/16, 11:00am

 

Closing Keynote Speaker

Mark Evans, Comedian at Southern Not Stupid LLC

“Southern, Not Stupid: Common Sense, Culture, and Laughing Your Way to Better Business”

Just before everyone breaks for lunch, our entertainer delivers the ideal reset to wrap up the morning on a high note.

In “Southern, Not Stupid,” brings humor, energy, and straight-talk to the stage—keeping the room engaged while reinforcing the people-first fundamentals that drive strong businesses and long-term relationships. Through quick stories and sharp observations, our presenter highlights the value of common sense, accountability, and culture in an industry built on trust and collaboration.

This keynote is intentionally fast-moving and entertaining, designed to leave attendees smiling, energized, and talking as they head to lunch. It’s a reminder that while technology and strategy matter, success still comes down to how we lead, how we treat people, and whether we remember to enjoy the work along the way.

Date/Time: Tuesday 3/17, 11:00 am

Education Series:

SESSION 1:       AI -Powered CRM & Lead Management for Furniture Dealers

Clay Posey, President & CEO, Founder, ClearBox Strategies

This session is designed to help furniture dealers and OFR attendees move beyond high-level AI buzzwords and into practical, day-to-day application. Led by Clay Posey, founder of Clearbox Strategies, the class focuses on how AI can be used inside your CRM to improve lead generation, qualification, follow-up, and close rates.

Rather than a 30,000-foot overview, this education session operates at the ground level—showing how AI tools can support sales teams by automating repetitive tasks, improving response timing, prioritizing leads, and ensuring consistent follow-through. Attendees will learn how to apply AI to real CRM workflows, turning data into action and inquiries into opportunities.

The mission of the class is simple: help dealers use AI as a practical sales assistant, not a replacement—driving better visibility, accountability, and results throughout the sales pipeline.

Presenter – Clay Posey, President & CEO, Founder, ClearBox Strategies

As the President & CEO, Founder of ClearBox Strategies, Clay leads a team of experts in digital growth strategies for small and medium businesses. With over 30 years of experience in marketing and sales, he has a passion for helping businesses thrive by creating and executing go-to-market strategies that deliver results.

SESSION 2:

Locke Burnette, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield

Marissa Huber, Director, Cushman & Wakefield Total Workplace

Designing Offices That Actually Work Today

What employees want, what companies need, and what’s driving attendance in the modern workplace.

Presenters – Locke Burnette, Executive Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield

As return-to-office efforts accelerate, companies are learning that mandates alone aren’t enough. To attract and retain top talent, especially Gen Z and Millennials, the workplace must offer an experience that makes coming to the office feel worthwhile.

In this session, Locke Burnett and Marissa Huber of Cushman & Wakefield will share how shifting workforce expectations are influencing office design, furniture strategies, and real estate decisions. Drawing on current market insights, he’ll explore how organizations are creating flexible, engaging, and purpose-driven workspaces while managing cost and sustainability goals.

Attendees will gain valuable perspective on how circular furniture solutions, reuse, and remanufacturing support both employee experience and ESG initiatives, and how OFR members can align their offerings with the evolving needs of corporate clients.

SESSION 3: HUBspot CRM presentations

Presenter – Katharine Fischer, Corporate Account Executive, Hubspot

With a focus on HubSpot, an all-in-one CRM and marketing platform that helps businesses attract, engage, and delight customers through tools for marketing, sales, customer service, and content management, this session is designed specifically for office furniture dealerships, re-manufacturers, and industry partners looking to strengthen their marketing and business development efforts through practical, real-world tools.

Attendees will learn how HubSpot’s platform can support more effective customer acquisition, help reduce acquisition costs, and create consistent communication strategies that keep clients engaged throughout the sales cycle.

Rather than a technical deep dive into AI, this session will focus on how dealers can use HubSpot’s built-in tools and automation to streamline outreach, manage contacts, and maintain ongoing relationships. Topics will include building targeted drip campaigns,

Kathrine’s Specialties:

Specialties:

Sales Process and Sales Methodology creation

Recruit, hire and develop top individual contributors

Quota over achievement

Data driven coaching and mentoring

Inbound Marketing

Search Engine Optimization

Blogging for Business

Social Media Marketing

Viral Marketing

PPC/Adwords Campaigns

Landing Pages

Website Marketing

Lead Conversion

Lead Nurturing Analytics

SESSION 4: Prompt Engineering: Getting Better Business Results from AI

Dr. Zdenka Cumano, Founder AI Leader Edge, Professor at Florida Atlantic University.

Simply using AI isn’t enough — the real power comes from knowing how to ask the right questions. This highly interactive session focuses on prompt engineering, the skill of structuring inputs to AI tools in a way that delivers clearer, more accurate, and more actionable results.

Designed specifically for office furniture dealers and the companies that support them — including manufacturers, fabric and parts suppliers, logistics providers, and installation teams — this session explores how better prompts can drive real operational and sales outcomes.

Attendees will learn how to:

• Write stronger prompts for proposals, marketing content, and internal communications
• Enhance existing furniture images using AI-powered visuals for sales and presentations
• Use AI to identify efficiencies in operations, inventory management, and logistics
• Improve truck loading, delivery sequencing, and installation workflows
• Create SOPs and training tools more quickly and consistently

Participants will leave with a one-page prompt reference guide they can immediately apply to their daily work.

Presenter – Dr. Zdenka Cumano, Founder AI Leader Edge, Professor at Florida Atlantic University.

Dr. Cumano is a technology educator, entrepreneur, and a leading voice in democratizing data and AI tools for business transformation. With a career spanning three continents and over two decades, Zdenka has worked at the intersection of technology, strategy, and education, integrating innovative solutions into organizations of all sizes.

As the founder of Data BI Analytics Consulting and a technology instructor for Executive Education at Florida Atlantic University, Zdenka empowers today’s and tomorrow’s leaders to leverage cutting-edge AI and Generative AI tools to drive growth and efficiency. Her experience includes integrating 18 global acquisitions into private equity portfolios, leading

financial operations for billion-dollar companies, and mentoring professionals to unlock their full potential through transformative learning experiences.

Zdenka’s latest entrepreneurial venture, AI Leader Edge, co-founded with serial entrepreneur Rob Frasca, is dedicated to helping leaders turn AI into a true competitive advantage. Drawing from their experience testing over 1,000 AI tools, they deliver customized leadership seminars designed to accelerate growth and mastery in AI adoption.

Panel Discussions

Panel Session 1:  Rethinking the Warehouse: Profit, Flexibility, and Sustainability in a New Office Furniture Market

 Moderator – Mark Awtry

Panelists – TBD

Panel Overview

This discussion focuses on warehouse strategy in a market where preowned demand is softer, new furniture is preferred, sustainability expectations remain, and costs are rising.

What We’re Looking For:

Real examples

Honest trade-offs

Lessons learned (including mistakes)

Practical ideas other owners can apply

Moderator – Mark Awtry

Panelists – TBD

Panel Session 2:  

Panel Session 2 – AI Tools, Tips and Best Practices

An open forum where participants share AI tools and best practices in marketing, sales, and operations.

Moderator: TBD

Panelists: TBD

Education Sponsor

Opening Keynote Sponsor

Closing Keynote Sponsor

 

Panel Discussions Sponsors