PPA Announces Dates for 2007 Paddlesports Business School

(Springfield, VA) – From March 19 to 21, 2007, the Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) will host the second session of the National School for Paddlesports Business in Loudonville, Ohio. The school is designed to improve business management knowledge, skills, and abilities for paddlesports industry professionals.

A sold-out event in 2006, the national school provides a practical learning approach for paddlesports industry business owners, managers, and staff. The school’s curriculum is based on a two-year cycle of achievement and is designed to provide an intensive curriculum in a minimal amount of time at an affordable cost.

“By focusing classes into a two-day period we can reduce ‘out-of-the-store’ impacts for our attendees,” said Scott Teuber of Wisconsin River Outings who is the chancellor of the association’s Board of Regents. “We want folks to be able to attend the school but we don’t want to cause significant disruptions in their business.”

The school will have an emphasis on six major learning tracks: finance and accounting, customer relations, advertising and marketing, retail sales, operations and personnel management, legal issues and risk management.

Attendees at the school can also earn up to 24 credits each year towards becoming a Certified Paddlesports Professional (CPP) – a designation that benefits the PPA membership and the entire paddlesports industry that enables individuals to distinguish themselves as having achieved the highest level of industry professional development.

A total of 75 credits plus graduation from the school is required for the initial certification. Program participants are also required to maintain certification by earning additional continuing education credits over time.

The registration fee for the national school is $215 (US) for PPA members and $290 for non-members that register before February 15. The fee includes tuition, room and board (double-occupancy), and course materials (mailed two weeks before the school).

To download a registration form for the National School for Paddlesports Business,
visit PPA online at: www.propaddle.com/pdf/2006school-registration.pdf

For additional registration information, contact PPA at ppa@propadle.com or call
703-451-3864.

The Professional Paddlesports Association (PPA) is the premier trade association fostering paddlesports business. PPA represents the industry’s top canoe, kayak and raft renters and outfitters, retailers, manufacturers, and sales distributors. PPA’s mission is to improve the value and profitability of paddlesports business.