Could you use a little support? Does it seem like each day you're expected to handle a little more? Do you find yourself pushed into a corner, forced to learn new skills? If you're responsible for your company's business-to-business marketing and need a little help — then Welcome to BMA.

Unlike other groups that focus on people who share the same job title, work in the same industry or work at companies of the same size, BMA strives to bring the latest information and networking opportunities to anyone that is involved in the process of marketing products or services to other businesses. Which includes lots of people with diverse experience and ideas.

When you think about it, most objects in our lives start out as business-to- business transactions. As Bob Goranson, Chairman, BMA Board of Directors observed, for instance "in order to make Barbie Dolls, Mattel first goes through a series of b-to-b purchases to buy synthetic materials and chemicals for the doll's body, cloth for her clothing, photography of the doll for promotional efforts and printing services for her packaging, just to name a few."

In the special 85th anniversary edition of Forbes magazine, 85 innovations that changed the way we live and work were highlighted--nearly half of which relate directly to business-to-business enterprise and transactions.

Examples include the patent attorney who tired of making copies of patent applications and invented the first xerography machine. And the trucking company owner who grew frustrated at the slow speed of moving cargo across the country who came up with the idea of adapting truck-trailer design to railcars and cargo ships...predecessors of Fedex, DHL and Airborne Express.

Although BMA can't claim to have provided the impetus for all of these innovations, we can verify our commitment to maintain an environment of continuing education that will help you expand your business expertise, grow professionally, and meet, learn from, and build relationships with others.

Dave Lampe
President BMA - St. Louis