Almost 400 people attended the two back-to-back meetings held March 24-27 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells, California. The marketing forum opened with a very timely presentation by Sandy McCray with Yankelovich and closed with a senior marketing representative from the Mondavi Wine Company. The guest speakers for the Independents Conference included Tucker Carlson, co-host of CNN's Crossfire and Jim Bouton, former New York Yankee pitcher and author. It was also the second year AFSA offered a Pre-Conference Independents Operations Seminar—which continued to draw interest from key operations personnel. Overall, the week proved a major success by attendees, sponsors and exhibitors.

Complete details on the Independents Conference will be written for the next issue of the Independent Credit Operators—offered for the first time as an on-line publication.

Mark your calendar for April 11-14, 2005 at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas for the 22nd Independents Conference & Exposition!