The Association for Operations Management (APICS) has moved its 2005 conference from New Orleans to Kansas City, Missouri. The event will be held on the same dates (Oct. 16–18) as it was originally planned, but at the Kansas City Convention Center instead of at the Ernest P. Morial Convention Center, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Conference registration has been extended to Sept. 30, and those who are already registered for the conference will be automatically reassigned to the new conference site.

Full refunds of plant tour registration fees paid for tours of New Orleans sites will be provided, and APICS hopes to secure new plant tours in Kansas City.

The conference will include Ken Schmidt, former Harley-Davidson Motor Co. director of communications; John Engler, National Association of Manufacturers president and CEO; and Mike Ditka, former head coach of the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints, as featured speakers. Also speaking at the conference will be David Appel, chairman of Orange Glo; Norman Bodek, president of PCS Inc.; and Gary Maxwell, U.S. Wal-Mart Stores senior vice president of merchandise replenishment.

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