Philly 76ers owner, Drexwl Futurist to Headline SOCAP International Symposium

Customer service professionals to meet in Philadelphia April 27-30, 2003 to hear from experts in motivation and leadership and learn about the latest call center technology at the 2003 Symposium & Technology Forum presented by the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        

April 7, 2003

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Customer service professionals from throughout the country will gather at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel this month (April 27-30, 2003) to hear from experts in customer satisfaction, motivation and leadership, and learn about the latest call center technology at the 2003 Symposium and Technology Forum presented by The Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals (SOCAP International).

            Philadelphia 76ers President Pat Croce, keynote speaker, will kick-off the first full day of the conference with his Ten Commandments of Customer Service" using the same guidelines he used to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the sports industry. Day Two of the conference will begin with a look at tomorrows consumer by world-renowned futurist and Drexel University professor Art Shostak. The third day of the conference is devoted to technology and will be highlighted by e-commerce guru Terry Jones, founder of Travelocity.com.

It is more important than ever, in these difficult economic times, that companies strive to make themselves more valuable to their customers," said Louis Garcia, president of SOCAP International. A high-tech customer support operation can boost a companys image and pay immediate dividends in terms of customer satisfaction and increased business."

This case study-driven event will provide a window into the customer care operations of industry-leading companies such as Dell, American Express, Macys, DaimlerChrysler, Kinkos, General Electric and many others. The conference also will include presentations, workshops and breakout sessions covering B2B strategies, tracking call center trends, making the most of the Internet in customer service and consumer privacy.

The registration fee is $1,295 for SOCAP members and $2,200 for non-members. The fee covers all educational sessions, coffee breaks, social events, luncheons and receptions during the four-day event.

To register for the SOCAP International Annual Symposium & Technology Forum and to learn about special registration discounts, visit the organizations Web site at www.socap.org or call 703-519-3700.

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SOCAP International is the worlds premier organization of customer-care professionals, providing members with educational, networking, and career-development opportunities. The Alexandria, Va.-based organization has more than 3,000 members worldwide. For more information, visit SOCAP on the Web at http://www.socap.org.