Annual convention provides a unique opportunity for MEDA members to meet new people, renew old friendships, share and learn together.

Tim Penner of Harper Industries in Kansas can attest to that. Each year, several members of the company's leadership team attend with their spouses. "It's a group event – a leadership seminar where we can grow closer together, and we can later discuss what we've heard and learned and reflect back on over the year," says Tim. "The discounted rate for multiple registrants from one family or company is also a nice aspect of Business as a Calling.

"Personally, I appreciate how it pushes us to integrate business and our Christian faith, and gives us pause for thought on how we relate and respond to our customers. I also expect to meet up with members of our local investment club, which is a local MEDA chapter of sorts. Some of our profits are invested in MEDA – for instance, in the Sarona Risk Capital Fund.

"Overall, though, I enjoy learning about MEDA's activities, job creation and needs beyond North America – in Russia, Tajikistan and South America, for instance. For those who aren't able to attend, we play the DVD of the annual review at our investment club meeting, and I use it in my business as well.

"The convention is a great place for making contacts – in fact, it served as a meeting place for the establishment of our partnership with Horsch Company of Germany, a leader in seeding technology in Europe. Now, we are working together on planting and seeding technology here in North America."

We look forward to seeing you at MEDA's 2008 Business as a Calling convention, Dividends of Hope, Nov. 6-9 in Columbus, Ohio.

Tim Penner is CEO of Harper Industries, where he has worked for ten years since founding the company with his staff in 1998. He worked with DewEze, one of the predecessor companies to Harper, for eight years, from 1991 to 1998.

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