Amazon.com Founder and CEO Jeff Bezos to Deliver Keynote Address at the Video Industry's January 2001 VSDA Convention in Las Vegas

Business Wire, Dec 18, 2000

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VSDA Convention 2001

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ENCINO, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2000

Capitalizing on opportunities in the world of digital technology and delivering superior customer service will be the message at the video industry's annual 2001 VSDA Convention as Amazon.com Founder and CEO Jeffrey Bezos presents the keynote address.

The VSDA Convention featuring the Home Entertainment Expo and DVD Festival 2001 will be held Jan. 7-9, 2001, at the Venetian Hotel/Sands Exposition Center in Las Vegas. The keynote address will be delivered during the show's opening General Session, to take place Sunday, Jan. 7, from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

The announcement was made today by Bo Andersen, president of the Video Software Dealers Association, and Tracy Harris, group show director of Advanstar Communications Inc. VSDA and Advanstar are partners in show producer Home Entertainment Events, chaired by Andersen.

Bezos has always been interested in anything that can be revolutionized by computers. Intrigued by the amazing growth in use of the Internet, Bezos created a business model that leveraged the Internet's unique ability to deliver huge amounts of information rapidly and efficiently. In 1994, he founded Amazon.com, the leading online retailer, which offers authoritative selection and a wealth of product information.

"Superior customer service is both a cardinal virtue and a key companion of success in retailing today," said Andersen. "I know of no more innovative trend setter in this area than Jeff Bezos. We are very pleased to have him as our keynote speaker. His willingness to share his philosophy and expertise in this area brings tremendous value to our convention and to our retailers."

Before heading west to start Amazon.com, Bezos worked at the intersection of computer science and finance, leading the development of computer systems that helped manage more than $250 billion in assets for Bankers Trust Company. He also helped build one of the most technically sophisticated quantitative hedge funds on Wall Street for D.E. Shaw & Co. He graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Princeton in 1986.

In addition to the keynote address, Amazon.com will host an informal roundtable with Bezos and Jason Kilar, Amazon Video & DVD general manager. Bezos and Kilar will be available to answer questions about Amazon.com Video & DVD stores during the roundtable, which will take place on Sunday, Jan. 7, from 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. For more information or to RSVP, please contact: Emily Glassman, Amazon.com, 206/266-7180.

The VSDA Convention & Expo General Session will also feature a "State of The Industry" address by Andersen.

The VSDA Convention will host an Entertainment First Day of educational seminars beginning Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. The exhibits will open Sunday, Jan. 7 and run through Tuesday, Jan. 9. The Convention includes a full Education First! day of seminars on Saturday, Jan. 6 -- offering video retailers four full days of educational forums.

VSDA Convention Home Entertainment Expo & DVD Festival 2001 corporate sponsors are: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment, Paramount Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Video, and Warner Home Video/HBO Home Video.

Taking place concurrent (but not affiliated with) the popular Consumer Electronics Show, the VSDA Convention's Home Entertainment Expo & DVD Festival 2001 features an all new expo floor with over 200 exhibitors, a comprehensive educational conference program which includes a full Education First! Day of "need-to-know" business seminars before the Convention opens -- four full days of seminars in all, new DVD products galore, program suppliers, buyers from a broad range of storefront and online retailers, filmmakers of the future, digital-delivery decision makers, parties and other networking events, and plenty of other profitable opportunities. This is the only Convention that brings the big business of home entertainment under one roof, at the spacious Sands Expo Center/Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas.

Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is a not-for-profit international trade association for the $17 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents over 3,000 companies throughout the United States, Canada, and 22 other countries. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (both independents and large chains), as well as the home entertainment divisions of all major and independent motion picture companies, video game and multimedia producers, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home entertainment industry.

The VSDA Convention and the East Coast Video Show are organized through Home Entertainment Events (HEE), a joint venture between the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and Advanstar Communications Inc. to own and produce conferences, trade shows and other events in support of the home entertainment industry. Home Entertainment Events also produces the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo.