PHOENIX -- Virgo Publishing announced details of the fourth annual Focus on the Future Executive Conference and Retreat set for Jan. 31 to Feb. 3, 2006, in Scottsdale, Ariz., at a new location in the heart of downtown Scottsdale, the Caleo Resort & Spa. The event draws leading executives from the dietary supplement and nutraceutical industry for high-level and interactive seminars, exclusive networking events and a private corporate tent at the PGA’s largest tournament, the FBR Open.

"Focus on the Future is more than a conference, it is an event that sets an atmosphere for collaboration and relationship building,” said Peggy Jackson, director of publishing at Virgo Publishing. "Thought provoking seminars and exclusive networking opportunities generate many new ideas and conversations, which create a lot of synergy among conference participants."

The Welcome Reception, sponsored by NSF International, following a golf outing, begins the conference on Jan. 31. Howard Schiffer, founder of Vitamin Angel Alliance, is the Welcome Speaker; he will give an inspirational presentation and acknowledge philanthropic industry leaders. Following the reception and speaker, dinner will be served on the patio of the Caleo Resort and Spa; the dinner is sponsored by Kyowa Hakko USA.

The Education Program, sponsored by Kemin Health, runs Feb. 1 and 2 from 8:30am to 4pm. Sessions will address the future of the industry in key areas including:

FutureFocus One: FDA Regulatory Update
Attorney Scott Bass leads a panel discussion on the latest regulatory activities and what industry should be doing to ensure that self regulation and regulatory enforcement work together. Joining Bass are Herbalife's John Venardos and an FDA representative.

FutureFocus Two: Building Value: Retailers, Manufacturers and Suppliers
Join a leading supplier, manufacturer and retailer for a real-life case study on how they collaborated to build value. In an industry challenged by commoditization, find out how it is still possible to differentiate and build a brand by working together.

FutureFocus Three: Dietary Supplements and Athletes: From Kids to Pros
Supplements, steroids and performance enhancers have been used as synonyms by the uninformed and the anti-supplement community. The result? A new law in California that restricts supplement use by high school athletes and claims that positive tests for steroids are due to contaminated supplements. Join Steven Mister, president of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, and additional speakers to find out what the future may hold and how it can affect even those companies that don't sell sports nutrition products.

FutureFocus Four: Dietary Supplements and Health Care Working Toward Collaboration
What role should dietary supplements play in solving the nation's growing health care crisis? And what do members of the mainstream health care community think about it? Join this panel to find out what needs to happen for supplements to bridge the gap and gain acceptance as a part of the health care solution.

FutureFocus Five: What’s in the Bottle? The State of Quality
Questions about quality continue to damage the supplement industry's reputation. What will it take to ensure all products contain what is on the label (and nothing more), deliver what is claimed and earn the confidence of the consumer? Join longtime industry champion Loren Israelsen; Doug Stevenson, manager of global technical services R&D for Pharmanex; and Mitchell M. May, Ph.D., founder and CEO for The Synergy Company and Synergy Production Laboratories, for this serious look at the quality challenge facing the industry and what it means for your company.

FutureFocus Six: More than Marketing Trends…Forecasts
Join Elizabeth Sloan for her always popular, high energy look at what the future holds. Using her proven trend-tracking analysis, Dr. Sloan predicts what will be hot and when it will happen. Don't miss this data driven glimpse of the next big thing.

In addition to the education program, many networking opportunities give participants a chance to continue conversations and discussions. Conference registration includes: continental breakfasts on Feb. 1, sponsored by CANI, and Feb. 2, sponsored by Embria Health Sciences; a luncheon on Feb. 1, sponsored by EuroPharma, and on Feb. 2, sponsored by LycoRed; and happy hours on Feb. 1, sponsored by Blue California, and Feb. 2, sponsored by iBioCeuticals.

Rounding out the networking events and conference are the Dessert Reception on the evening of Feb. 2, and the private, corporate tent at the FBR Open on Feb. 3, which is co-sponsored by Chrysantis Inc., E.T. Horn Co. and Lesaffre Yeast Corp. The FBR Open is the PGA’s largest tournament and is a celebrated social and business event in Scottsdale, attracting spectators from all over the world.

Focus on the Future is moving to a new location, the Caleo Resort & Spa. Caleo is an upscale, boutique property combining the rustic feel of the Southwest landscape with the elegance and sophistication of the New West. Rooms feature private terraces offering panoramic vistas of the lagoon-like pools and the desert sky. An expansive and elaborate pool area, the Indonesian-inspired SpaTerre, and BALEEN Scottsdale restaurant make Caleo Resort & Spa a destination in itself. Average temperatures in Scottsdale in February are in the 70s, and winter is the peak tourist season, drawing people for golfing, hiking, shopping, spas and special events. Participants are encouraged to bring their spouses.

More information about Focus on the Future 2006 is available at www.focusonthefuture.net, or by calling Virgo Publishing at (480) 990-1101, ext. 1171.

Virgo Publishing produces the SupplySide Trade Shows and Conferences, the Focus on the Future Executive Conference and Retreat, and the online training Web site nutrilearn.com; and publishes Natural Products INSIDER, HSR: Health Supplement Retailer and Food Product Design magazines.

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Contact:
Amy Sharman , Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: 480-990-1101, ext. 1543
Email: asharman@vpico.com