Crowne Plaza O'Hare, Rosemont, Illinois. Growing automotive production, housing construction and capital spending are positive indicators for gearing in the near term. But, our industry faces risks from uncertain government policies, a slowing energy sector and weak markets in Europe and Asia. The AGMA Marketing & Forecasting Conference will have a line-up of presenters to help make sense of these competing forces: AGMA's economists (IHS Global Insight) will give their assessment and forecast for the industry and 10 end user markets; Two experts representing sales channels for manufacturers representatives and agent and industrial distributors will discuss how to improve your sales through these two channels; special speaker on the evening of May 22 from the Chicago Federal Reserve.