Sneak preview

Convention organizers have a big challenge on their hands. How do they stay relevant year after year to attract attendees into their exhibit halls and entice them to sit in educational sessions? Associations, largely responsible for hosting industry conventions, put in countless hours and effort to offer programming and exhibits intended to provide value to those who have invested the time and money to attend.

These efforts are apparent in 2014 as many upcoming events have been tailored to meet the diverse needs of attendees who may be interested in learning, networking, equipment or any combination of the three.
 

On a mission

The National Demolition Association (NDA) will start the 2014 convention season off with its 41st annual convention, Feb. 22-25, at The Mirage in Las Vegas. NDA Executive Director Mike Taylor says the majority of the association’s revenues come from the show, “so it is important to convince people that they need to come to the largest exhibition of demolition equipment and services in the world and that we will show them a good time.”

Taylor emphasizes that this year will take programming to a new level in promoting the association’s education initiative. He notes the NDA mission to provide tools necessary to be leaders in environmental stewardship, safety and education which leads to professional competency.

The convention will begin with a golf tournament at noon Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Arroyo Golf Club in Las Vegas. Then on Sunday, Feb. 23, an opening night cocktail reception will be held in the exhibit hall.

Nobel Prize-winning American physicist and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu will give the keynote address on Monday, Feb. 24, at 9 a.m. He will discuss how recent innovations in energy technologies were fostered by a culture of cooperation and leadership within the scientific and business communities and how to promote innovation within any business.

Following Chu’s presentation, Jennifer Berman, a labor and employment attorney, will lead a discussion titled “Understanding ObamaCare: Making Sense of the Affordable Care Act.” According to Taylor, “Whether you like ObamaCare or not, it is important that you gain an understanding of it.”

Other session topics beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25, include: “The Current State of the American Construction Industry”; “The NDA’s Newest Member Services”; and “Building Your Talent Pool for Growth.”

The NDA also is offering a full-day leadership development program on Sun., Feb. 23 for an additional fee. The training will be led by Dr. Shirley T. Ramos, a training consultant from FMI. The program is designed to expand the skills and knowledge of the next generation of leaders so that they are equipped to manage in the future.

A themed party “NDA in Paradise” Monday evening, Feb. 24, will feature a seven-piece Jimmy Buffet tribute band. The event will conclude with a banquet Tuesday evening, Feb. 25.

For more information or to register for the 2014 NDA Convention, visit www.demolitionassociation.com.
 

Double feature

ConExpo-Con/Agg, produced by Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), is considered the global gathering place every three years for the construction, construction materials and fluid power/power transmission/motion control industries.

The 2014 edition of ConExpo-Con/Agg is March 4-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. According to the show’s website, the event features “2,400 exhibitors showcasing new products and technologies from every major construction industry including asphalt, aggregates, concrete, earthmoving, lifting, mining, utilities and more.”

More than 130,000 attendees are expected to walk the more than 2.3 million square feet of exhibits. According to show organizers, this year’s convention will be the largest to date. The convention also includes an education program with sessions emphasizing industry issues and trends, management and applied technology.

New to ConExpo-Con/Agg 2014 is a Demolition & Recycling Pavilion, sponsored by the Construction & Demolition Recycling Association (CDRA), which will showcase exhibits and products specific to C&D recyclers and demolition contractors. The pavilion will be located in Central Hall 3-5 of the convention center.

More than a dozen companies will exhibit in the Demolition & Recycling Pavilion’s 2,800 square feet.

“Recycling is an important facet of our industries; more demolition contractors are attending the show and this pavilion is one way CDRA serves industry needs,” says Megan Tanel, ConExpo-Con/Agg show director and AEM vice president exhibitions and events.

For more information or to register for ConExpo-Con/Agg 2014, visit www.conexpoconagg.com.

The CDRA’s annual C&D World conference is colocated with ConExpo-Con/Agg in 2014. C&D World registrants will receive full access to all ConExpo-Con/Agg exhibits. C&D World is March 5 at Bally’s Resort in Las Vegas.

C&D World begins at 7:30 a.m. March 5 with breakfast, followed by a construction industry economic forecast given by Associated Building Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. It will be followed by the CDRA awards presentations, sessions on end markets and the state of the C&D recycling industry and conclude with the annual membership meeting. A reception will take place that evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Paris Resort and Spa.

For more information or to register for C&D World, visit the CDRA website at www.cdrecycling.org.
 

Ready for more?

WasteExpo’s website asks “Who’s ready for more?” The question will be answered April 28-May 1 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. According the event’s website, WasteExpo 2014 brings together all the players in the waste, recycling, organics and sustainability industries. In 2014, the exhibit hall experience is expected to have more to offer with new pavilions, show floor tours and a presentation theater.

More than 550 exhibitors will showcase equipment and services available to the waste and recycling industry from a range of offerings such as collection trucks, containers, software, grinding and shredding equipment and single-stream recycling systems.

Organizers Penton’s Waste Industry Group and the National Waste & Recycling Association recently signed a new five-year agreement which the groups say will expand the education opportunities available at the event. A C&D workshop, an Investors Summit and a Composting and Organics track were all introduced in 2013, and the organizers hint at even more new initiatives in 2014.

An estimated 11,000 people from the waste and recycling industry are expected to be in attendance.

For more information or to register for WasteExpo 2014, visit www.wasteexpo.com.

The author is managing editor of Construction & Demolition Recycling and can be reached at ksmith@gie.net.

More Events
Many other events for the recycling industry are taking place in 2014, including the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc.’s (ISRI’s) Annual Convention, April 6-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. For a list of upcoming shows, go to Calendar.