2001 Convention Companion

The 2000 AWCI show.

Construction Directions

March 20-25 Opryland Hotel and Convention Center Construction Directions, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industries—International 84th annual convention and trade show, is set for Nashville, March 20-25. The headquarters hotel for the convention is the Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.

Wednesday and Thursday events

Industry committee meetings will take place March 21 and 22. A special education for exhibitors only also takes place March 22, along with an all-day meeting of the Safety Directors Forum. Also on March 22, join your colleagues at the Foundation Golf Tournament at Legends Golf Club of Tennessee, and close out the day with the AWCI President’s Welcome Reception.

Friday education sessions

Session A: Communicating with Power and Confidence

If you want to make a million dollars, you’ve got to look and act like you’re worth a million dollars. Learn the secrets of presenting yourself powerfully in the marketplace. You are the message!

Session B: E-Sanity

E-commerce, interactive Internet sites, virtual reality and multimedia presentation…. Are

you overwhelmed by the computer technology age and what it means for your business? Bring clarity and process to establishing an e-strategy for your business by attending this session. Determine your current e-business status, learn about current e-business solutions and e-trends, and develop an e-business strategy starting point.

Session C: Green Construction

Demands for resource conservation and waste management are requiring a sustainable approach to the use of renewable materials, recycled materials and recycling programs and the adaptive re-use of existing materials and infrastructures. Learn about systems flexibility, materials and resource utilization and occupant health/productivity in the design and construction of high-performance interiors for commercial buildings.

Also taking place on Friday will be an opening session and awards presentation brunch. Monday afternoon is the grand opening of the AWCI expo, featuring more than 300 booths and 160 exhibitors, offering new technologies, products and tools to enhance productivity and strategies to give you the competitive edge in your market.

Saturday education sessions

Session A: Compensation: Reward Systems Involve More Than Money

Learn the leadership skills that motivate and energize those around you. Find out how to “autogenerate” enthusiasm in your organization and develop the soft skills of creating winners.

Session B: Taming the Tyranny of Time—Learning to Delegate Well

Explore new ways to apply time dynamics to winning approaches for your personal and professional lives.

Session C: Recommended Levels of Gypsum Board Finish

This seminar on the five levels of gypsum board finish provides information that will enable you to both anticipate the final appearance of decorated wall and ceiling systems and achieve a specified finish. The session includes factors to be considered, terminology, where each level should be used and the minimum requirements for each level.

Session D: Building a Better Image

Now that the old rules of “dressing for success” have been thrown out in favor of “casual Fridays,” how do you present a positive image? People form opinions about you based on the image you project. Discover how to combine the language of color with your own personality to create an image that positions you for professional success in the 21st century.

The trade show is open until 3 p.m. on Saturday, and on Saturday night is the AWCI final night dinner with Foundation Silent and Live Benefit Auctions. Trips, tools, fur coats and more are available to bidders. Also, the Foundation Auto Raffle winner, who takes home a cherry red 1965 Ford Mustang convertible, will be announced Saturday night.

Hospitality activities

Along with the convention activities are several hospitality activities. In addition to various receptions, the tours will help attendees get to know Nashville and its history a little better. On Friday, travel to Belle Meade, one of the world’s richest and most impressive housing communities. After the tour of Belle Meade Plantation, drive through Centennial Park, home of the Parthenon and historic Downtown Nashville. That evening, the next tour is a driving tour of downtown Nashville’s popular sites. Put on your boots and head to the Wildhorse Saloon and Friday Night in “The District.”

For registration information, please call (703) 534-8300 or visit www.awci.org.

The Tampa Marriot.

Inter Con 2001

April 25-29 Tampa Marriot Waterside Hotel The place to be April 25-29 will be the Ceilings & Interior Systems Construction Association’s 51st Annual Convention, headquartered at the beautiful new Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, with the Inter Con 2001 trade show directly across the street at the Tampa Convention Center.

The leading commercial interior contractors, distributors, manufacturers and reps, as well as noted architects, designers and construction specifiers are marking their calendars now to make time for Inter Con 2001.

CISCA, realizing the rapid changes taking place in the construction industry, designed the convention theme around “dealing with change,” to help inform attendees on how to maneuver these changes with success. The Inter Con Exhibit Hall will focus the spotlight on changes in the future. You won’t want to miss this glance at the products, services, technologies and trends that lie ahead in the 21st century.

Co-located with the Scaffolding Industry Association, both organizations will celebrate the grand opening of their conventions and trade shows on Wednesday, April 25, at a Gala Reception in the Exhibit Hall from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This reception will be a place to gather with friends while visiting the extraordinary array of products and services being displayed by Inter Con exhibitors.

The convention will kick off with an opening awards breakfast on Thursday, April 26. The presentation of CISCA’s Construction Excellence Awards is a highlight of this affair. These prestigious awards recognize CISCA members who produced the year’s finest examples of interior commercial construction. Winners are showcased to the architect, designer and construction specifiers throughout the year.

The presentation of the De Gellecke Award will also take place on Thursday morning. This award, CISCA’s highest honor, is named for one of the founding members of the association, Gerry De Gelleke. It is presented to individuals whose contributions to the industry and the association has been acknowledged as significant and noteworthy. The breakfast will conclude with keynoter Larry Winget with “Stuff That Works Every Single Day.”

Interact@Inter Con 2001 as you visit the outstanding exhibits on Thursday, April 26, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, April 27, 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Tampa Convention Center. This year, for the first time, the spotlight will be on four demonstration areas located in the exhibit hall. See what the future holds for the industry as exhibiting and invited firms launch new products, demonstrate hot technologies and discuss trends.

Knowledge, the most powerful tool to deal with change, will be readily available to attendees in a variety of ways. There will be several industry-specific seminars scheduled Thursday and Friday with topics ranging from contracts to human resources to technology.

Distributors will be given the chance to meet the challenges of change by registering for a new addition to CISCA education lineup, the Distributor Texas A&M Program. This program is being held April 24, 25 and 27 in conjunction with the convention. This is the first module of five that will be presented yearly during the annual conventions. At the conclusion, participants will receive a CISCA/Texas A&M Certification of Distribution Management.

Tampa boasts of exciting nightlife, restaurants and eclectic shops at Ybor City, Tampa’s Latin Quarter. The fun for CISCA attendees will start on Tuesday at the Rep/Manufacturer Reception held at the Tampa Marriott Waterside, followed by the Gala Grand Opening Reception on Wednesday in the exhibit hall. Thursday evening, manufacturers will make take charge for Manufacturer’s Night, an evening always anticipated by attendees. A spectacular event is planned for Friday when CISCA has reserved Busch Garden’s Land of Egypt. The games at the Sultan’s Tent, the southeast’s largest inverted roller coaster and sharing the evening with friends will make this a standout event. Saturday evening attendees can relax at the President’s Dinner and Dance.

The ladies will love their special activities, a Sip n’ Sail Catamaran Cruise on Thursday, April 26, and a lovely Back of the Scenes tour and luncheon at the world famous Don CeSar Beach Resort on Friday.

What’s a convention without golf and fishing? CISCA has it all on Saturday, April 27. Play the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay, fish inshore for snook, reds, trout and tarpon, or bike the Bayshore.

For more information, call (630) 584-1919 or visit www.CISCA.org.

Scenic Colorado.

AIA 2001

May 17-19 Denver Convention Center The American Institute of Architects 2001 National Convention and Expo will be held at the Denver Convention Center May 17-19, and will feature 145 continuing education programs, 43 tours, 50 special events and more than 600 companies exhibiting products and services.

Attendees will include architects, designers, interior designers, landscape architects, engineers, developers, builders, architectural educators and building/design product manufacturers.

AIA 2001 offers 17 half-day and two full-day pre-convention workshops on May 16. Attendees’ registration fee includes 145 seminars in seven time slots. All seminars are on a first-come, first-seated basis. Topics for sessions include design, practice, marketing, environment, technology, leadership/community and management.

Many professional tours will be available, including Bronco Stadium, the Golden Triangle, People and Steeples and the $22 million renovation of the Red Rocks amphitheater.

Guest tours offered will include “Hiking Colorado Style,” “The Seamy Side of Denver,” and “Black America West Museum.” All tours, with the exception of those designated “NWA," can be made wheelchair accessible.

The AIA bookstore, galleries of award-winning architecture, federal agency interview program and the AIA Colorado gift store are some of the member services to be available.

One of the Expo’s highlights is the New Product and Technology Center, a learning resource featuring the newest ideas and products for the building, design and construction industries. More than 80 new products are on display, giving attendees the opportunity to see the technologies and products that will shape the future of the industry.

The Expo will feature five product pavilions. The High-Tech Pavilion will introduce visitors to the latest software for drafting, designing, engineering, construction management, among other tasks. The Stone and Tile Pavilion will show the latest products and services in the stone and tile industry. The Lighting Pavilion will feature manufacturers of outdoor lighting. The Restoration Products Pavilion showcases column capitals, roof tiles, gargoyles, historic windows and other items for period-look projects. The Fabric Architecture Pavilion will showcase balustrade systems, tensile fabrics, cable mesh, architectural sheet metal and similar products. AIA 2001 will introduce the Green Products Pavilion to promote the concept of sustainable design and energy-efficient products and services.

The opening night party on May 17 in the Expo Hall will be an Old West-style party. Guests will feast on regional specialties and listen to live music.

This year’s Golf Challenge will give attendees a chance to enter a closest-to-the-pin contest and the top 10 leaders of this contest will qualify for an end-of-the-day shootout. Anyone making a hole-in-one during the shootout will win a $35,000 luxury car.

For more information, call (202) 626-7395 or visit www.aiaonline.com.

The Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Center.

Northwest Walls & Ceilings Industries 2001

May 24-26 Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Center The Northwest Wall & Ceiling Industries 2001 convention and trade show hosted by the Northwest Wall and Ceiling Bureau, will be held at the Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort and Conference Centre, Kelowna, British Columbia, May 24-26.

Kelowna is located 230 miles east of Vancouver, in the heart of the Okanagan Valley—B.C.’s wine country. The Kelowna Airport provides international connections through Vancouver, Calgary and Seattle, each an hour to an hour and a half away by air. The driving time from Vancouver is four hours, and from Calgary, seven hours, driving through the scenic Canadian Rockies.

Bob Drury, director of NWCB and chief organizer of the event said he is thrilled to bring the event to this new location. He cites the outstanding resort and convention facilities and the fantastic options for golf and other outdoor activities as main reasons for choosing the location.

“If you haven’t been to Kelowna before, you are in for a real treat,” he said.

This year’s convention features educational programs, important industry meetings, social events and great tours, golf and other activities, taking full advantage of the multitude of offerings of the area. The convention events are built around a trade show displaying the latest products, systems and tools available, with many of the main convention events taking place right in the exhibit hall.

The demand for exhibit space has been strong for this show, which is usually an early sell-out.

“Any exhibitors who have not reserved space yet should contact us as soon as possible to ensure a spot in the show,” Drury said.

The convention organizers have again invested heavily on the educational programs to ensure that each delegate leaves with new ideas and approaches that can be put to immediate use. Top-notch programs on both technical and management topics are on the agenda.

The convention events start Thursday morning with a large golf tournament at the Okanagan Golf Club, with two spectacular golf courses: The Bear and The Quail.

“The two adjacent courses, which are virtually equal in difficulty and length, guarantee a tournament spot to all of those who want to play,” Drury said. It will be an “unprecedented golf outing in a rare, natural setting.”

After the golf tournament gets underway, a number of tours get ready for departure. There will be a horseback riding tour at Lone Pine Ranch, a bicycle outing along the old Kettle Valley Railway and a tour of the finest wineries in the area. All the tours feature some of the most scenic spots in the country.

The opening ceremonies Thursday evening mark the official start of the convention. The opening features keynote speaker Linda Edgecombe and her program, “Batteries Included: Lessons to Energize and Balance Your Life.” Laugh and learn that a successful life is about focusing on what matters, showing up energized and building perspective.

The trade show opens immediately following the opening session as the exhibit hall hosts President Dale Stewart’s welcoming party. This is the first opportunity to see what the exhibitors have to offer and to make one-on-one contact with current and prospective customers.

Early morning caucus meetings for the various segments of the wall and ceiling industry are on the agenda for Friday. After the meetings, the educational component of the convention gets underway with the first management seminar, “Life at the Speed of Light—Moving with Change.” The program focuses on balancing one’s business endeavors with personal goals for profit and a fulfilling and rewarding life. At this practical yet humorous program, keynote speaker Linda Edgecombe shares her best tools for coping with fast-paced life. This program has been designed to benefit all convention delegates, including spouses.

After Friday morning’s seminar, delegates will gather in the exhibit hall for the Chuck-Wagon Lunch. In the afternoon, a technical program on field application failures on interior and exterior systems and how to avoid them will be presented by NWCB technical staff and other industry experts. The day culminates in the fun manufacturer- and dealer-sponsored party at the Sky Reach Arena, which is located just across the street from the resort. The theme of the dinner and dance party is country-western.

Saturday, the final day of the convention, starts again early with the NWCB annual business meeting. The focus then turns to the exhibit hall, which hosts the Round-Up Breakfast. A number of informative sessions are on the agenda after breakfast.

Delegates can attend another management seminar, “Getting Behind the Numbers—Strategy for Improved Profitability,” which focuses on the key measurements indicating the position of one’s business and also covers salary comparisons, bonuses and debt-to-equity and return-on-equity ratios. The technical types may choose to attend the session, “Master Painters’ New Criteria and New Interior Finishes.” There is also a special program for the spouses. The horseback riding and bicycling outings are offered again at noon. The final event of the day is the closing gala in the evening.

For more information, call (800) 524-4215 or visit www.nwcb.org.

The Dallas skyline.

CSI 2001

June 21-24 Dallas Convention Center The Construction Specification Institute’s 45th Annual Convention and Trade Show is billed as nation’s largest annual nonresidential construction show and will take place June 21-24 at the Dallas Convention Center. A deadline for hotel reservations is May 18.

At CSI 2001, hundreds of new products and services will be featured by more than 1,100 anticipated exhibits. All 16 MasterFormat divisions will be represented. Wide-ranging continuing education opportunities are scheduled at the Knowledge Center, both before and during the event.

Among many products and services at the show, will be two products that CSI played a lead on. InfraKnowledge, a

software platform designed for public infrastructure and incorporating an online document publication system will be showcased, along with the National CAD Standard, a collaborative effort among CSI, NIBS and AIA, creating consistency of drawings and easing retrieval of information for construction professionals.

The opening keynote address will be delivered by Beck Weathers, who was among the 30 adventurers climbing Mt. Everest in 1996, when a violent storm with heavy snow, sub-zero cold and hurricane-force winds took eight of the climbers. He will speak of his experience and enlighten the audience with the lessons he learned.

The convention golf event will take place at the Tribute Golf Club, a tribute to Scotland, the birthplace of golf and its rich traditions. The course is reminiscent of the greatest holes in the world, including such renowned courses as St. Andrews, Troon and Carnoustie in Scotland.

Several optional tours will also be available, including a tour of Dallas, a tour of coving the JFK assassination, a trip through Fort Worth and several others.

Visitors will also get a chance to meet the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders on June 21 at the CSI Showcase Booth.

For more information, call (800) 689-2900 or visit www.csinet.org.

San Francisco at night.

PCBC 2001

July 24-27 Moscone Center San Francisco Homebuilders may be battling restrictions on growth, but that’s certainly not the case at PCBC 2001. One of the industry’s premier trade show and conferences, now in its 43rd year, is expanding to both halls of San Francisco’s Moscone Center, where record numbers of attendees and exhibitors are expected to converge July 24-27, 2001.

With more than 500 leading manufacturers and suppliers spanning 150,000 square feet of exhibit space, the dual hall exhibit floor will offer a comprehensive collection of the latest in residential product innovations. Additionally, builders will be able to preview the latest technology, products and services in hands-on displays showcasing the next generation of home- and construction-related applications.

PCBC 2001 also features a four-day educational conference with more than 80 sessions covering the latest trends in business management, architectural design, strategic marketing and quality construction. Additionally, 2001 marks the debut of Technology @ccess, a three-day “conference within a conference” designed to help builders leverage the power of the Internet and Web-enabled business strategies throughout their entire operation.

PCBC offers exceptional keynotes and this year is no exception. Stuart Varney, award-winning co-anchor of CNN’s Moneyline News Hour, will kick off the show with a forecast of financial and economic trends for the 21st century. Other keynotes include Don Tapscott, Internet guru and best-selling author of Growing Up Digital and Digital Capital: Harnessing the Power of Business Webs; Seth Godin, former vice president of marketing for Yahoo! and best-selling author of Permission Marketing and Unleashing the Ideavirus; and closing speaker Bill O’Reilly, the popular and controversial host of the television news program, The O’Reilly Factor.

Host to countless networking events, parties and receptions, PCBC offers opportunities to connect with prominent industry players. Highlights include the Gold Nugget Awards Ceremony, the Hall of Fame Awards Dinner and the Big Bash Party.

For more information, call (800) 956-SHOW or visit www.pcbc.com.

Night in Vegas.

METALCON

Oct. 23-25 Las Vegas Convention Center METALCON International 2001 marks the 11th year for this annual conference and exhibition that focuses exclusively on the use of metals in design and construction. This event features a major product showcase, 34 educational sessions and live-action demonstrations.

METALCON sustains a steady 12-percent growth rate in both exhibitors and attendees since its debut in 1991 with an 87-percent return rate.

METALCON is the leading force in introducing metal products and techniques to the growing steel construction market. METALCON is sponsored by the Metal Construction Association and receives industry support from 35 participating associations and more than 25 industry publications.

More than 8,000 metal construction professionals from around the world attend METALCON. Builders, developers, owners, design professionals and government officials attend each year, and close to 300 of the industry’s leading companies, exhibiting in more than 600 booths, display a broad range of the latest metal construction products and peripherals used in commercial, industrial, residential and institutional construction projects.

For the eight consecutive year, a steel-framed house will be constructed inside the METALCON exhibit hall. This attraction features a new design, new products and techniques each year. Nearly 80 percent of the home’s infrastructure is exposed so visitors can see its construction and ask questions of the design and build teams that conduct demonstrations inside the house each show day.

For more information, call (800) 537-7765 or visit www.metalcon.com.

Regional Associations

Several regional associations host trade shows each summer to increasing attendance, thanks to more exhibitors and quality programs. At press time, the Texas Lathing and Plastering Contractors Association had not yet finalized the dates of its 2001 convention.

Carolinas Lath and Plastering Contractors Association

CLAPCA’s “Fourth Annual Beach Blast” convention will be held at the Sand Dunes/Ocean Dunes Resort and Villas in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Sept. 20-23. A variety of room accommodations are blocked at group courtesy rates. Attendees can take advantage of the group rate until Aug. 20.

Activities planned include an exhibitors' “Welcome Fest” and tabletop displays, exhibitor breakfast/brunch, guest speakers addressing industry issues and concerns, distributor’s spotlight, golf and fishing tournaments, a ladies’ outing, and an awards banquet.

For more information, call (803) 957-1860.

Florida Wall and Ceiling Contractors Association

The FWCCA convention will be held on July 19-21 at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa, in Miami. Billed as the largest industry show in the southeast with over 1,000 attendees, many great activities are already lined up for attendees.

The 2001 convention will include more than 100 exhibits, educational classes, a golf tournament using three courses and many social events.

For more information, call (407) 260-1313.