Most of us believe the recession is behind us. One of the consequences of the hard times was our need to make cutbacks to our corporate spending, which often included education and travel. That can work for the short term, but over the long haul you and your fellow employees’ personal growth and the company’s bottom line will be affected by neglect.
So, now the pitch: Take a moment and ask yourself if it’s time for you, and/or your fellow employees, to participate in AWCI’s Convention. Hopefully your company has had participants attend in recent years and understands the value. If you’ve been before, remember your first impressions and how impressed you were with the whole experience? There is nothing like it at the local level.
I’ll bet there are a few more in your company who could benefit from the trade show, the professional seminars and especially the interaction at committee meetings and social events. This year’s seminars focus on important topics like change orders, innovative ways to use technology, continuous insulation, EQ studs and hot safety topics that affect us all. Did you read AWCI’s Foundation report titled, “Getting Young People into Construction Field Positions”? What better way to get a younger generation excited about our industry than attending the convention. There’s even a seminar discussing our industry’s youth involvement.
Early registrations and booth rentals are ahead of previous years. There’s still time to partake, but you’ve got to act fast as this year’s convention is March 30–April 3, 2014, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. It doesn’t get any better than that.
If you’re the decision maker on who goes and who stays, how about bringing a few more employees along? It’s time.
All the best in 2014!
In addition to being 2013–2014 president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Daley is president of Daley’s Drywall & Taping, Inc., San Jose, Calif.
Go to www.awci.org/cd.shtml for more details on AWCI’s Convention & Intex Expo and to register. Early bird registration ends Feb. 21.
