Want to warm up your winter? NRCA's 122nd Annual Convention will be held in conjunction with Hanley Wood's 2009 International Roofing Expo (IRE) at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas Feb. 1-5. This makes February the perfect time to heat up your business.
As always, the convention and expo will present great opportunities to join thousands of other roofing industry professionals to discover new products and ideas; acquire industry knowledge through accredited educational programs; and learn from and connect with respected roofing industry experts. But this year, the convention and expo will be more exciting than ever with new events, including ROOFPAC's first stock car and kart racing event, a revamped NRCA Luncheon, and the new NRCA Cocktail and Awards Reception.
Convention highlights
NRCA's convention events will begin Sunday, Feb. 1, with NRCA's Executive Committee meeting, Affiliate Executives Council meeting, Executive Committee lunch and board of directors meeting.
Legal resources
On Monday, Feb. 2, the National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) will hold its annual breakfast.
Taking place from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m., the breakfast will feature presentations by Mark Graham, NRCA's associate executive director of technical services, and Stephen Phillips, a partner with the Atlanta-based law firm Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt. They will discuss specific low- and steep-slope technical issues that pose liability risks to your company's operations and recommend appropriate steps you can take to minimize your potential liability.
Educational opportunities
Also on Monday, NRCA University will hold its educational programs: the NRCA/MRCA CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization program, NRCA Roofing Safety OSHA 10-hour Program, NRCA SpecRight Program training session and NRCA Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z.
The NRCA/MRCA CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization program, which will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., is a 10-hour accreditation program about how to teach torch safety. Participants will learn the latest industry best safety practices for torch-applied roof systems and the teaching skills needed to train others about torch safety. Participants who successfully complete the program will be authorized to conduct Certified Roofing Torch Applicator (CERTA) certification training for roofing workers.
Also taking place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, NRCA University's Roofing Safety OSHA 10-hour Program provides fall-protection information needed to comply with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) federal standards for low- and steep-slope roofing. The class includes video segments of job-site scenarios that show typical hazards and their remedies. This information is essential for roofing professionals who need to know current OSHA requirements for safety and health standards or need to verify these standards are followed.
The SpecRight Program training session will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and educates roofing professionals about sustainable, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient roof systems. The program stresses the importance of proper roof system design, quality materials, proper installation and ongoing roof system maintenance.
Also taking place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z will increase your awareness of fall-protection hazards and familiarize you with specific equipment to use and work practices to employ to avoid these hazards.
ROOFPAC events
ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, also will hold its events Monday.
ROOFPAC's Annual Golf Tournament will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Angel Park Golf Club, located in Summerlin, Nev. The golf club offers views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Valley and features 36 holes of championship golf. Angel Park Golf Club has won several awards, including best golf course in Las Vegas in the "Best of Las Vegas" Las Vegas Review Journal Readers Poll and favorite golf course in Las Vegas by visiting golfers.
This year, ROOFPAC supporters will have the chance to participate in ROOFPAC's first Richard Petty Rookie Experience and High-performance Kart Racing event.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. During the event, participants will be able to drive eight laps around the Super Speedway in a 600-horsepower NASCAR-style stock car; get a three-lap high-speed passenger ride around the Super Speedway; and drive a competitive racing kart on Las Vegas Motor Speedway's karting track.
ROOFPAC events are ticketed events. Tickets for ROOFPAC's Annual Golf Tournament are $290 per person. Tickets for the Richard Petty Rookie Experience and High-performance Kart Racing event are $500 per driver; guests may attend for $100 per person.
Award ceremonies
On Wednesday, Feb. 4, NRCA will host its annual luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sponsored by CNA, the luncheon will feature the presentation of the J.A. Piper Award—the roofing industry's most prestigious award—and an exciting keynote speaker.
Established in 1947, the J.A. Piper Award is named for former NRCA President J.A. Piper in appreciation of his service during the Great Depression. The award is presented annually to a roofing professional who has demonstrated outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry. Among J.A. Piper Award winners are NRCA presidents and industry experts who have dedicated their lives to the industry.
Luncheon guests also will have the opportunity to hear Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger discuss his inspiring experiences and rise to success. The son of an oil refinery worker and third of 14 children, Ruettiger made a name for himself as perhaps the most famous graduate of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind.
Also on Wednesday, NRCA will hold its NRCA Cocktail and Awards Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception will feature the presentation of numerous prestigious awards: NRCA's Gold Circle Awards, the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing's Excellence in Design Award, the 2008 Charlie Raymond Membership Award and The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards.
NRCA's Gold Circle Awards recognize members for their outstanding contributions to the roofing industry. The center's Excellence in Design Award recognizes a company or individual who has designed a long-lasting, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly roof system according to accepted industry practices. The Charlie Raymond Membership Award is presented annually to the NRCA member who has recruited the most new members during the calendar year.
The Alliance's MVP Awards Program identifies and honors a maximum of 10 outstanding roofing workers from 10 U.S. regions. These individuals serve as esteemed role models, as well as demonstrate higher work-related and personal goals to which others may aspire.
Once again this year, one MVP Award winner will be chosen as Professional Roofing's Best of the Best. Professional Roofing and OMG Inc., Agawam, Mass., are co-sponsoring the award, which will include a special prize and feature article in Professional Roofing Workers.
Also during the NRCA Cocktail and Awards Reception, the winner of the Alliance's Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Sweepstakes will be announced. The sweepstakes winner will be awarded a 2009 BMW 128i two-door convertible, and the sweepstakes will generate funds for the Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to employees, immediate family members of employees and immediate family members of NRCA members.
Tickets for the Alliance sweepstakes will be available at NRCA's booth 3237 on the trade show floor until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4. The donation price is $200 per ticket, and a maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. Purchases can be made using cash, credit cards or personal checks made out to The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress. The winner does not need to be present during the drawing.
Expo events
This year's IRE is expected to include about 500 exhibiting companies, 1,100 exhibiting booths and 9,000 roofing industry professionals. The expo's educational conference will feature 45 sessions, including classes focusing on technical, environmental, safety, leadership and management, legal, money matters, sales, service and general business issues. The expo also will feature a New Products Pavilion and live product demonstrations.
NRCA, NRLRC and the Alliance will be located in booth 3237 on the trade show floor.
IRE events begin Tuesday, Feb. 3, with educational sessions from 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. A keynote address will be given by former basketball player and current television sportscaster Bill Walton. The trade show will open at 11 a.m. and close at 5 p.m.
Hanley Wood will host its annual Welcome Party at TAO Nightclub from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. TAO Nightclub is located on the Venetian Hotel's Grand Canal Shoppes level. Guests will be treated to hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine and soda, as well as a cash bar.
Additional educational seminars will be held Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 7:45 to 11:15 a.m. and Thursday, Feb. 5, from 7:45 to 11:15 a.m. The trade show will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.
Don't miss it
NRCA's 122nd Annual Convention and the 2009 IRE are sure to be enormous successes. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other roofing professionals to expand your knowledge through educational programs and discover the latest roofing industry trends.
Kaylee Alberico is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
For more information …
To register and make hotel reservations for the 2009 International Roofing Expo® and NRCA's 122nd Annual Convention, contact Hanley Wood Expositions at (972) 536-6413 or visit www.theroofingexpo.com.
For more information about NRCA events, contact the following:
NRCA: Bennett Judson, NRCA's associate executive director of meeting services, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@nrca.net
ROOFPAC: Kelly Zavala, NRCA's political action committee coordinator, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7594 or kzavala@nrca.net.
NRLRC: Anne Schroeder, NRLRC's director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7547 or aschroeder@nrca.net
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress: Bennett Judson, the Alliance's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@nrca.net
NRCA University's educational courses: NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.
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