LAS VEGAS - Elvis, Wayne Newton, and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) will all be on stage this fall in Las Vegas. SMACNA’s 64th Annual Convention and Product Show, Oct. 21-25, will be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino and at The Hotel, Las Vegas. SMACNA 2007: It Happens in Vegas, will feature speakers, specialty forums, educational sessions, and a product trade show. A golf outing, receptions, dinners, an auction, and a show will round out the SMACNA convention and each participant’s Vegas experience.

EX-FRAUD SPEAKS, CLIMBER TALKS

Writing a book is not why Frank Abagnale, special speaker for the convention, is remembered. His talents as a storyteller were more aptly displayed as a con artist and master thief. After successfully running a five-year international crime spree, Abagnale was arrested for cashing millions of dollars in fraudulent checks and posing as a doctor, lawyer, and an airline pilot. After five years in prison, he was released, agreeing to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) as a fraud expert. Today, Abagnale is a world-renowned authority on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents. He has spent more than 25 years lecturing and consulting financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies around the world. He also lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and for the FBI’s field offices. More than 14,000 institutions use his fraud prevention programs. According to Abagnale, prevention is the only viable course of action to protect against forgery and identity theft.

Also appearing at this year’s convention is the leader of the first American women’s Everest expedition, Alison Levine. Born with a life-threatening heart condition, Levine’s health would not allow her to drive a car or walk up a flight of stairs. Thirteen years after her initial diagnosis, however, Levine underwent surgery that eventually led her to the mountainside of Everest. She has since founded the Climb High Foundation. Levine is also the founder and president of Daredevil Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and team dynamics.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Top-notch speakers aren’t the only components necessary for a successful convention and trade show. Specialty forums and educational seminars allow participants the opportunity to communicate, glean information, and expand their industry and business knowledge base.

“We promise to stimulate and motivate you with educational sessions and networking opportunities,” said Richard Cramer Sr., SMACNA president. “In the event you are faced with achieving higher profitability and lower costs, integrating personal technologies into your business or injecting sizzle and effectiveness into your safety training, this year’s SMACNA convention sessions bring solutions to these challenges and much more.”

John Conover, president of Trane’s commercial business in the Americas, will be leading one of the market sector specialty forums. His HVAC Contractors Forum: HVAC Industry - The Next Big Thing, will discuss trends, past experiences, and his view of the current HVAC industry ranging from small developments in technology to political drivers, employment, and global environmental concerns.

Thomas Glavinich, an associate professor in the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas, will discuss how green is here to stay and the affect that green projects have on SMACNA HVAC contractors’ bid preparation and project management. SMACNA’s new publication, “HVAC Guide to Bidding Green Projects,” will be included in the discussion.

There will also be an architectural forum concentrating on optimal stainless steel performance; an industrial forum focusing on labor productivity being a key component in determining profitability; and a residential forum highlighting hot topics in the residential market sector.

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from a diverse offering of educational courses.

SHOW AND TELL

SMACNA’s Product Show, scheduled for Tuesday morning, Oct. 23, brings sheet metal and HVAC industry suppliers face-to-face with contractors. According to SMACNA, the tabletop product show “will provide industry suppliers a unique opportunity to meet one-on-one with the decision makers at many of the nation’s highest-quality firms.”

Already there are a variety of manufacturers scheduled to exhibit.

This year, SMACNA is offering a new year-round associate member program for any industry supplier that wishes to participate. According to SMACNA, the program ultimately provides participants a higher SMACNA profile, increased visibility, and SMACNA promotional services. The association is still accepting associate member applications.

GOLF, DINNER, AND KENNY

The SMACNA convention isn’t just information and business. There are plenty of association-sponsored events scheduled to keep participants busy as well. SMACNA’s College of Fellows is sponsoring a golf outing on the Lexington Course at the Revere Golf Club. The money raised will go to support the college’s scholarship fund.

SMACNA’s Political Action Committee (SMAC PAC) will be stepping out with the “Rat Pack” for an evening of dinner, entertainment, and a silent and live auction.

Oscar nominated Kenny Loggins will wrap up the SMACNA convention with a dinner performance. With 12 Platinum plus albums and 14 Gold albums in the United States, and over 20 million albums sold worldwide, Loggins is well known for his contributions to the movie soundtracks of Caddyshack, Top Gun, and Footloose.

For more information, visit www.smacna.org.

Publication date: 07/30/2007