2011 NECA Show exhibitors may soon receive their own version of the document pictured below, from a data-mining company claiming to be verifying your company’s contact information for the NECA Show. Please be aware, neither Fair Guide or Construct Data Publishers, are collecting this information on behalf on NECA. If you complete and return this form, you actually authorize this company to bill you over $1700 and re-sell your information to other marketers in their own publication!

We value our NECA Show exhibitors, and we do our absolute best to protect the investment you have made in the NECA Show.  Your company listing in the NECA Show Guide, NECA’s convention and exhibitor websites, and posting your press releases for NECA 2011 San Diego attendees is included in your exhibitor fees. Unfortunately, it only takes listing your company name in the NECA Show Guide for unscrupulous data mining companies like Fair Guide to try to gather your contact information to try to make a quick buck for their own guides that they sell to other marketers. Don’t be a victim of this scheme! If you ever have a question about any materials you receive about your participation in the NECA Show, contact Julie Duda, julduda@necanet.org,  or Sue McCart, sue.mccart@mindspring.com or phone the NECA Show office, 301-215-4506.

When he’s not busy with his duties as NECA District 9 Vice President  and Chairman of NECA’s Energy Solutions Task Force, Stan Lazarian is running his company, Electric Service & Supply Co., in Pasadena, CA.  ESSCO was founded in 1949 by Stan’s father, Steve Lazarian, who had served as an electricians mate in the Navy during WWII. Throughout its history, ESSCO has performed a variety of construction projects including commercial, industrial and design build. A large percentage of ESSCO’s work has been public works contracting and public buildings.

But Lazarian is also looking towards the future of electrical contracting – and he sees energy efficiency and alternative energy moving from the industry’s fringes to its center.

“We don’t want to lose what could be the largest game-changing trend to hit our industry in the past two decades. Right now, there is tremendous momentum and incentives for sustainable construction,” he said.

Lazarian and members of the Energy Solutions Task Force proposed  a one-day event to introduce NECA contractors to the opportunities available in this growing market. The result is the NECA 2011 Energy Forum.

“As electrical contractors, we are each trying to determine what our place in the emerging alternative energy solutions market can and should be,” Lazarian said. “The Energy Forum can help NECA contractors answer some of those questions. We know there isn’t a single path of entry for all NECA members to pursue this work. But we also know that if we don’t begin immediately offering our expertise and services, our existing and potential customers will go elsewhere to get their renewable and energy-efficiency needs met.”

>> Learn more about the NECA 2011 Energy Forum and register now!

Online registration for NECA’s annual convention and trade show, Oct. 22-25, in San Diego, opens Tuesday, June 14. Early savings for NECA 2011 San Diego events, pre-convention workshops, and the all-new Energy Forum and weekend packages will be available until August 29. Attendees can also make hotel reservations when they register for the meeting.

NECA 2011 San Diego features all the great education and networking events the industry expects from our annual convention and trade show. We’ll have management workshops focused on best business practices and market development tactics, inspiring messages from Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Steven Farber, and hands-on technical workshops right on the NECA Show floor. Popular sessions like the Green Energy Challenge finalist presentation jury, NECA Women’s Peer Group Open Forum, and the NECA Safety Roundtable are also included in the NECA 2011 San Diego full registration package.

Contractors and industry pros who want to pack in as much education with minimal time away from the office can choose from two new weekend packages. Both packages include the all-new Energy Forum on Sat., Oct. 22, and the Opening General Session with General Stanley McChrystal on Sun., Oct. 23, plus Sunday, Oct. 23 management seminars and technical workshops, the grand opening of the NECA Show and the Showstopper Showcase, tradeshow lunch and Sunday daily prize tickets.

For $100 more, weekender registrants can choose the package that also includes the Opening Reception on the USS Midway.

Registrants can fully customize their time at NECA 2011 San Diego with the new ala carte menu which enables you to register for specific events (pre-convention workshops, Energy Forum, opening reception, management seminars, and/or the NECA Show.)

Pre-convention workshops start as early as Friday, Oct. 21 and are priced separately. Registrants for pre-convention workshop are also entitled NECA Show admission, Oct. 22-25, including all technical workshops and access to the Showstopper Showcase.

NECA Conventioneers who stay through to the end will enjoy the waterfront Closing Celebration with Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Band.

Explore NECA 2011 San Diego>>   Register Now!>>

The website for NECA 2011 San Diego, www.necaconvention.org, is now live with preliminary information about speakers, events, the NECA Show, travel arrangements and the brand-new Energy Forum! Online registration opens June 14, and we’ll be adding updates on management seminars and technical workshops as details are as finalized.

We hope you’re as excited about NECA 2011 San Diego as we are! Check out the new site and start making your plans to join us in San Diego, Oct. 22-25! You can also get NECA 2011 San Diego updates through Twitter and Facebook.

Thousands of electrical professionals joined the National Electrical Contractors Association for its 2010 annual convention and trade show in Boston, Oct. 2-5.

There, NECA President Rex Ferry encouraged the convention-goers to revolutionize the way they think about the electrical construction work they do. “I believe a better description for the work we do now is ‘energy manager’,” Ferry said. “We are integrating electrical systems to make buildings perform better and more efficiently than ever before. Because that’s what our customers demand from us.”

The convention and NECA Show are the premier events for the electrical construction industry, with strategies for handling the lagging construction market dominating this year’s event.

“In tough times, you have to take a step back and think about what your company’s goals are,” Ferry said. “It’s a chance to review everything you were taking for granted and maybe make some changes you wouldn’t have considered before. The contractors here at NECA 2010 Boston want to succeed, not just survive.”

NECA 2010 Boston offered the industry’s best education, networking opportunities, and market intelligence, all focused on the needs of electrical contractors working in today’s economy.

Ranging from NFPA 70E requirements to smart grid technologies to the new OSHA crane and derrick guidelines, NECA 2010 Boston offered education and insight for all building professionals, especially those looking for the latest information on green building technologies, safety innovations, and integrated systems.

Along with economic management strategies, contractors at NECA 2010 Boston are focused on the green energy market.  “Green building practices are shaping the majority of current construction projects, and smart energy choices have the greatest impact on green building,” Ferry said.

“This was my ninth NECA convention, and it was probably the best convention I’ve ever attended,” said Jeffrey P. Scarpello, Executive Director, Penn-Del-Jersey Chapter, NECA. “The programs, speakers and exhibitors were great. I heard much positive feedback from my members, many of whom are already discussing plans to be in San Diego for the 2011 NECA convention and trade show.”

The NECA Show featured over 250 exhibitors with products and services specifically for electrical contractors. The 103^rd Electricians Pipe and Drum Band, sponsored by Helmets to Hardhats, opened the Show floor Oct. 3 with great fanfare.

In addition to the trade show and educational opportunities, NECA 2010 Boston also hosted NECA’s student summit, finalist presentations in the second annual Green Energy Challenge, and inspirational keynote speeches from deep-sea explorer Dr. Robert Ballard, best known for his 1985 discovery of the Titanic and soldier Michael J. Durant, author of Blackhawk Down and In the Company of Heroes.

“I particularly enjoyed listening to Dr. Ballard on Sunday morning; in fact, I could have easily spent the rest of the day hearing about his exploits,” said Rich Wynne, Manager, St. Paul Chapter, NECA.

Seminars, workshops and other events were featured on blog.necaconvention.org, with shorter updates posted on NECA Convention’s Facebook Fan page and Twitter. Photos of NECA 2010 Boston activities will be posted on NECA’s Flickr page.

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NECA is the voice of the $130 billion electrical construction industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings and communities across the U.S. NECA’s national office and 119 local chapters advance the industry through advocacy, education, research and standards development. For more information, visit www.necanet.org.

The electrical construction industry’s leading trade expo, the NECA Show, and publication, ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, joined forces at the recent 2010 NECA Show to create the first-ever NECA Showstopper Showcase, where 15 stand-out products and systems were recognized as the most significant of the event.

Judged by a panel of electrical contractors and magazine contributors, submissions to the new NECA Show Showstoppers Showcasing (replacing the former New and Featured Product Room) were evaluated on the Show’s opening day, Oct. 3. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR’s annual Showstoppers feature recognizes the most innovative products and systems featured in this year’s exhibition among many new products submitted.

“We’re thrilled to honor these innovations selected by electrical contractors around the country,” said magazine publisher John Maisel. “They represent the best in emerging technologies for our industry and add excitement throughout the show.”

Displayed at the front of the show hall with blue ribbons, this year’s Showstoppers offered diverse products, equipment and systems from a range of manufacturers and systems developers.

Siemens Industry, Inc., won for the first 600V DC enclosed solar/photovoltaic disconnect switch UL listed for use with three, separate 600V DC circuits.

“We are pleased and excited that those viewing our display recognized that our new Solar Switches represent a significant design innovation to service the emerging solar energy market,” said Dennis Krizan, product manager, safety switches, Siemens Industry, Inc.

GE Energy won for its electrical vehicle charging station, showing both residential and commercial chargers. “The key to ours is the design,” said Chris Bowler, general manager of marketing, who demonstrated the charger’s retractable cord for ease of use.

“Nobody has ever addressed the transmission/distribution contractors,” said Todd McCormick, president, McCormick Systems, Inc., whose company won with transmission and distribution estimating software.

Schneider Electric also won for its electric vehicle charging station due to become available in two to three months. Its features include a delay function for charging at specific times of the day for better energy management.

“The biggest thing is that the bending and cutting are brought into the product along with a full range of factory fittings that results in a safe, low-cost installation,” said Gregory Cambrun, RCCD, national sales manager, Wiremaid Products Vision, for its Pro-10 series cable tray.

The 2010 Showstoppers winners include:

• Accubid: Enterprise Estimating
• L.H. Dottie: Ceiling Solutions Pole
• ElectricSmarts/NetPricer: Smart e-CAT
• Extech: EX540 Wireless Datalogging Multimeter
• GE Energy: WattStation
• Klipsch: Klipsch Light Speaker
• McCormick Systems, Inc.: Transmission and Distribution Estimating System
• Milwaukee: Test Meters
• Russound: Collage Powerline and Media System
• Schneider Electric: Electric Vehicle Charging Station
• Siemens Industry, Inc.:Solar Safety Switch for Three 600V DC
• Thomas & Betts: Sta-Kon® Comfort Crimp® Compression Tool
• Vision InfoSoft Corporation: Electrical Bid Manager Enterprise
• Werner: Lock-in Accessory System
• Wiremaid USA: Wiremaid Cable Mgr PRO-10, The One-Tool System

In addition to the usual fun stuff you find at the NECA Show, we’ve got some great speaking drawings and raffles this year. We’ll still have the daily drawings and grand prize drawing for the event, but there are some great chances to take some an awesome souvenir from the 2010 NECA Show!

First, Rexel will be holding a raffle benefiting ELECTRI International’s Talent Initiative for the flat-screen TVs in the fabulous Construction Zone networking lounge. You could be enjoying your next Red Sox game from the comfort of your living room on a brand-new television, plus your raffle ticket purchase will directly help NECA’s student chapter initiatives!

ECPAC will bring its popular regional meeting prize-raffle-with-your-contribution to NECA’s national convention for the first time. This year’s daily prize will be a new iPad, the hottest tech device going these days. Take advantage of BCEC’s wi-fi on your brand new iPad!

And there will be special games and prizes for making the rounds to all of NECA’s special Energy Solutions exhibitors. Just get your card stamped by these featured “green building” exhibitors to take advantage of these new opportunities – and you’ll probably see some of the coolest smart building products on the market.

The real prize hook-up will be the technical workshops, however. Panduit will also be giving away a raffle prize for attendees at their technical workshop, too. A brand new iPod Touch could be yours just for taking advantage of the great training offered at their session, Sunday, Oct. 3 at 3:30 p.m. on Next Generation GBPS Network.

Osram Sylvania will be raffling off a  32 inch Sylvania flat screen TV at their technical workshop, Energy Saving Fluorescent Lighting Systems Technology Update, on Monday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m.

And finally, we just learned that High Voltage will be giving away an Amazon Kindle Electronic Book Reader with Wi-Fi & 3G connectivity, that will be given away during the following Technical Workshop, Very Low Frequency (VLF) AC Cable Testing, on Monday, Oct. 4 at 3 p.m.

Prizes plus education … a winning combination at the 2010 NECA Show!



Want proof that real men wear kilts? The 103^rd Electricians Pipe & Drum Band will open the 2010 NECA Show, Sunday, Oct. 3.  NECA Convention and Show attendees will be led from the Opening General Session by a single bagpiper down the hall, where they will be met and serenaded by fellow members of Local 103, Boston,  Pipe & Drum Band members!

>>Check out photos of the 103rd Pipe & Drum band and become a fan on their Facebook page!

>> See pictures from the 2009 NECA Show opening ceremony featuring the Northwest Naval Band sponsored by Helmets to Hardhats.

by Nate S. Oland, National Account Executive, Federated Insurance

I’m really looking forward to the upcoming convention in Boston! It sounds like NECA has some great activities planned, and I intend to participate in as many as I can.  September 15, 2010, marks the one-year anniversary since Federated was chosen as an Official Partner of NECA. We’re very proud of our relationship with such a respected organization.

One thing I especially like about NECA 2010 Boston is the “Connecting the World” tagline that was chosen for this year. The electrical contracting industry is constantly evolving to keep up with the latest technology and regulations.

At Federated, we recently introduced Federated’s Shield Network, an online resource which is designed to help our clients connect to the latest in a wide range of risk management tools and services. Stop by our booth #1101, whether you’re currently insured with Federated or just looking for more information on our programs or Federated’s Shield Network. We want to connect with you!

We’re thrilled to announced that our first-ever NECA Show Construction Zone will be sponsored by Rexel, a leading distributor worldwide of electrical supplies .

The Construction Zone will be the prime location for catching your breath and taking in all that’s available on the NECA Show floor. This central networking lounge will be decked out in the familiar signs of a working jobsite, but the Construction Zone will actually be the best place at NECA 2010 Boston to take a break.

“We’re very excited that Rexel is making the Construction Zone a reality for NECA Show-goers this year,” said Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition. “It’s going to be great for people to have a place to catch up on business or just relax and catch up on the Sunday game scores.”

The Construction Zone will be the perfect spot to grab something cool to drink at the cash bar, check email with free wi-fi, have a quiet conversation, catch up on the scores from Sunday’s NFL games, or tweet about your favorite NECA Show booth. During exhibit hours on Monday, Oct. 4 and Tuesday, Oct. 5, the Construction Zone will display product DVD’s, demos  and other excellent features.

Rexel is making a splash with their sponsorship of the Construction Zone at the 2010 NECA Show, returning as an exhibitor after several years and requests from Show-goers to share their latest services. Rexel will also have a full display at NECA Show booth #141.

“NECA contractors are extremely important to Rexel, and the Construction Zone is a great way to demonstrate our company’s commitment to the work they’re doing,” said Doris Chumley, marketing projects manager for Rexel. “Rexel is focused on providing innovative electrical solutions and equipment to improve comfort, performance, and energy efficiency, and our customers are professionals who understand their clients’ demands for excellent electrical construction. We’re looking forward to making new connections and renewing old contacts at the 2010 NECA Show.”

>>Learn more about Rexel at the 2010 NECA Show