NECA Convention 2009 Seattle: The Blog

by Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition

The deadline to take advantage of early registration savings is coming up soon – August 13 – and I don’t want you to miss any of the opportunities NECA has put together for our annual convention and trade show this year. I’ve included the complete convention brochure, as well as information about our pre-convention workshops and tours, here.

I know you face tough choices in your business every day in these critical economic times. I also know that the only way your business can be prepared to take advantage of all the emerging market opportunities in our industry is to be exposed to new ideas and solutions. NECA 2010 Boston will help you discover and implement ideas that deliver results. You will learn how to search for innovative solutions and make valuable connections with your fellow industry leaders. It will prepare you for the future with new technology, trends, and economic realities changing the face of electrical construction. All this, in just three days.

Take a look at the real costs of NECA 2010 Boston – and then think about what the costs could be to you and your company if you miss out on these opportunities.

Cost Comparison: The Value of NECA 2010 Boston At NECA 2010 Boston, you can participate in education sessions geared to the needs of NECA contractors, networking events to put you in touch with fellow NECA contractors, connections to manufacturers or service providers you rely on, a value of $1,725 for the member rate of only $925. That’s an $800 savings! And, you get all that knowledge and face-to-face networking in just three days, meaning fewer days out of the office, lower travel costs, and immediate results.

$925: Member registration fee for NECA 2010 Boston includes:

Five Management Education sessions (250 minutes) – a $500 value
Three lunches on the Trade Show floor- a $125 value
Opening reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages – a $325.00 value
Closing celebration – a $100.00 value
Three General Sessions – a $195.00 value
Lifestyle Program – a $120.00 value
Fourteen hours of exclusive Trade Show access – a $255.00 value
Technical Workshops on the Trade Show floor – a $105.00 value

$1,725.00: Value of NECA 2010 Boston
– $925.00: Full member registration

$800.00: Actual Member savings

We look forward to seeing you October 2-5!  Registration for NECA 2010 Boston is available online at www.necaconvention.org. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Nolan at (301) 215-4506 or katie@necanet.org.

It has been brought to our attention that there is yet ANOTHER organization now posing as the official housing company for the NECA 2010 Conference in Boston. We would like to reiterate that CMR is the ONLY official housing and registration agent for the NECA 2010 Boston Show. No other housing companies have been hired for this conference or should be engaged for any hotel reservations.

If you need to book your accommodations for NECA 2010 Boston please go to the official CMR Housing site. All  information on the NECA contracted hotels, discounted rates, and hotel amenities are listed there, so that you have the information you need when making your reservations.

Please remember that booking hotel reservations outside of NECA’s room block potentially exposes you to unconfirmed reservations and the possibility of unauthorized charges on your credit cards. Booking  your accommodations through CMR guarantees your reservation and room rate. Any other “housing company” cannot guarantee your registration and could add unwanted service charges to your room rate.

So please be wise and book your Boston hotel reservations through CMR. NECA is not liable for any financial loss in the event you decide to book with one of these companies.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail: NECA2010Housing@cmrus.com. We look forward to seeing you in Boston!

Early registration closes August 13, so you’re running out of time to save on your registration for the electrical construction industry’s premier event!

If you’ve already registered, we’re thrilled that you’ll be joining us in Boston, Oct. 2-5! We’re putting together a great program, and we’re continuing to update the resources and refine management and technical workshops daily. Our NECA Show exhibitors are excited about the new NECA Showstopper Showcase where you can get a sneak peak at all the latest and greatest products and services for electrical contractors.

And if you’ve already registered, but want to add one of our great pre-convention workshops to your package, we’ve made that process easy for you, too.

Smart grid technology, the Green Energy Challenge student competition finals, and energy audits look like they will be some our most popular offerings this year, so don’t miss out on these special sessions. And don’t miss out on the savings – register now for NECA 2010 Boston!

NECA members should be receiving the NECA 2010 Boston brochure by the beginning of next week. On Tuesday, June 1, you’ll be able to register for the NECA Convention and Trade Show (October 2-5) and arrange your hotel stay online. Early registration discounts expire August 13.

Boston has hosted our convention four times in the past, but this year we’ll be in all-new surroundings at the spectacular Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, “the most user-friendly convention facility in the world.” Only eight minutes from Logan Airport and steps away from the best of Boston, BCEC is located at The Seaport, a newly developed area. But, whether you’re lodging by the Waterfront or in one of the Downtown hotels, you’ll have easy access to all NECA 2010 Boston has to offer through our free shuttle service.

From now until the show opens, keep watching this space for information about NECA 2010 Boston. Or sign up for email updates and never miss a thing! If you still have questions, e-mail Katie Nolan at katie@necanet.org.

Check out NECA’s convention website today; come back and register next week!

Registering to attend NECA 2009 Seattle with a press pass is easy. Email Beth Margulies, beth.margulies@necanet.org, with your name, media outlet, and contact information, and we will have your badge and registration packet ready when you arrive.

Don’t have time to register before the meeting? Media can still register on-site by coming to the Press Room. Exhibitor press kits will be located in the Press Room, and reporters can use the room for interviews or filing stories.

Registration is free for all members of the press with credentials or a business card from your publication. Press can take visit the entire NECA Show floor, including technical workshops, management workshops and general sessions.

Thanks to everyone who got their NECA 2009 Seattle registrations in before early registration closed on July 24. All those last-minute decisions pushed our attendance well beyond expectations!

“I think it shows that NECA members recognize what great value there is in attending the NECA convention and trade show is, even in a down economy,” said NECA CEO John Grau. “We’re really refined this year’s program to focus on key education topics and the right networking opportunities. NECA members know they can’t afford to miss it.”

Registration is still open, and anyone can register on-site in Seattle as well.

“I’m thrilled we’ve met our attendance goals, but we don’t want to stop now,” said Beth Ellis. “There still plenty of time and plenty of space to register. In fact, many people are looking at their plans now and realizing they want to add on a pre-convention workshop or tour to their schedule. That’s great, too. We want to make NECA 2009 Seattle the best convention for our members that we can!”

To add a pre-convention workshop, go here.

There’s a great reason to arrive early for NECA 2009 Seattle – and to bring your key employees with you. A dozen different Pre-Convention Workshops will be held on Friday and Saturday, September 11-12, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. They’ll feature expert instructors on topics ranging from succeeding in new markets and making the most of new technology to improving productivity and safety performance and coping in these trying times. They are open to all electrical industry participants.

Nowhere else can you find so many in-depth learning opportunities at such affordable prices, all in one location. (Workshop fees are as low as $75, and none exceeds $250.) Registration for any Pre-Convention Workshop includes admission to all three days of the NECA Show, any of the Technical Workshops held in conjunction with the Show, and the New & Featured Product Room- all at no additional cost! Use the online registration form for NECA 2009 Seattle to reserve your place at the Pre-Convention Workshop(s) of your choice.

Check out your Pre-Convention Workshop Options and register NOW!

Special events and fun social activities before, during, and after our Convention and Trade Show are just the icing on the cake. The main ingredient is the educational opportunites making NECA 2009 Seattle your energy solutions classroom and your pathway to learning how to cope and prosper in these tough times. Be smart now: Register before early discounts expire on July 24. Get even smarter in September!

Early registration ends July 24! Save NOW on registration and hotel bookings.

NECA NewsCast host, Matthew Walton, reports on Day 1 of the NECA 2008 Chicago Convention and Trade show. This first special installment of NECA NewsCast “Live from Chicago” includes close look at many of the pre-convention workshops, including the LED workshop led by Ruud Lighting.