NECA Convention 2009 Seattle: The Blog

Early registration for NECA 2011 San Diego has been extended by one week, to Monday, Sept. 5, but that doesn’t mean you’ve got time to spare!

Register now to make sure you’ve got a place with your fellow industry leaders to share best practices, new market intelligence and scope out new tools and technology, all in one location, all for the year’s most affordable event!

Spaces are nearly filled, and San Diego hotel blocks will close soon. You need to be with NECA in San Diego, Oct. 22-25! So don’t delay – register now!

Recent phone and service outages at NECA’s national office means a little good news for procrastinators – the Early Registration deadline for NECA 2011 San Diego has been extended by one week, from Monday, Aug. 29 to Monday, Sept. 5.

“We know Monday, Sept. 5 is the Labor Day holiday, so I hope that everyone will take advantage of the extra days the week before the new deadline,” said Beth Ellis, NECA Executive Director, Convention/Exposition. “We’re doing our best to remain available to people who may have questions about registration and housing.”

The best way to reach NECA’s convention staff is a direct email to Beth Ellis at beth.ellis@necanet.org or Katie Nolan, katie.nolan@necanet.org. CMR staff can also assist with NECA 2011 San Diego registration and housing registrations by email to NECAHousing@cmrus.com or phone, 1-800-368-6322 or 415-979-2291 for international calls. You can also comment on this post, our Facebook page or on Twitter.

NOTE: Early registration rates do not apply to pre-convention workshops,Weekend Passes, or the Energy Forum.

>> REGISTER NOW FOR NECA 2011 SAN DIEGO!

Children are welcome at the 2011 NECA Show, just as long as they have a badge for admission and are accompanied by an adult.

But this year, kids aren’t just welcome to check out all the cool exhibits on the Show floor. We’re also opening other NECA Convention activities to kids who are registered with badges and accompanied by an adult.

“We know that kids will want to see the USS Midway up close,” Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition, said, smiling. “If I was a kid who came with my parents to San Diego and found out that I was going to miss out on seeing the most famous aircraft carrier in the world, I’d be a little irritated.”

Ellis said that 2011 marks the 100^th anniversary for naval flight, so there will be special exhibits and areas for exploring at the Opening Reception, Oct. 22. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we want everyone in our NECA family to experience it,” Ellis said.

Registration rates for children at NECA 2011 San Diego are:

• Age 0-6: free
• Age 7-15: $75
• Age 16 and up: $360 before August 29; $400 after August 29 (early registration closed)

For kids age 16 and up who simply want to attend the Opening Reception abroad the USS Midway, individual event tickets are $200. The full convention registration for age 16 and up includes admission to all General Sessions, daily lunch at the NECA Show, management and technical workshops, and the Closing Celebration. To learn more about the 2011 NECA San Diego Convention and Trade Show download the brochure »

>>Register yourself or your children for the 2011 NECA Convention and Show 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!>>

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.