2012 GIE+EXPO and HNA

EXPO at a glance
The 2012 GIE+EXPO runs Oct. 24-26 in Louisville, Ky. Co-located again this year with Hardscape North America, the industry’s largest trade show will host more than 15,000 attendees. For details on education sessions, product demonstration schedules and to register, visit www.gie-expo.com or www.HardscapeNA.com.

In all, 750 companies will exhibit in 500,000 square feet inside the Kentucky Exposition Center and in the 19-acre turf area, where attendees can watch demonstrations and test drive equipment.

Get two shows for the price of one

Hardscape North America’s continued partnership with GIE+EXPO will again bring the show to Louisville, Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 24-26. The co-location gives landscape and hardscape professionals the opportunity to attend two tradeshows for the cost of one at the Kentucky Exposition Center. It also provides green industry professionals with access to a wide variety of education, demonstrations and exhibits.

Together, HNA, with products and materials exclusive to the hardscape industry, and GIE+EXPO, with the latest in outdoor power equipment and landscaping supplies, will offer attendees access to more than 750 exhibits and 19 acres of outdoor demonstration space. HNA’s educational events and tradeshow will run concurrently with GIE+EXPO. An HNA tradeshow registration will give attendees access to six HNA hardscape demonstrations. Registrants also have the opportunity to register for education sessions, installer courses and workshops, covering everything from hardscape estimating and installation to best practices in business management and marketing.

Registration for HNA or GIE+EXPO will allow attendees to build their show schedule around specific business needs along with optional training and certification. Early-bird fees start at $35 for contractors and distributors and include admission to both shows, the HNA hardscape demonstrations and all show networking and entertainment venues.

The HNA indoor exhibit area feature more than 100 exhibitors displaying new products and equipment, including pavers, stone and segmental retaining walls (SRW), edge restraints, hardscaping tools and more. Tradeshow attendees will also be able to visit hundreds of other power equipment and green industry exhibitors inside and outside at GIE+EXPO as well as see new products on display at GIE+EXPO’s New Products Showcase.

Concert series includes Kansas and Eli Young Band

Legendary rock band Kansas will perform a free concert during GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America on Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 4th St. Live! in downtown Louisville. The Eli Young Band, who recently won the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards’ Song of the Year for “Crazy Girl,” will perform a free concert on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 4th St. Live!

Kansas, well-known for their multi-million-selling single, “Dust in the Wind,” has been anything but dust in the wind, topping the charts since the early 1970s after a humble start in Topeka, Kan. The band has produced eight gold albums, three sextuple-platinum albums and one platinum live album. With 14 studio albums, the band’s mega hits include “Carry on Wayward Son,” “Dust in the Wind” and “All I Wanted.”

The Eli Young Band, already in their 11th year of performing together, was started in Denton, Texas, by Mike Eli and James Young during their freshmen year of college. After four studio albums and one live album, the band has finally gotten national recognition for their hard work.

Their hit “Crazy Girl” was named the 2012 Academy of Country Music Awards’ Song of the Year at the American Country Music Awards.

And Kentucky native and returning performer Candy Coburn will light up the stage on Friday evening, Oct. 26, at Fourth Street Live! Candy Coburn will be the fourth performer at GIE+EXPO this year. Prior to the concert, Candy will be signing autographs at the booth of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Coburn’s most recognizable hits include “Pink Warrior,” “Enjoy the Ride” and “Rev It Up,” and some GIE+EXPO attendees may remember when she performed at GIE+EXPO in 2008. Her newest single, “That Thing You Do,” is steadily climbing the charts.

Coburn’s first album, “Enjoy the Ride,” came out in 2005; it was followed by “Rev It Up,” in 2007 and her third album, “Lucky,” came out in 2011. In 2009 Candy co-wrote “Pink Warrior,” an ode to her grandmother’s struggle with breast cancer. “Pink Warrior” is now the official anthem for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Hardscape North America announces new workshop for hardscape contractor executives

The HNA Hardscape Contractor Executive Workshop will take place Wednesday, Oct. 24, from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The theme for this year’s workshop is “Juggling for Success in Hardscapes – Sharing Best Practices.”

The workshops will bring executives together in a roundtable format to discuss current issues surrounding business practices for hardscape contractors.

Six expert facilitators will lead discussions on Wednesday during HNA and a lunch will be provided.

Attendees will choose three roundtable discussions. All attendees will have the chance to hear the highlights of each discussion and ask questions in the closing session.

The cost to attend the workshop is $95 for members and $145 for non-members. Registration for the workshop can be completed at www.hardscapena.com.

Topics for Roundtable Discussions include “Reduce Profit Risk & Increase Profitability – Cash Management & Forecasting in Rough Times” with Gary Stowe, president, Stowe Contracting; “Renting Equipment vs. Buying Equipment and What Services to Keep In-house” with Fred Adams Jr., president, Fred Adams Paving Company; “Advertising Using Social Media” with Mark Fuss, vice president of sales and marketing, Nicolock Paving Stones; “Motivating and Leading Crews” with Frank Gandora, president, Creative Hardscapes; “How to Stay Compliant with DOT, OSHA and EPA Regulations” with Bob Cramer, director of operations, Pave Tech; and “Succession Planning” with Bill Schneider, owner, LPS Pavement Company.

Hardscape North America offers many installation courses

HNA is offering hardscape contractors and installers an opportunity to learn efficiency-increasing, profit-boosting installation techniques, while also earning continuing education credits. These pre-show installation courses take place Oct. 23-24 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Louisville. The ICPI courses conclude with an exam, and participants who receive a passing grade will receive a record of completion for the course.

The courses take place in conjunction with the tradeshow, which is set for Oct. 24-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. This fee includes access to indoor and outdoor areas of the tradeshow, hardscape demonstrations and concerts at Fourth Street Live!

Participants can choose from the following pre-show installation course offerings:

Advanced Residential Paver Technician Course
Oct. 23-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
This is an advanced level course for hardscape contractors who work in the residential market and builds on the Concrete Paver Installer Course. Specific instruction on advanced installation techniques is provided, including topics such as overlays, multi-levels and raised patios, outdoor fireplace and kitchen installation, pool deck construction and advanced business practices.

ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Course and Certification Exam
Oct. 23-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
This course is designed for contractors involved in the residential and commercial installation of interlocking concrete pavements with a year or more of experience. Course content includes: job planning and layout, soil characteristics, compaction, base materials, edge restraints, bedding and joint sands, installation and maintenance of concrete pavers, estimating and more.

ICPI PICP Specialist Course
Oct. 23, 1-5 p.m. and Oct. 24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
This course is a must for experienced contractors who would like to build permeable pavement systems. Previous attendance at the ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Course is highly recommended but not required. Content includes job planning and layout, estimating, soil and site characteristics, sub-base and base materials, edge restraints, bedding and jointing materials, paver selection, installation and maintenance.

ICPI Commercial Paver Technician Course
Oct. 23-24, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
This course covers the best practices for the installation of interlocking concrete pavements in the industrial, commercial, institutional and municipal markets and is designed for foremen and higher-ranking personnel. It is highly recommended, but not required, that participants complete the ICPI Concrete Paver Installer Course prior to attending. Topics include, but are not limited to, stabilized bases, bedding sand hardness, durability, overlays and inlays, rigid applications, roof plaza decks, concrete grid pavements, mechanical installation, MasterFormat specifications, liens, construction details, plan reading, submittals, estimating software, on-screen takeoffs and more.

NCMA SRW Installer Course and Certified SRW Installer (CSRWI) Exam
Oct. 23, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Participants will learn how to build segmental retaining walls (SRW) that perform well over time. This program teaches hardscape contractors and installers essential concepts related to the design, construction and performance of SRWs, providing the knowledge necessary to install quality walls that meet customer expectations and ensure long-term success. SRW installation guidelines, materials, soils, compaction and water, planning and equipment selection are explained.

NCMA Advanced SRW Installer Course and Certified SRW Installer-Advanced (CSRWI-A) Exam
One-day course, October 24, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
This program increases the installer’s value to customers by teaching advanced SRW applications and installation techniques. It is open to NCMA-Certified SRW Installers (CSRWI) who are engaged in the advanced construction of SRWs. The program is focused on advanced residential applications and small commercial jobs where stairs, corners, pillars, etc. are incorporated.