World of Concrete 2010, held February 2-5; Seminars 1-5, delivered another strong event with 55,108 registered professionals and 1,354 exhibiting companies in more than 600,000 net square feet of action-packed exhibit space.
Exhibitors met and networked with qualified buyers at WOC and took this opportunity to exchange ideas on sustaining business, obtaining the education necessary to be up-to-date on new products and technologies, and to learn about new ways to run a smart and lean business.
"Our Exhibitors were pleasantly surprised at the bustling crowds on our opening day. The quality of participants we continue to bring to the show is what sets WOC apart from other shows in the commercial construction industry. Our goal is, and will always be, to bring together qualified buyers and sellers to do business, share ideas, and to network. Judging from the feedback we have received from our Exhibitors, we have accomplished this goal," said Tom Cindric, Show Director.
"We have an outdoor booth and have had a lot of traffic all week. We are getting a great response from people at the show. We knew there would be people here from all across the country and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to launch a new product," said first-time exhibitor Dan Dodgen of Safety Step TD, Colton, California.
"This is our fifth year, and every year it gets better for us. We are glad we came even though the economy has been a little tough. The quality of people that attend the show is top-notch. This show put us "on the map" five years ago, and we continue to exhibit and build upon our success year after year," said exhibitor Les Davis, American Decorative Concrete of Springdale, Arkansas.
"I'm so excited...there is so much to learn here. I started a brand new company and I have made so many important contacts here at WOC already," said attendee Jodean Davies of Woodland, California.
World of Concrete is proud to have been selected to participate in the 2010 International Buyer Program. World of Concrete Management and the U.S. Commercial Service worked closely in the global promotion of the show bringing International buyers and exhibitors together to expand business both domestically and overseas. As part of the program, delegations from all over the globe attended World of Concrete to network with other international visitors as well as connect with U.S. exhibitors interested in exporting goods and services.
Special workshops and programs were held in conjunction with the IBC including a Federal Finance Assistance Workshop for U.S. companies, presented by the U.S. Export Pavilion, helping U.S. companies with the information and assistance necessary to succeed in the global marketplace, and the SHOWTIME Program conducted more than 122 individual meetings allowing participating companies the opportunity to meet one-on-one with U.S. Embassy Commercial Building Products and Equipment Specialists at the Show.
"This is my first year attending, but I see myself coming for many years to come. WOC is a very useful event. You can read about new equipment online, but actually seeing it makes a world a difference,"
This year, WOC's world-class Education Program offered 100+ expert-led seminars, packed with leading-edge advice on how to reduce costs, improve profits and save time. It featured 15 designated tracks with both 90-minute and 3-hour sessions that provided practical, field-proven instruction in everything from Concrete Fundamentals, Business & Project Management, Masonry, and Concrete Production to Decorative Concrete, Safety & Risk Management, and Finance & Money Matters.
At WOC 2010, the first annual WOC Regional Education Conference was announced, which will provide the information and the continuing education hours contractors need to conduct work in many states. The Conference will take place at the Caribe Royale Orlando All-Suites Hotel & Convention Center, in Orlando, Florida, on May 14-15, 2010.
"We designed this unique Regional Conference program to provide valuable technical and business best practices relevant to today's concrete industry," said Bonnie King, Sr. Conference Manager of the World of Concrete Education Program. "With the in-depth content and variety of topics, attendees will walk away with proven strategies to grow and develop their businesses."
CIM (Concrete Industry Management) held the 5th annual unreserved live CIM Auction at WOC 2010 with all of the proceeds benefiting the CIM National Steering Committee to support their efforts to establish, support, and sustain its programs at selected universities. The auction, produced by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, raised $386,000, which included a silent auction before the live event, benefitting the CIM program.
CIM students also worked during WOC 2010 to create a memorial to the fallen firefighters of a firehouse located at 48th & 8th Streets in New York City. Ed Gruetzner, a firefighter who had retired from FDNY four months before 9/11, lost many friends on that day. Several months ago, Ed, now an accomplished decorative concrete installer living in White Plains, NY, approached Mike Eastergard, owner of PreiTech Corp. in Atlanta, Georgia, to discuss the idea of creating a concrete memorial for the firehouse. Mike immediately volunteered his custom concrete form expertise and resources suggesting that they work with CIM students to create the memorial during the 2010 WOC Artistry event.
The popular GREENSITE area on the show floor, in cooperation with the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative, showcased the latest green build technologies along with displays, video / live speaker presentations, and limitless information about this exciting new aspect of the construction industry. The editors of Concrete Construction, The Concrete Producer and Masonry
Construction magazines hosted the second annual GREENSITE Luncheon & Forum, sponsored by Holcim. This forum provided contractors, producers and architects a place to share ideas on how to be a part of this growing construction segment – Green Building.
World of Concrete 2011 will be January 18-21; Seminars 17-21, back again in Las Vegas, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Visit the World of Concrete website, full of brand new user-friendly features, downloadable high resolution 2010 show images, and technology to help buyers and sellers connect before, during and after the show at http://www.worldofconcrete.com.
About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC is the premier media company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America's leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Exhibitions (Dallas) conducts events serving the industry's strongest market segments, including World of Concrete, one of the top 20 trade show events in the country.
Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is one of the ten largest B-to-B media companies in the United States. Hanley Wood is owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, which uses CCMP Capital Advisors to manage this investment.
