2012 SPFA Convention & Expo is Underway in Dallas
DALLAS, TX - February 1, 2012 - The 2012 Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) Convention & Expo is now in full swing this week in Dallas, Texas. The InterContinental Hotel is bustling with activity as spray foam industry professionals pour in from all over the globe to partake in the week's events.
Monday and Tuesday offered a variety of accreditation courses and seminars, from a basic introduction to spray foam to SPFA Building Envelope Inspector training. Convention participants were also invited to a bowling tournament on Tuesday evening, at which prizes were awarded for Highest Score and Most Improved as well as Most Gutter Balls.
Today saw the first full-length day of SPFA activity for all attendees. Wednesday kicked off at 8 a.m. with a welcome session and keynote speaker. Doug Brady of Graco and Doug Kramer of Lapolla each delivered a brief address in between a President's Welcome from SPFA Board President Sig Hall III, of Western Pacific Roofing Corporation. Hall highlighted the spray foam industry's progress over the past 25 years from infancy to success, and invited industry "old timers" to stand up and be recognized.
The keynote was an exciting address from Jim "Boots" Demarest , a representative from Afterburner, a conglomerate of elite military aviation professionals. Demarest is a graduate of both the United States Air Force and Cornell law school, and currently serves as a member of the Florida Air National Guard and Afterburner.
Demarest shared Afterburner's formula for "flawless execution": Plan, Brief, Execute & Debrief in an entertaining and stimulating presentation that compared everyday business challenges with high-stakes fighter pilot situations.
Following the keynote address, Pam Schechter of Honeywell introduced the Federal Agency Update. First, Carol Hetfield with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared updates in health & safety considerations for SPF applicators. Next, Lee Salamone of the Center for Polyurethanes Institute (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) also delivered a health & safety program update that complemented Schechter’s address with CPI's own vision and voice.
The welcome session was followed by two 45-minute breakout sessions, during which attendees were invited to choose from a variety of speakers and topics, from building codes to sustainable roofing practices to research initiatives.
SprayFoam.com's very own Doug Commette hosted a breakout session entitled "Digital Marketing for Spray Foam Contractors". Commette spoke to a full house of attendees on strategies for taking Web marketing strategies- landing pages, advertising, social media, call tracking- and translating them into actual business profit.
The Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon followed, which honored spray foam contractors for industry-setting work over the past year. Mary Bogden of Honeywell acted as Master of Ceremonies, and each award announcement was accompanied by a detailed summary of the exemplary project.
The winners for each category were as follows:
Commercial Roof: Carolina Comfort Foam
Residential Roof: Coastal Insulation Corporation
Foam Roof > 40,000 sq ft: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Foam Roof < 40,000 sq. ft: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Specialty Application: Elite Insulation & PolyPro
The afternoon has been devoted to the Expo, housed in a 25,000 square-foot exhibition hall at the InterContinental. The expo spots have been completely sold out, with over 60 organizations offering superior opportunities, advice, demonstrations and more.
Stay posted for more updates and a detailed photo album of the event.
Monday and Tuesday offered a variety of accreditation courses and seminars, from a basic introduction to spray foam to SPFA Building Envelope Inspector training. Convention participants were also invited to a bowling tournament on Tuesday evening, at which prizes were awarded for Highest Score and Most Improved as well as Most Gutter Balls.
Today saw the first full-length day of SPFA activity for all attendees. Wednesday kicked off at 8 a.m. with a welcome session and keynote speaker. Doug Brady of Graco and Doug Kramer of Lapolla each delivered a brief address in between a President's Welcome from SPFA Board President Sig Hall III, of Western Pacific Roofing Corporation. Hall highlighted the spray foam industry's progress over the past 25 years from infancy to success, and invited industry "old timers" to stand up and be recognized.
The keynote was an exciting address from Jim "Boots" Demarest , a representative from Afterburner, a conglomerate of elite military aviation professionals. Demarest is a graduate of both the United States Air Force and Cornell law school, and currently serves as a member of the Florida Air National Guard and Afterburner.
Demarest shared Afterburner's formula for "flawless execution": Plan, Brief, Execute & Debrief in an entertaining and stimulating presentation that compared everyday business challenges with high-stakes fighter pilot situations.
Following the keynote address, Pam Schechter of Honeywell introduced the Federal Agency Update. First, Carol Hetfield with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared updates in health & safety considerations for SPF applicators. Next, Lee Salamone of the Center for Polyurethanes Institute (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) also delivered a health & safety program update that complemented Schechter’s address with CPI's own vision and voice.
The welcome session was followed by two 45-minute breakout sessions, during which attendees were invited to choose from a variety of speakers and topics, from building codes to sustainable roofing practices to research initiatives.
SprayFoam.com's very own Doug Commette hosted a breakout session entitled "Digital Marketing for Spray Foam Contractors". Commette spoke to a full house of attendees on strategies for taking Web marketing strategies- landing pages, advertising, social media, call tracking- and translating them into actual business profit.
The Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon followed, which honored spray foam contractors for industry-setting work over the past year. Mary Bogden of Honeywell acted as Master of Ceremonies, and each award announcement was accompanied by a detailed summary of the exemplary project.
The winners for each category were as follows:
Commercial Roof: Carolina Comfort Foam
Residential Roof: Coastal Insulation Corporation
Foam Roof > 40,000 sq ft: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Foam Roof < 40,000 sq. ft: West Roofing Systems, Inc.
Specialty Application: Elite Insulation & PolyPro
The afternoon has been devoted to the Expo, housed in a 25,000 square-foot exhibition hall at the InterContinental. The expo spots have been completely sold out, with over 60 organizations offering superior opportunities, advice, demonstrations and more.
Stay posted for more updates and a detailed photo album of the event.
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