Kathy Raissifar
Hanley Wood Exhibitions
kraissifar@hanleywood.com
972.536.6461

DECKEXPO ELEVATES EDUCATION TO A NEW LEVEL

Dallas, TX, November 27 – In its second year under the management of Hanley Wood Exhibitions, DeckExpo is proving again that it will be the place to be if you are in the deck, dock and railing industry. The 2008 show will elevate the potential of every attendee with the most on-target education from those who know the industry best. DeckExpo 2008 is scheduled to be held March 5 – 6 with conferences beginning March 4. The show will take place at the Orange County Convention Center, Hall NA2 in Orlando, Florida. DeckExpo is officially sponsored by the North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) and PROFESSIONAL DECK BUILDER Magazine.

Education is the theme at this year’s DeckExpo. For 3 days, there will be over 20 conference sessions offered – 43% more than in 2007. In 2008, sessions fall into one of four designated tracks including business, marketing, production and sales. Individuals can go online to DeckExpo.com and search courses by track, speaker or date. The production track is a new offering geared for lead carpenters and production managers. A session called
“Project Manager’s Guide to the Financial Stuff” will teach project managers how their decisions on the jobsite impact the bottom line back at the office as well as give them tools they need to make even better decisions related to profitability. Now each member of the team can take away something unique back to the business, benefiting multiple areas of the company.

Experienced speakers, considered experts in their fields, are lined up to present at DeckExpo. Notable speakers include Leslie Shiner, Tim Faller, Adrienne Zoble and Les Cunningham. “This year’s speakers have proven success in the industry, specifically with residential and specialty contractors, and proven success at other conferences,” stated Paul Treanor, Senior Conference Manager for DeckExpo. “This is the dream team. You won’t get any better.”

Returning to the conference schedule is a General Session in a Keynote format for 2008. Scheduled to take place prior to the show opening on Wednesday, March 5, the Keynote will be presented by Gary Topchik, renowned management and leadership consultant and author of The Accidental Leader. His presentation will motivate attendees to take their management skills to the next level. “Conference attendees will find Gary’s presentation thought-provoking and potentially life-changing,” said Treanor. “They won’t want to miss it!” Admission into the Keynote Session is free with the Full Registration package. Individual tickets are also available for purchase.

The Conference Intensive is also back for 2008 with content focusing on an insurmountable task: extracting the universal requirements of the 2006 International Residential Code (IRC) as it relates to the construction of outdoor living structures and amenities. Building Codes for Building Decks, taught by Glenn Matthewson, will take those universal principles and teach deck-building professionals how to apply them to modify deck designs, structures and amenities for their own local code-compliance needs. He will also provide attendees with differing code-compliance requirements as they pertain to use in a residential or commercial establishments. “This is not the easiest task, given that codes vary from city to city and state to state, but I am confident in Glenn’s ability to deliver the IRC principles concisely enough for attendees to be able to go back to their offices with the tools they need to decipher their local building code requirements and adjust their plans accordingly,” said Treanor.

The North American Deck and Railing Association (NADRA) will produce and manage two Pre-Event Courses on Monday, March 3, coordinating content with two exhibiting companies. Deck Framing Connections will be taught by Jim Mailey of Simpson Strong-Tie and will review common causes of deck failures and explain code compliant connections. Richard Oesterreicher of DeckTools will present an afternoon course called DeckTools: Design Software to Increase Sales and Efficiency and will explore the value of software produced bids and drawings to improve profitability. "The difference between this year and previous ones is that the deck industry is seeing unprecedented focus from consumers in code development and enforcement. The concept of a safe deck is in the spotlight,” said Mark DeMarco, NADRA Vice President and Chairman of the Education Committee. “These [NADRA] courses will help the builder [understand] what they need to know to build safe and profitable decks for their customers.”

Conference attendees will be able to take home continuing education credits (CEU’s), including AIA, Florida certification and more. Attending DeckExpo conference sessions annually can earn attendees continuing education credits in one place at one time, making the most efficient use of their time and money. CEU’s are necessary in most states to maintain a valid license status.

“Being in the deck industry the last 20 years, I can’t say enough how much my business has benefited by attending all the DeckExpo’s including the courses,” states Clemens Jellema, owner of Fine Decks, Inc. in Owings, Maryland. “In the last 5 years, my company has grown from 2 to 13 employees. Attending as many courses as possible gave me a better understanding of the deck industry; helped me avoid costly mistakes; and improved my marketing strategies. I can’t imagine not going to the DeckExpo and not attending the courses that are offered. I know I will miss valuable information.”

On a side note, Jellema sees DeckExpo as a yearly reunion. “Over the years I gained a wealth of information and created a network of fellow deck builders across the country - most of them became personal friends.”  DeckExpo 2008 will be held March 5 – 6 at the Orange County Convention Center, Hall NA2 in Orlando, Florida. Conferences will run March 4 - 6. For more information on DeckExpo, please www.DeckExpo.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 provider of home plans. Hanley Wood Exhibitions (Dallas) conducts 18 trade shows, including World of Concrete, one of the top 20 trade show events in the country.

Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $250 million company owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, LLC. CCMP Capital Advisors manages the Hanley Wood investment for JPMorgan Partners.

About NADRA
North American Deck and Railing Association, Inc. (NADRA) is the unified voice of the deck and railing industry comprised of deck builders, manufacturers, dealers/distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and service providers. Its mission is to provide a unified source for the professional development, promotion, growth, and sustenance of the Deck and Railing building industry in North America so that members can exceed the expectations of their customers. NADRA serves as a trade association with emphasis on safe building practices and deck safety. For information on the North American Decking and Railing Association, please visit www.NADRA.org or call 888.NADRA.4U (888.623-7248).

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