ALCA Interior Show to Join GIE in 2000

Beginning with next year’s show, ALCA will move its Interior Landscape Conference from its annual January dates with the TPIE Show in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to be held in conjunction with the GIE Show, which ALCA co-sponsors with the Professional Lawn Care Association of America and the Professional Grounds Management Society.

"Interior members and suppliers at the Green Industry Expo will add a dynamic new dimension to the Expo," said ALCA’s president, Steve Glover. "All segments of the green of the industry will be represented at this very successful conference and trade show."

"ALCA has a significant number of members and suppliers that represent both the interior and exterior segments of the industry," said Chris Raimondi, ALCA Interior Council Chair. "Clearly, members are meeting their client requirements for one-stop shopping. The Green Industry Expo will provide interior and exterior members valuable information on this growing trend and education in how it will benefit member companies."

In fact, ALCA reported that 28 percent of its membership, which totals more than 2,000 contractors, provides interior landscape services, and the association has seen this number continue to climb as contractors expand their service offerings.

"We’re all offering services that we weren’t offering 10 years ago," observed Michael Senneff, an interior landscape contractor in San Antonio, Texas.

"This is the future, with exterior companies expanding into interior work," agreed Chris Kujawa of Kujawa Enterprises, Cudahy, Wis., a company that provides interior and exterior services.

ALCA also noted that while dates for next year’s GIE Show are already set for Nov. 4-7 in Indianapolis, Ind., dates for the following years’ shows are being re-evaluated in an attempt to address interior landscape contractors’ concerns about November show dates interfering with their busy holiday season. The association is examining the possibility of moving the show dates into late October.