Hardscape North America 2009 Seminars Offer Educational Opportunities

Possessing the latest knowledge can make the difference between getting a job – and getting a job done with the kind of excellence that can inspire customers to eagerly refer you to others. That kind of knowledge is what attendees will find in the educational seminars offered during Hardscape North America (HNA) Jan. 14-17, 2009 at the Cobb Galleria in Atlanta, Ga.

These seminars cover must-know topics for landscape and hardscape professionals. There’s something for every experience level from business-building and management techniques, to installation and technical topics.

“Looking back over my career, advancing my own know-how and the knowledge of my employees was my single most valuable investment,” says Fred Adams, president of Fred Adams Paving, Inc., Raleigh, NC. “It made a positive difference in many ways.”

One-Stop Knowledge Shopping. HNA offers a range of seminars in one location plus hands-on content packed into an intensive few days.

“For 2009, HNA offers the best available seminars and training for segmental wall and paving construction techniques, plus new programs such as ponds, fountains, low voltage lighting and decorative site masonry,” said HNA Program Committee chair Chuck Beckman, VP-Sales and Marketing for Site Technologies, a construction company in Atlanta, Ga. “Indoor and outdoor demonstrations will also introduce fundamentals in architectural concrete construction methods and hands-on classes provide practical skills necessary for success in the marketplace.”

New Speakers and Topics. HNA instructors are nationally recognized, top-notch industry experts. Additionally, attendees will hear from new talent on new seminar topics including:

• Robert Menard, “Negotiation – the Most Essential Business Skill and Body Language.”
• Linda Talley, “What Landscapers are Saying When they Say Nothing at All” and “Working with Different Generations.”
• Gary Micheloni, “Get Paid for a Change.” “Too many contractors do too much ‘extra work’ – for free,” explains Micheloni. Attendees will learn to recognize that they can be paid for changes in scopes of work, while still maintaining good relationships with clients.
• James Judkins, “Challenges for Securing a Legal Workforce – H-2B 101.” He will discuss the history of the H-2B visa program, the types of work and workers that are eligible for the program, steps involved in navigating the program, worker recruiting and the importance of learning foreign laborers’ cultural differences.
• Liz Strawbridge will answer a key business question: “What Women Want.”
• NCMA will add a hands-on SRW advanced education program.
• Two new half-day workshops will be offered, one targeted to landscape architects and one for distributors.

Back by Popular Demand. Plenty of favorites and regulars will be back on the program. Highlights include:

• Safety consultant Milt Jacobs expands to two seminars this year: a 90-minute workshop on “Creating a Site-Specific Safety Plan for Hardscape Contractors” and “Preventing Silica/Health Hazards in the Hardscape Industry: a Practical Application Workshop.”
• Charles Vander Kooi returns with sessions that have sold out for the last two years. His associates, Jerry Gaeta and Tony Bass, bring back their “Managing and Scheduling Work Crews” and “Managing Your Three Greatest Assets” seminars, respectively – but are expanding each of them to three-hour sessions from last year’s 90-minute programs.
• Monroe Porter and George Hedley return, each with three new sessions.
• Dick Hahn returns with a new topic: “Relationship Selling from the Customer’s Perspective.”
• Chuck Taylor’s, “Design and Construction of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements,” seminar will be extended to three hours and offered twice.
• Bob Dusin returns with three new seminars: “How to Find and Hire the Best Workers, Leading Workers Based on their Attitude (Not Their Personality), and Driving Job Site Performance Through Planning and Communicating.”
• Michael Stone will be back with two new seminars: “Profitable Sales—A Contractor’s Guide and Web Sites and their Development.”
• Several demonstrations will return from last year, also, including: Installation of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavements, Low Voltage Lighting, Paver Installation, Step Construction, Outdoor Kitchen Construction, and Raised Patio Construction.

Additionally, you will be able to see hardscape-specific tools, equipment and products from hundreds of exhibitors at the HNA tradeshow, and earn ICPI paver installer and NCMA SRW installer certifications during the show.

Full HNA program schedule details and registration is available at www.hardscapena.com. Questions: call 888/580-9960 or e-mail icpi@icpi.org.