Alexandria, VA, Dec. 29--National Trade Productions (NTP), the show management company for Coverings, has announced that the 2004 show will offer a variety of speakers, conferences and sessions tailored specifically to appeal to the interests of the broad range of exhibitors and attendees who participate in the show. Each community can attend free seminars that will help raise awareness of trends and uses for ceramic tile and natural stone and ultimately increase their business opportunities in the U.S. Coverings will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from March 23-March 26, 2004.
Immediately after the PRISM and Spectrum Awards winners are announced, keynote speaker Steve Forbes will kick off the show on Tuesday, March 23 at 8:30 a.m. President and Chief Executive Officer of Forbes, Inc., and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes magazine, Forbes is an influential pro-growth advocate and a writer and speaker on domestic and foreign policy issues.
World-renowned architect William McDonough headlines the featured session on Tuesday, March 23rd, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., entitled “Redesigning Real Estate: Building for Sustainable Prosperity.
On Wednesday, March 24, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. the spotlight will shine on Michael Payne as he discusses “Designing for the Sexes.” Host of the HGTV show of the same name and founder of Michael Payne Design, he has offered high-end design services to national and international clients since 1980.
Color specialist Leatrice Eiseman returns to Coverings on Thursday, March 24, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. to discuss “Color Trends: How Will They Change?” Eiseman, the principal of the Eiseman Center for Color Training and Education and the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, is the author of four books on color.
Jon Trivers, president of Marketing Wit and Wisdom, makes an encore appearance at Coverings on Thursday, March 25th from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. to ask the question, “When Will Ceramic Tile Outsell Carpet?” Before becoming a leading retail consultant, Trivers was the president of Abbey Carpets.
On Friday, March 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. Michael Fortino, the founder and president of The Fortino Group will discuss “Markets, Machines and Milestones of the New Millennium.” Fortino has built a reputation as one of the most renowned strategists on dealing with change in the corporate environment.
Coverings has developed more than 40 new conferences and sessions to appeal to each of their primary attendee audiences, several of which will offer credits for course completion.
Contractors may participate in four free workshops: “Installation of Shower Receptor Pre-Sloped Mortar Bed & CMU Curb;” “Heated Floor Installation & Self Leveling Underlayment Installation.”; “Installation of Waterproof Pan & Lath and Scratch Shower Curb;” “Layout for Floor Tile Installation & Installation of Floor Tile.”; “Installation of Mortar Bed in Shower Receptor & Brown Coat Shower Curb.”; and “Installation of Ceramic Wall Over Backerboard.”
NTP has also developed a series of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) that include a moderator speaking to small, specialized groups. The SIGs scheduled for Coverings 2004 include: Fabricator’s Forum; Dealer’s Forum; Distributor’s Forum; Residential Contractor Forum; Commercial Contractor Forum; Design/Build Professional Forum; Remodeler Forum; Central and South America Forum; Mexico/Border States Forum; and the Brazilian Forum.
“Coverings wouldn’t be what it is without its wonderful community of participants,” said Tamara Christian, Coverings’ show director and president of National Trade Productions. “To that end, we have scheduled a series of hospitality events to thank the contractors, speficiers and dealers who contribute so much to the show.” These hospitality events are scheduled for March 23rd, 24th and 25th at Universal City Walk for contractors, specifiers and dealers, respectively.
