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NECA 2015: Chapter Managers Explain How to Get the Most out of San Francisco
Get the most out of NECA 2015 – Chapter Managers explain how.
US Builders Review turned to local chapter managers at the top of their organizations to gather advice on how to navigate the industry’s most talked about event. With hundreds of exhibitors on the trade show floor, educational sessions, new product demonstrations, speakers, networking events and so much more, the amount to do, see, hear and experience can be a bit overwhelming.
Getting Social at #NECA15
Make the most of NECA 2015 San Francisco by taking advantage of our social networks!
The NECA 2015 San Francisco App, social channels, and official website have tremendously enhanced networking, solutions, and productivity capabilities.
Downloading the app connects you to the full convention schedule (with the ability to sort by education track listing, topic, or speakers), listing of speakers with bios, and access to #NECA15 social media. Additionally, the app offers a customizable on-site planner and an interactive map of the 2015 NECA Show floor. The app is completely free and provides anything you need to know about #NECA15 and/or San Francisco, complete with information on hotels, tours, and restaurants at your fingertips. Scroll over and follow us on our social channels including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, to stay up to date before, during, and after the Convention.
#NECA15 will even offer a selfie station where participants are given the opportunity to take fun selfies with all their NECA friends. Posting their chosen picture to Instagram using our hashtag (#NECA15) offers them a chance to win a custom NECA selfie stick.
We’ll see you there!
New to NECA 2015? Navigating the NECA Show 2015: Contractors Share Best Advice
To help the first timers or those just looking for a way to get more out of the NECA Show, US Builders Review asked NECA member contractors for their best advice. With hundreds of exhibitors and a sprawling trade show floor, educational sessions, new product demonstrations, and so much more, the NECA Show is full of ways for contractors to learn how to grow, improve and enhance their businesses.
Looking for a place you can go for everything you need to know about NECA 2015 San Francisco?
There’s an app for that.
On Monday, September 21, the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) announced the release of it’s NECA 2015 San Francisco mobile app. The free app, sponsored by NECA Premier Partner Graybar, is a one-stop shop for information on the association’s annual convention, October 3-6, 2015.
Features include the full convention schedule that convention-goers can sort by education track listing, or by their favorite topics and speakers. They’ll also find a listing of speakers with bios, access to #NECA15 social media posts and a customizable on-site planner, plus an interactive map of the 2015 NECA Show floor.
Finally, attendees can stay connected via Facebook and Twitter and catch up on the latest convention buzz. Information on hotels and restaurants and a walking map of San Francisco can be found on the app as well.
GET THE APP TODAY!
Download the free app today for all your NECA 2015 San Francisco needs.
Search for “NECA 2015 San Francisco” or “NECA” via the iTunes or Google Play app stores to download from your mobile device.
LEARN MORE ABOUT NECA 2015 SAN FRANCISCO
NECA 2015 San Francisco Sweepstakes; WIN All Access Pass
Enter to Win Free registration to NECA 2015 San Francisco, a $2060 value!
Simply like our Facebook page to enter.
Prize Package Includes full registration package, your all-access pass to:
- Opening Reception at the San Francisco Exploratorium
- two (2) General Sessions: Sal Khan & Diana Nyad
- Special Session: Life on the Rock
- Convention Education
- The Business Development, Safety Roundtable, Women In NECA Roundtable and Student Chapter Job Fair Special Event Sessions
- Technical Workshops
- the Showstopper Showcase
- Daily Prize Drawing Tickets
- Member Spouse Gift
- three (3) days of the NECA Show including lunch
- and the Closing Celebration: Kenny Loggins
Don’t forget to visit the NECA Social Media Lounge in booth #155 on the NECA Show floor!
Use #NECA15 to share your pics, updates and everything NECA 2015 San Francisco!
Safety Experts Offer In-Depth Training at NECA 2015 San Francisco
NECA is the leading source for the industry on electrical standards and safety—and we’ve got you covered with five preconvention workshops at NECA 2015 San Francisco!
REGISTER FOR NECA 2015 SAN FRANCISCO TODAY!
Leading the courses are five of the best in the business, including NECA’s Michael Johnston and Wesley Wheeler, as well as James T. Dollard, Philadelphia Electrical JATC, James McGowan, Quanta Services, and Palmer Hickman from the electrical training ALLIANCE. Their combined experience in the electrical industry will benefit attendees at several key sessions.
2014 NEC Significant Changes
On Friday, October 2, Johnston, Executive Director of Standards and Safety for NECA, and Hickman will present 2014 NEC Significant Changes. The session provides a thorough look at changes in the 2014 National Electrical Code® (NEC), the most widely recognized electrical standard in the world, including new articles and revisions to existing requirements that have an impact on your daily business.
Michael Johnston is the chairman of the National Electrical Code Technical Correlating Committee and serves on the NFPA NEC Smart Grid Task Force. He is also an active member of IAEI, NFPA, ASSE, the NFPA Electrical Section, Education Section, the UL Electrical Council, and National Safety Council.
Palmer Hickman is the Director of Safety and Code Training and Curriculum Development for the electrical training ALLIANCE (formerly the NJATC). He represents the industry on the National Electrical Code (NEC) Correlating Committee, Code Panel 1 of the NEC®, and on the Technical Committees for NFPA 70E®, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, and NFPA 70B®, and NFPA 79®, Electrical Standard for Industrial Machinery. In addition to his Codes and Standards involvement, he is an OSHA Construction Industry Master Instructor. He is a 34-year member of the IBEW with additional memberships including IAEI, NFPA, IEEE, NETA, and the UL Electrical Council. In addition to completion of the IBEW/NECA/NJATC apprenticeship, his educational background includes a B.A. in Labor Safety and Health.
Creating and Maintaining Effective Safety Programs and Policies
Also on Friday, Wesley Wheeler, NECA’s Director of Safety, will lead Creating and Maintaining Effective Safety Programs and Policies, which will detail how to access the status of a company safety program and the understanding and retention of your company’s safety training with employees.
Wheeler has over 33 years of electrical experience. Prior to joining NECA, he focused on safety as an OSHA instructor and safety director for a large industrial-based electrical contractor in Florida. Wheeler has taught OSHA instructor classes for NJATC and has participated in safety training at the annual NTI for the last 5 years. He has served in many capacities in his career, including electrician, foreman, superintendent, estimator, project manager and safety director.
OSHA ET&D Train the Trainer
The two-day OSHA ET&D 10-Hour Train-the-Trainer Course takes place Friday and Saturday. James McGowan brings his expertise to this course geared towards those who want to provide training on safety-related topics specific to electrical line construction. Those who complete this course will earn an OSHA 10-Hour Card.
McGowan is Director, Safety Training for Quanta Services Inc., a Houston, TX based corporation. He has over 15 years of field construction experience and 18 years of safety and training experience. McGowan is a journeyman lineman and has worked in all phases of the power-transmission and distribution field. He is the chairman of the training task team (Task Team II) for the OSHA Electrical Transmission & Distribution (ET&D) Partnership, and played a role in the development and subsequent implementation of the ET&D Partnership 10-Hour OSHA course and the ET&D Partnership Supervisory Leadership Skills Outreach Training course.
Temporary Power Installations
Installing and maintaining temporary construction power that is integrated with electrical safety is an essential component of an electrical contractor’s work. On Saturday morning, James T. Dollard will present Temporary Power Installations and provide information on efficient and safe designs and installations of temporary construction power. He will also review the OSHA and NEC requirements for temporary power.
NFPA 70E Significant Changes
Dollard’s Saturday afternoon session Significant Changes in NFPA 70-E-2015 and Employer’s Responsibilities will help those who want to stay in touch with significant revisions to NFPA 70E and how 70E impacts employees and employers.
James Dollard is Safety Coordinator for the Philadelphia Electrical JATC. He is a master OSHA 500 Instructor and works closely with the Penn-Del-Jersey NECA Chapter towards safe working conditions on all jobs. As a member of the NEC, TCC, CMP-10, CMP-13, NFPA 70E, NFPA 90A and the UL Electrical Council, he plays a significant role in the development of electrical standards. Jim is the author of the NJATC Codeology textbook, the 2008 NJATC NEC Significant Changes and co-author of the 2011 NJATC NEC Significant Changes.
In-depth preconvention sessions are slated for Friday, Oct. 2 and Saturday, Oct. 3. There is an additional fee for preconvention workshops. To register for a session or for the convention, please visit www.necaconvention.org.
Take Advantage of Unique Educational Opportunities at NECA 2015 San Francisco
Don’t wait until the convention starts – amp up your education schedule today!
The learning starts even before NECA 2015 San Francisco gets fully underway! Pre-convention sessions are offered on the Friday and Saturday before the main event.
Attending pre-convention workshops is a great way to get a chance to attend in-depth educational sessions on the most in-demand content available with the top experts in their field. You can expect engaging presentations and thought-provoking discussions as you learn how to stay connected and grow your business.
REGISTER FOR A PRE-CONVENTION WORKSHOP TODAY!
Back by Popular Demand
At this year’s NECA Now we saw that personal health—and in particular stress—is a major issue for NECA members and we’ve brought Alice D. Domar, a pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine, back for more sessions—this time on psychological and physical strategies to reduce stress.
Zack Armstrong of McCoy Electric Company, based in Portland, Oregon, praised Domar’s courses.
“Alice was very present and engaged as a speaker and presented her topic in a meaningful and understandable way,” Armstrong said. “The entire industry would be very well served to have more classes in this genre at future events.”
Armstrong, who works with McCoy Electric Company, based in Portland, Oregon, said it was the single best class he’s attended with NECA.
Added Armstrong: “The mechanics of running our businesses are very important, but the mechanics of taking care of ourselves so we can fire on all cylinders should be our first priority. Alice’s class helped point this out in a very beneficial way.”
Expect engaging presentations and thought-provoking discussions as you learn how to stay connected to the industry at NECA 2015 San Francisco!
To register for NECA 2015 San Francisco, go to http://www.necaconvention.org.
EXPERT ON STRESS RETURNING TO TEACH CLASSES AT NECA CONVETION
When Zack Armstrong attended a new NECA Now class recently, he came away extremely impressed.
Armstrong, who works with McCoy Electric Company, based in Portland, Oregon, said it was the single best class he’s attended with NECA.
The workshop was called “Stress & the Mind Body Connection,” and it was led by Alice D. Domar, a pioneer in the field of mind/body medicine.
“Alice was very present and engaged as a speaker and presented her topic in a meaningful and understandable way,” Armstrong said. “The entire industry would be very well served to have more classes in this genre at future events.”
That will happen this fall. Similar workshops taught by Domar will be offered at NECA 2015 San Francisco, including “Psychological Strategies to Reduce Stress” and “Physical Strategies to Reduce Stress.” These are pre-convention workshops, so it isn’t necessary to attend the entire convention to attend the programs. Additionally, there are many other great pre-convention sessions being offered, including effective leadership communication, preplanning, and risk management.
The main thing Domar wants attendees to take away from her classes is that people understand the harmful effects stress can have on a person’s mind and health and to recognize symptoms and tools to use to combat those symptoms to lead to improved physical and emotional health.
“It’s a very practical, hands-on approach,” Domar recently said, adding she likes to incorporate humor and personal anecdotes into her presentation. “I’m not talking about how to reduce stress. I’m going to be showing people how to do it.”
Some of the most common symptoms of stress include insomnia, headaches, neck and back pain, irritability, digestion and intestinal problems, fatigue, sadness, joint pain, and increases in alcohol use. Our instincts to control our stress levels tend to be wrong: highly stressed men tend to watch more television and drink more alcohol, while highly stressed women tend to eat more junk food and exercise less. None of those four behaviors are able to decrease stress levels, and actually can lead to more distress.
Domar conducts ongoing ground-breaking research which focuses on the relationship between stress and various medical conditions and the impact of lifestyle habits on mental and physical health. Domar has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments as a best-selling author, media authority and sought-after public speaker.
Added Armstrong: “The mechanics of running our businesses are very important, but the mechanics of taking care of ourselves so we can fire on all cylinders should be our first priority. Alice’s class helped point this out in a very beneficial way.”
Register for NECA 2015 San Francisco »