NECA Blog

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Jul 28

Cost Comparison: The REAL Value of NECA 2010 Boston

by Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition

The deadline to take advantage of early registration savings is coming up soon – August 13 – and I don’t want you to miss any of the opportunities NECA has put together for our annual convention and trade show this year. I’ve included the complete convention brochure, as well as information about our pre-convention workshops and tours, here.

I know you face tough choices in your business every day in these critical economic times. I also know that the only way your business can be prepared to take advantage of all the emerging market opportunities in our industry is to be exposed to new ideas and solutions. NECA 2010 Boston will help you discover and implement ideas that deliver results. You will learn how to search for innovative solutions and make valuable connections with your fellow industry leaders. It will prepare you for the future with new technology, trends, and economic realities changing the face of electrical construction. All this, in just three days.

Take a look at the real costs of NECA 2010 Boston – and then think about what the costs could be to you and your company if you miss out on these opportunities.

Cost Comparison: The Value of NECA 2010 Boston At NECA 2010 Boston, you can participate in education sessions geared to the needs of NECA contractors, networking events to put you in touch with fellow NECA contractors, connections to manufacturers or service providers you rely on, a value of $1,725 for the member rate of only $925. That’s an $800 savings! And, you get all that knowledge and face-to-face networking in just three days, meaning fewer days out of the office, lower travel costs, and immediate results.

$925: Member registration fee for NECA 2010 Boston includes:

Five Management Education sessions (250 minutes) – a $500 value
Three lunches on the Trade Show floor- a $125 value
Opening reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres and beverages – a $325.00 value
Closing celebration – a $100.00 value
Three General Sessions – a $195.00 value
Lifestyle Program – a $120.00 value
Fourteen hours of exclusive Trade Show access – a $255.00 value
Technical Workshops on the Trade Show floor – a $105.00 value

$1,725.00: Value of NECA 2010 Boston
$925.00: Full member registration

$800.00: Actual Member savings

We look forward to seeing you October 2-5!  Registration for NECA 2010 Boston is available online at www.necaconvention.org. If you have any questions, please contact Katie Nolan at (301) 215-4506 or katie@necanet.org.

Jul 26

There’s Only ONE Official NECA 2010 Boston Housing Company!

It has been brought to our attention that there is yet ANOTHER organization now posing as the official housing company for the NECA 2010 Conference in Boston. We would like to reiterate that CMR is the ONLY official housing and registration agent for the NECA 2010 Boston Show. No other housing companies have been hired for this conference or should be engaged for any hotel reservations.

If you need to book your accommodations for NECA 2010 Boston please go to the official CMR Housing site. All  information on the NECA contracted hotels, discounted rates, and hotel amenities are listed there, so that you have the information you need when making your reservations.

Please remember that booking hotel reservations outside of NECA’s room block potentially exposes you to unconfirmed reservations and the possibility of unauthorized charges on your credit cards. Booking  your accommodations through CMR guarantees your reservation and room rate. Any other “housing company” cannot guarantee your registration and could add unwanted service charges to your room rate.

So please be wise and book your Boston hotel reservations through CMR. NECA is not liable for any financial loss in the event you decide to book with one of these companies.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail: NECA2010Housing@cmrus.com. We look forward to seeing you in Boston!

Jul 19

Jerry Rivera Geeks Out Over Safety Sessions at NECA 2010 Boston

YEEHAW! Okay, I just had to release that sudden burst excitement that NECA Boston 2010 brings to all of us working in electrical construction.

Let me start by saying that the entire event will have some great activities, exciting displays and awesome training opportunities.

But you know me — when it comes to safety, I just can’t keep my excitement to myself. Mike Callanan may call himself a “training geek,” but I am an original Safety Nerd. So here’s the inside scoop for all us Safety Nerds (I know I’m not the only one!) about NECA Boston 2010.

For the second year, I will be hosting a Safety Roundtable, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2:30-5 p.m. for everyone interested in discussing their latest safety practices and concerns. The roundtable will have something for everyone. For NECA’s District 10 members, we’ve invited a member of OSHA’s Directorate of Construction staff to discuss significant changes to the Cranes and Derricks rule. Our inside members will enjoy a high-level review on OSHA regulatory activates and how it will impact electrical contractors.

By all means, the roundtable isn’t the only things happening on safety at NECA 2010 Boston. Check out the ETD 10 Hour Course by James McGowan from Quanta; Safety Best Practices technical session by Steve Cavanaugh from MYR Group; and NFPA 70E 2012 Changes with Palmer Hickman and myself.

All kidding aside, safety is an issue NECA members truly take to heart, and I’m really looking forward to spending time with folks who have as much invested in keeping our companies and workers safe as I do. So don’t wait to be told about everything that happens in Boston — experience it live by attending NECA Boston 2010!

Connect with Jerry Rivera and learn more about NECA’s safety programs on LinkedIn.

Jul 16

Off to a Great Start: Opening Reception featuring A Grand-Slam Night Out at Jillian’s!

The opening reception for NECA 2010 Boston will get your NECA team spirit going for a fun-filled, entertainment-packed evening at Jillian’s-a great location with a great view of all the action at Fenway Park, on a night one of the greatest rivalries in baseball play out as the Red Sox host the Yankees!

Join celebrity chef Bill Starbuck as he creates gourmet stations serving upscale hors d’oeuvres and tailgating fare, along with great cocktails and local beers that put Boston on the culinary map!

Explore three floors of amazing entertainment, fun and games! Dance the night away to live bands or enjoy an exclusive club vibe with a great DJ. Jillian’s also offers more excitement, with eighteen lanes of bowling, more than 40 billiards tables and live sports on the bank of TVs at the bar.

And the fun doesn’t stop there! Take a break from the action on one of the only rooftop lounges in Boston that overlooks the Green Monster in Fenway Park. Have a hand-rolled cigar and enjoy the exclusive view of the Boston skyline. See what your future has in store when you meet with a fortune teller. Remember the evening with a portrait from a local caricaturist. With something new on every floor, A Grand-Slam Night Out promises to be one of NECA’s best parties ever!

Jul 13

Only One Month Left to Get Early Registration Rates!

Early registration closes August 13, so you’re running out of time to save on your registration for the electrical construction industry’s premier event!

If you’ve already registered, we’re thrilled that you’ll be joining us in Boston, Oct. 2-5! We’re putting together a great program, and we’re continuing to update the resources and refine management and technical workshops daily. Our NECA Show exhibitors are excited about the new NECA Showstopper Showcase where you can get a sneak peak at all the latest and greatest products and services for electrical contractors.

And if you’ve already registered, but want to add one of our great pre-convention workshops to your package, we’ve made that process easy for you, too.

Smart grid technology, the Green Energy Challenge student competition finals, and energy audits look like they will be some our most popular offerings this year, so don’t miss out on these special sessions. And don’t miss out on the savings – register now for NECA 2010 Boston!

Jul 06

Help! I’ve already registered, but now I want to add a pre-convention workshop to my registration!

First of all, congratulations to you for taking advantage of NECA 2010 Boston’s pre-convention workshops. (We start them on Friday, Oct. 1 so folks attending the Oct. 2 Board of Governors meeting can participate, too.)

Second, you can add pre-convention workshops and tours to your existing registration online or call Katie at 301-215-4506 for help.

If you want to make the changes to your registration online, follow these steps:

1. Click on “Attendee Registration” at the top of the NECA 2010 Boston website.

2. Select “I know my username and password.” When prompted, enter your username and password if you are not already logged into the site.

3. The NECA 2010 Boston registration will display. Select “Review Your Registration” at the top of the page.

4. Your registration will display. Select “Would you like to update your registration?” from the top of the page.

5. Scroll down and select “Update Event Tickets” from “Registrant Events.” From here, you can enter the number of tickets you need for a pre-convention workshop.

6. Click “Update” at the bottom of the page. You are now registered for a pre-convention workshop!