NECA Blog

All The Latest News from NECA

Jul 02

Registration Going Strong – Still Time to Catch the Early Rates!

Beth Ellis reported that registrations for NECA 2013 Washington DC are coming in daily, putting this year’s convention and trade show on track for the same record-setting attendance that we enjoyed last year in Las Vegas. Beth has been making the rounds at all the NECA spring and summer meetings, getting the word out about this year’s great program in D.C. We caught up with her between travels to see what she thinks will make NECA 2013 Washington DC special.

Q: So what’s going to make NECA 2013 Washington great?

Beth Ellis: Well, this year will mark the first time NECA has been in Washington, DC since 2001 when we celebrated NECA’s 100th anniversary. Of course, 9/11 was weighing heavy on all of us at that convention, too. I think this year will be a great time to examine how much the industry has changed in just 12 years. DC has changed, too. We’re going to be at the brand-new convention center, we have several new hotels we’ll be using for housing, and there’s a lot to look forward to.

Q: Like what?

Beth Ellis: We could only host a “Night at the Museum” opening reception at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in DC! Outside of that movie, how many people ever get to see what the museum looks like after all the visitors are gone? And no one expects to outshine the Hope Diamond, but we’re going to glam things up, too. We’ll have a great dance band and several other entertainers, plus bars and the best hors d’oeuvers in the city – not to mention a few other surprises throughout the museum!

Our education programs are also incredibly strong this year. We kick everything off with pre-convention workshops (that are a great value for intensive training), and we’re hosting the Safety Forum and Energy Forum again. We’re offering 19 technical workshops throughout the NECA Show and an array of management seminars with full registration.

Q: So you’re expecting crowds similar to last year?

Beth Ellis: If registrations keep coming at the same rate, we’ll actually have more people this year than we did last year. The Washington Convention Center is a beautiful, spacious facility and we have plenty of rooms reserved for attendees.

And if you don’t have time to attend the full convention, our weekend packages are a great choice. You get the maximum education and networking opportunities for a minimal time commitment.

But everyone should get their plans and registrations made sooner rather than later – not just for the Early Registration savings, but to make sure they get their first-choice for hotel and travel. There’s so much to do in the city, and October is the perfect time of year to be here.

There you have it: NECA 2013 Washington DC is shaping up to be another blockbuster convention and trade show, with lots of special touches that can only be found in the nation’s capital city. Make your plans to be there today!

Oct 25

Steve Farber is Following Me on Twitter Now

Permit a moment of “told you so” to anyone who didn’t believe in the communication power of social media. Beth Ellis,  NECA’s executive director of convention/expositions, took the bold step of adding a Social Media Wall display to the NECA Show floor, and it has been an absolute hit among attendees, exhibitors and guests.

With four wide screens continuously broadcasting clips from the daily NECA Newscast from San Diego, ElectricTV stories, Chuck Fazio’s incredible photos of events and people from around the trade show and convention on Flickr, plus everyone who uses Twitter with the hashtag #NECA11, the Social Media Wall has been a gathering place to get the latest information about events, 140-character Tweets on sessions, and special deals from NECA Show exhibitors.

I live-tweeted some of my favorite quotes from Closing General Session keynote speaker Steve Farber from this morning’s session, and within a hour, the extreme leadership guru himself was following my Twitter account. He has multiple bestselling books. I … don’t (yet). But in the world of social media, we were able to connect and follow each other’s 140-character musings. That’s the power of social media. And I hope everyone who’s tagged a Facebook photo, added a wall post, or watched the San Diego Newscasts on YouTube enjoys the same sense of connection to their industry as I have this year.

Let us know how you’ve used social media at NECA 2011 San Diego in the comments below!

Sep 20

New at the Closing Celebration: Outdoor Venue and After-Dinner Snack Boxes!

By Beth Ellis, NECA Executive Director, Convention/Exposition

Can you believe that we are now just a month away from the NECA Convention? We have some amazing events and education that we are offering in San Diego, and we’re working hard to make sure every aspect of our convention and trade show offers the best experience for NECA members.

That’s why I want to make sure everyone understands that we are having our Closing Celebration outside the Convention Center by the San Diego Bay, starting at 8 p.m., just as the sun sets. I know the weather will be perfect, the music by Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Band will be fantastic, and the setting will be a ton of fun! We will have an area where you can spread out and dance, or sit on the grassy area on blankets or chairs we’ll have set up. There will be cash bars and cocktails tables for your convenience to have a cold beverage or glass of wine.

To add to the beverage selections this year, we are offering a unique snack box that will have a selection of cheeses, flatbread, fruit and chocolates. The only thing is, I need your orders for snack boxes by Oct. 14! Please download the PDF order form below and fax it to 301-215-4553to order your snack boxes for the Closing Celebration. Boxes are only $9 each and make the perfect  after-dinner snack while enjoying the concert!

Thanks, and l look forward to seeing you in San Diego! If you have any questions about ordering snack boxes for the Closing Celebration, feel free to email katie@necanet.org.

Click here to order your snack boxes for the Closing Celebration!>>

Aug 24

Early Registration Extended Until Sept. 5!

Recent phone and service outages at NECA’s national office means a little good news for procrastinators – the Early Registration deadline for NECA 2011 San Diego has been extended by one week, from Monday, Aug. 29 to Monday, Sept. 5.

Registrants who have not booked hotel accommodations for NECA 2011 San Diego should do so immediately. CMR, NECA’s only housing agent for the events in San Diego, will release any rooms that have not been reserved on Sept. 5.

“We know Monday, Sept. 5 is the Labor Day holiday, so I hope that everyone will take advantage of the extra days the week before the new deadline,” said Beth Ellis, NECA Executive Director, Convention/Exposition. “We’re doing our best to remain available to people who may have questions about registration and housing.”

The best way to reach NECA’s convention staff is a direct email to Beth Ellis at beth.ellis@necanet.org or Katie Nolan, katie.nolan@necanet.org. CMR staff can also assist with NECA 2011 San Diego registration and housing registrations by email to NECAHousing@cmrus.com or phone, 1-800-368-6322 or 415-979-2291 for international calls. You can also comment on this post, our Facebook page or on Twitter.

NOTE: Early registration rates do not apply to pre-convention workshops,Weekend Passes, or the Energy Forum.

>> REGISTER NOW FOR NECA 2011 SAN DIEGO!

Aug 02

Children Welcome at the NECA Show!

Children are welcome at the 2011 NECA Show, just as long as they have a badge for admission and are accompanied by an adult.

But this year, kids aren’t just welcome to check out all the cool exhibits on the Show floor. We’re also opening other NECA Convention activities to kids who are registered with badges and accompanied by an adult.

“We know that kids will want to see the USS Midway up close,” Beth Ellis, NECA executive director, convention/exposition, said, smiling. “If I was a kid who came with my parents to San Diego and found out that I was going to miss out on seeing the most famous aircraft carrier in the world, I’d be a little irritated.”

Ellis said that 2011 marks the 100th anniversary for naval flight, so there will be special exhibits and areas for exploring at the Opening Reception, Oct. 22. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we want everyone in our NECA family to experience it,” Ellis said.


Registration rates for children at NECA 2011 San Diego are:

  • Age 0-6: free
  • Age 7-15: $75
  • Age 16 and up: $360 before August 29; $400 after August 29 (early registration closed)

For kids age 16 and up who simply want to attend the Opening Reception abroad the USS Midway, individual event tickets are $200. The full convention registration for age 16 and up includes admission to all General Sessions, daily lunch at the NECA Show, management and technical workshops, and the Closing CelebrationTo learn more about the 2011 NECA San Diego Convention and Trade Show download the brochure »

>>Register yourself or your children for the 2011 NECA Convention and Show now!

Jun 13

NECA 2011 San Diego Registration Opens June 14

Online registration for NECA’s annual convention and trade show, Oct. 22-25, in San Diego, opens Tuesday, June 14. Early savings for NECA 2011 San Diego events, pre-convention workshops, and the all-new Energy Forum and weekend packages will be available until August 29. Attendees can also make hotel reservations when they register for the meeting.

NECA 2011 San Diego features all the great education and networking events the industry expects from our annual convention and trade show. We’ll have management workshops focused on best business practices and market development tactics, inspiring messages from Gen. Stanley McChrystal and Steven Farber, and hands-on technical workshops right on the NECA Show floor. Popular sessions like the Green Energy Challenge finalist presentation jury, NECA Women’s Peer Group Open Forum, and the NECA Safety Roundtable are also included in the NECA 2011 San Diego full registration package.

Contractors and industry pros who want to pack in as much education with minimal time away from the office can choose from two new weekend packages. Both packages include the all-new Energy Forum on Sat., Oct. 22, and the Opening General Session with General Stanley McChrystal on Sun., Oct. 23, plus Sunday, Oct. 23 management seminars and technical workshops, the grand opening of the NECA Show and the Showstopper Showcase, tradeshow lunch and Sunday daily prize tickets.

For $100 more, weekender registrants can choose the package that also includes the Opening Reception on the USS Midway.

Registrants can fully customize their time at NECA 2011 San Diego with the new ala carte menu which enables you to register for specific events (pre-convention workshops, Energy Forum, opening reception, management seminars, and/or the NECA Show.)

Pre-convention workshops start as early as Friday, Oct. 21 and are priced separately. Registrants for pre-convention workshop are also entitled NECA Show admission, Oct. 22-25, including all technical workshops and access to the Showstopper Showcase.

NECA Conventioneers who stay through to the end will enjoy the waterfront Closing Celebration with Al Jardine and the Endless Summer Band.

Explore NECA 2011 San Diego>>   Register Now!>>

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.