GIE+EXPO 2015 Show Preview

By Steve Noe

The epicenter of the Green Industry will be Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 23. That is where and when more than 18,000 people are expected to converge on the Kentucky Exposition Center for the ground-breaking Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO).

And there will be plenty for OPE dealers to see and do at the three-day show.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21 (DEALER DAY)

For starters, the first day of GIE+EXPO will once again be designated as “Dealer Day,” with the show open exclusively to dealers, distributors, retailers and media.

The Equipment & Engine Training Council (EETC) will offer technician training — priced $30-$45 for each class — from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Dealer Resource Pavilion will be open and serve as a home away from home for dealers, with a lounge area for you to take a break, network with peers, and enjoy free Wi-Fi. The pavilion will also be the place for dealership owners and managers to attend free seminars conducted by Bob Clements and his team. The pavilion will feature a model showroom, along with a parts and service department, where Bob and his team will share best practices. The first seminar on “The Seven Principles of a High-performance Dealership” will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Following the seminar, the Dealer Day Keynote Lunch will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Steve McClatchy, president, Alleer Training & Consulting, and author of the New York Times bestseller Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress & Lead by Example, will talk to dealers about the differences between management and leadership, and how both are vital to the success of a team. A $25 fee includes box lunch, and pre-registration is required at www.gie-expo.com. The session is sponsored by Gravely and Stihl Inc.

After the Dealer Day Keynote Lunch, you will receive exclusive access to the indoor exhibits from 3 to 7 p.m., giving you the first look at the latest and greatest products and technology, as well as a chance to meet face to face with suppliers. This is a golden opportunity for you to talk to suppliers about pricing, programs and other private matters without your customers present.

A welcome reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with many exhibitors hosting fun-filled events in their booths. Stihl Inc. will hold a $5,000 giveaway with a single winner being selected at its booth at 6:30 p.m.

Following the welcome reception, the party will shift to downtown Louisville, where a pair of free concerts — courtesy of Dixie Chopper — will take place on the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at Fourth Street Live! From Paris will open at 8 p.m. for headliner Grand Funk Railroad.

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

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On Thursday, the show will be open to all industry participants, with the indoor exhibits and outdoor demonstration area open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Dealer Resource Pavilion — sponsored by ARI Network Services, c-Systems Software Inc., EETC, Gravely, Husqvarna, North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA), and Stihl Inc. — will also be open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

A Dealer Summit — sponsored by NAEDA — will be held from 8 to 10:50 a.m. A Dealer Summit Breakfast — a panel discussion with a light breakfast — will take place 8-9:30 a.m. and feature OPE manufacturers’ representatives, who will address questions and issues important to the future and profitability of dealers. A special report on how dealers can best use social media to connect with landscape contractors and lawn care operators will follow from 10 to 10:50 a.m. Pre-registration is required for both of these Dealer Summit events, with a $25 fee for the breakfast session and a $15 fee for the social media session.

In the Dealer Resource Pavilion, dealership managers and owners can attend seminars by Brian Clements (Bob’s son) on “The Power of Attitude & Choice in Dealerships Today” from 11 a.m. to noon, as well as by Bob Clements on “Making the Most of Your Marketing Dollars” from 2 to 3 p.m.

Following the show, Dixie Chopper will again sponsor back-to-back free concerts by Kellie Pickler and The Crashers, starting at 8 p.m. at Fourth Street Live!

FRIDAY, OCT. 23 (FABULOUS FRIDAY)

Fabulous Friday will be open to all industry participants, with the indoor exhibits and Dealer Resource Pavilion open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the outdoor demonstration area open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A NAEDA-sponsored Dealer Summit Breakfast will be held 8 to 9:30 a.m. and focus on how dealers can meet the needs and expectations of commercial lawn care, landscape and municipal customers. Pre-registration and a $25 fee are required.

In the Dealer Resource Pavilion, dealership owners and managers can attend seminars by Jim Daum on “Uncovering the Mysteries of Compensation Programs for Sales, Service and Parts” from 11 a.m. to noon and by Bob Clements on “Closing More Sales and Negotiating for Increased Margins” from 2 to 3 p.m.

At 4 p.m., the winner of the Fabulous Friday $10,000 giveaway — sponsored by Belgard Hardscapes — will be announced. The winner must be present to win.

After the show ends at 5 p.m., you can stick around for two more free concerts — sponsored by Dixie Chopper — as Lyndsey Henken and The Rigbys grace the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at Fourth Street Live! The concerts kick off at 8 p.m.

REGISTRATION

If you have yet to register for GIE+EXPO, you can receive a 50-percent registration discount — compliments of OPE magazine — by going to http://tiny.cc/m1fd1x.

An early-bird registration of $15 is available through Sept. 10. From Sept. 11 to Oct. 18, registration will be $30. Then, it increases to $60. The 50-percent discount applies at every stage when you pre-register online.

For more information about GIE+EXPO, see the daily schedule that follows on pages 18-19 and visit www.gie-expo.com. Other contact points include: Facebook, info@GIE-EXPO.com, Twitter @GIE_EXPO and (800) 558-8767/(812) 949-9200.

 

GIE+EXPO 2015 DAILY SCHEDULE

The 2015 Green Industry & Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, through Friday, Oct. 23, at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. Once again, Hardscape North America (HNA) will co-locate with GIE+EXPO.

GIE+EXPO will kick off with Dealer Day, open exclusively to dealers, distributors, retailers and media only, on Oct. 21. The show will then be open to all industry participants Oct. 22-23. The annual event is sponsored by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, Inc. (OPEI); Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS); and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) (formerly PLANET).

Following is a schedule of events, but it is subject to change. All events for GIE+EXPO and HNA will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center unless otherwise indicated, and Louisville is on Eastern Daylight Saving Time.
* Note: Pre-registration and/or additional fees are required for activities marked with an asterisk.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 21

Open to dealers, distributors, retailers and media only

7:30 – 9:30 a.m.

* Basic Tech Training. Purge Primer Carburetors – Operation & Troubleshooting, Oregon Forestry Cutting System Maintenance, Pre-delivery Inspection and Quality-of-cut Problem-solving Techniques, Fuel Service Training

8 – 11 a.m.

* Advanced Tech Training. Troubleshooting & Diagnostics of Electrical Systems, Fuel-injection Systems, Hydrostatic Drivetrain Systems, Compact Diesel Engine

10 a.m. – noon

* Basic Tech Training. Purge Primer Carburetors – Operation & Troubleshooting, Oregon Forestry Cutting System Maintenance, Pre-delivery Inspection and Quality-of-cut Problem-solving Techniques, Fuel Service Training

8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

* Latino Link Dealer Breakfast: Growing Your Business by Better Engaging Local Hispanics

Juan Torres, principal & consultant, Next Step Solutions & president, National Hispanic Landscape Alliance (NHLA)

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Dealer Resource Pavilion is open.

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – The Seven Principles of a High-performance Dealership

Bob Clements

Noon – 3 p.m.

* Advanced Tech Training. Troubleshooting & Diagnostics of Electrical Systems, Fuel-injection Systems, Hydrostatic Drivetrain Systems, Compact Diesel Engine

1 – 3 p.m.

* Basic Tech Training. Purge Primer Carburetors – Operation & Troubleshooting, Oregon Forestry Cutting System Maintenance, Pre-delivery Inspection and Quality-of-cut Problem-solving Techniques, Fuel Service Training

1 – 2:30 p.m.

* Dealer Keynote: Lead Your Team, Don’t Just Manage the Process

– Steve McClatchy

Sponsored by Ariens Company & Stihl Inc.

3 – 7 p.m.

Indoor exhibits are open for dealers, distributors, retailers and media.

5 – 7 p.m.

Welcome reception on the exhibit floor for dealers, retailers, distributors and media.

$5,000 giveaway, sponsored by Stihl Inc., at 6:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

Free concert for all industry participants, sponsored by Dixie Chopper – From Paris and Grand Funk Railroad – on the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s Fourth Street Live!

THURSDAY, OCT. 22

Open to all industry participants

8 – 9:30 a.m.

* Dealer Summit Breakfast – OPE Manufacturers’ Panel Discussion

8 – 9:30 a.m.

* Hardscape Workshop A: Paver Installation Essentials

Pat McCrindle, regional sales manager, GST International, Inc.

Breakfast sandwich & coffee provided.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Indoor exhibits & Outdoor Demonstration Area are open.

9:45 – 11:15 a.m.

Latino Link Seminar for Lawn & Landscape Contractors: Building Business by Developing the Latino Workforce (in English)

10 10:50 a.m.

* Dealer Summit Special Report: Social Media Mastery

10 – 11:30 a.m.

* Hardscape Workshop B: Manage, Motivate & Prepare Your Hardscape Team to Crush the Competition

– Jerry Gaeta, Green Industry business advisor and coach

11 a.m. – noon

Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – The Power of Attitude and Choice in Dealerships Today

Brian Clements

11 a.m. – noon

* Hardscape Demonstration 1: Paver Installation Basics

Pat McCrindle, regional sales manager, GST International, Inc.

1 – 2 p.m.

* Hardscape Demonstration 2: Segmental Retaining Walls for Raised Patio Construction

Tim Huinker, construction specialist, Anchor Wall Systems

1 – 2:30 p.m.

* NALP Workshop 1: Lean Landscaping:  How to Turn Wasted Hours into Super Profits

– Mark Bradley, Landscape Management Network

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Latino Link Seminar for Lawn & Landscape Contractors: Staffing up for Success (in English)

2 – 3 p.m.

Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – Making the Most of Your Marketing Dollars

Bob Clements

3 – 4 p.m.

* Hardscape Demonstration 3: Tools for Paver Installation Efficiency

Bill Gardocki, owner, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

Tom Gardocki, hardscape operations foreman, Interstate Landscape Co., Inc.

3 – 4:15 p.m.

Latino Link Seminar for Lawn & Landscape Contractors: Bridging the Cultural Gap (in English)

3 – 4:30 p.m.

* NALP Workshop 2: Maximizing Your Use of New Media to Attract Clients and Network, A Hands-on Session

Jason Cupp, Kincaide, Ltd.

3:30 – 5 p.m.

Dealer Reception – Beer & Hot Dogs in the Dealer Resource Pavilion

8 p.m.

Free concert for all industry participants, sponsored by Dixie Chopper – Kellie Pickler and The Crashers – on the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s Fourth Street Live!

FRIDAY, OCT. 23

Open to all industry participants

8 – 9:30 a.m.

* Dealer Summit Breakfast – Top Customer Panel Discussion

8 – 9:30 a.m.

* NALP Workshop 3: Sustainable Winter Management

– Phill Sexton, SIMA

Breakfast sandwich & coffee provided.

8 – 9:30 a.m.

* NALP Workshop 4: How Can You Do it?

Richard Arlington, Rich Arlington & Associates, National Association of Landscape Professional consultant

Breakfast sandwich & coffee provided.

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Outdoor Demonstration Area is open.

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Indoor exhibits are open.

9:45 – 11:15 a.m.

Latino Link Spanish-language Seminar: What Owners Want from their Latino Leaders

10 – 11:30 a.m.          

* NALP Workshop 5: Estimating and Selling Snow

Mike Mason, CSP, The LawnPro

10 – 11:30 a.m.

* NALP Workshop 6: Customers Count! Simple Proven Ways to Build Enduring and Profitable Customer Relationships

Ed Laflamme, LIC, and Bill Arman, The Harvest Group

11 a.m. – noon

Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – Uncovering the Mysteries of Compensation Programs for Sales, Service and Parts

Jim Daum

11 a.m. – noon

* Hardscape Demonstration 4: Fire Pit and Outdoor Fireplace Construction, Safety, and Design

Carl Peterson, CEO, Outdoor Entertainment Concepts, LLC

1 – 2 p.m.

* Hardscape Demonstration 5: Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement Construction

Frank Gandora, president, Creative Hardscape Company

1 – 2:30 p.m.

* NALP Workshop 7: The Most Overlooked Key to Seven-figure Business Success

Bill Silverman, Springboard Business Coaching

1:30 – 2:45 p.m.

Latino Link Spanish-language Seminar: Winning Over Challenging Customers

2 – 3 p.m.

Dealership Managers’ & Owners’ Seminar – Closing More Sales and Negotiating for Increased Margins

Bob Clements

3 – 4 p.m.

* Hardscape Demonstration 6: Dress-up Your Hardscape Projects and Boost Your Profits

Pat McCrindle, regional sales manager, GST International, Inc.

Jeff Hesser, Mid-Atlantic regional sales manager, Cast Lighting LLC

3 – 4:30 p.m.

* NALP Workshop 8: Using Job Descriptions to Build a High-performance Team That Requires Minimal Supervision

James Huston, J.R. Huston Consulting, Inc., National Association of Landscape Professionals consultant

4 p.m.

Fabulous Friday $10,000 Giveaway. Sponsored by Belgard Hardscapes

8 p.m.

Free concert for all industry participants sponsored by Dixie Chopper – Lyndsey Henken and The Rigbys – on the Nissan Commercial Vehicles stage at downtown Louisville’s Fourth Street Live!

The National Association of Landscape Professionals’ (formerly PLANET) LANDSCAPES 2015 (formerly GIC) takes place Oct. 21-23, and the Professional Grounds Management Society’s (PGMS’) School of Grounds Management will be held Oct. 21-24. For details, see www.landscapeprofessionals.org and www.pgms.org. The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute’s Pre-show Installer Courses are Oct. 20-21; the Hardscape Contractor Executive Workshop is Oct. 21, and Education Sessions run Oct. 22-23. See www.HardscapeNA.com for information.

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