Doubling Down

I am excited to announce the collocating of the 2019 ASCA’s Snow Show and 2019 ASCA’s Executive Summit this summer. Since the ASCA’s inception, we make decisions with our members’ best interests in mind. This was the guiding factor in the decision to collocate our two marque events this year. Contending with one set of travel arrangements instead of two, maximizing networking opportunities, and increasing exposure for our sponsors and partners are a few of factors that went into this decision.

The ASCA’s Snow Show, launched two years ago, is a full-service trade show that combines educational sessions and a supplier-packed exhibition space. This year the show is scheduled for Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesday, July 31 at the Pittsburgh Convention Center. We will kick off the event with five hours of educational sessions running three concurrent sessions. These sessions include hot topics in the snow industry, and critical how-to education members are seeking to improve their ops. Everything from managing equipment and employees to how to properly work with liquids, attendees will walk away from the show with real-world knowledge they can immediately implement into their businesses. Also included in these sessions are our extremely popular panel discussions. Learn from those who have been there already. Top contractors, many of them past Leadership Award recipients, will share their expertise on how they operated their businesses on a variety of topics. For those who want to earn their ASCA-C and are not fans of online learning, you can earn the certification in the two days at the show by attending live 100-level presentations.

Without a doubt, there is something for everyone at the ASCA’s Snow Show.

As the ASCA’s Snow Show winds down, we will transition to the ASCA’s Executive Summit, beginning with a cocktail reception the evening of Wednesday, July 31 at the Omni Hotel. The Omni not only serves as the Snow Show’s host hotel, but it will also house the entire Executive Summit. The conference education kicks off the morning of August 1 with the first of four powerful speakers. ASCA’s Executive Summit, often referred in industry circles as the premium event for professional snow and ice management contractors, is a high-powered educational and networking event focusing on executive-level discussions. Big-picture topics such as personnel, finance, human resources, this is the event contractors come to better their business knowledge.

Another aspect of ASCA’s Executive Summit is the Top 100 and Leadership Awards banquette held the evening of Thursday, August 1. This event brings together the best of the best from the professional snow and ice management industry for a high-powered networking event and celebration of excellence in our industry.

I addition to the great education and networking opportunities, there will also be a special meeting held for all Pennsylvania snow professionals. This meeting will cover specific state needs and a legislative update specific to Pennsylvania contractors. This is a must attend for Keystone State contractors.

We will also have a special legislative session for all snow contractors, reviewing all of the ASCA’s legislative initiatives and what you can do to help.

Finally, there will be a special, members-only session, which will detail some very exciting ASCA announcements.

We are certain the collocation of these events will maximize the experience for all in the professional snow and ice management industry. And as we’re fond of saying: Come for The Show; stay for The Summit.

Kevin Gilbride is the ASCA’s Executive Director. You can reach him at kgilbride@gie.net