© 2006 Door & Access Systems
Publish Date: Winter 2006
Author: Tom Wadsworth
Page 50-51

Expo 2006 Increases Appeal to Installers
Las Vegas Hilton
May 17-20, 2006

If you’ve ever considered sending installers to the International Garage Door Exposition, 2006 is the year to do it.

More installers and technicians have been attending Expo, and Expo programming is changing to meet their needs, says Todd Thomas, managing director of the Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation (IDEA). IDEA has responsibility for the educational portion of Expo.

“Technical workshops offered in recent years have been consistently filled to capacity,” says Thomas, “and more dealers have asked for more technical programming for their employees.”

A few years ago, technical workshops for installers were limited to one or two classes on Saturday morning at Expo. In 2006, Thomas says IDEA is responding to dealer demand by producing “the most complete technical programming schedule in its history.” He says this programming change has not reduced Expo’s typical educational offerings aimed at management.

SuperTech II Coming

In 2005, IDEA introduced “The SuperTech,” a new workshop specifically for installers and technicians. The 3-hour seminar focused on non-technical aspects of the business for technicians, such as customer service, quality work habits, communication skills, and safety. The event attracted more than 100 paying attendees.

The SuperTech II, to be presented in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 20, will be a 2-1/2-hour seminar with more audience interaction, but will continue to focus on the non-technical aspects of the job.

Technical Programming at Expo 2006

In the past, some dealers would send installers to Expo for one day only, usually Saturday. But Thomas says Expo 2006 offers enough content to keep a technician busy at Expo for the entire 4-day event.

He says more dealers are recognizing Expo’s potential to increase profitability and refine critical skills for management. The same is now true for field personnel. “Employees are the key to success in the door systems business,” he says, “and it makes sense to invest in their development.”

At Expo 2006, IDEA will debut an enhanced Train-the-Trainer class, presented by Master Trainer Ed Bellock of Chamberlain. Installers can take this class, become qualified trainers, and then return home to teach an installer training course to other installers. Since the Trainer’s class debut in 2001, more than 270 technicians and installers have earned the title IDEA Sanctioned Trainer.

Become a Certified Installer

In addition, IDEA now also offers three certification programs for installers. The Residential Installer Certification program began in 2000, and the Rolling Steel Fire Door Installer Certification program launched in 2003. In 2006, IDEA will add the new Commercial Sectional Installer Certification program.

Expo 2006 includes several programs that are either directly aimed at, or applicable to, installers. See the following list of possible installer events and activities.

INSTALLER EVENTS AT EXPO 2006
Wednesday, May 17

9:00 – 5:00 p.m. Train-the-Trainer Class
9:00 – 5:00 p.m. Certification Testing for Residential Installers, Rolling Steel Fire Door Installers, or Commercial Sectional Installers
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. How to Get the Most out of Expo
8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Getting Out of Jams by Getting Into Jambs
9:30 – 11:30 a.m. Thinking on Your Feet: Presenting Your Ideas With Power and Impact
11:30 – 2:00 p.m. Lunch
2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Taming the Wild Customer
4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Residential Operator Troubleshooting

Thursday, May 18

6:30 – 7:30 a.m. A Training System for the Door Industry
8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Selling Fire Door Drop Test Contracts
9:30 – 1:30 p.m. Free Time – Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. Leadership in the Field
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. Commercial Operator Troubleshooting
5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Radio Frequency Issues for Garage Door Openers
7:00 – 11:00 p.m. Awards Banquet/Herman’s Hermits Concert

Friday, May 19

9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Opening Session with Keynote Speaker
10:30 – Noon Exhibit Hall – Review new products
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall – Review new products
Evening Hospitality events and free time

Saturday, May 20

8:00 – 10:30 a.m. The SuperTech II Workshop
10:30 – Noon Exhibit Hall – Review new products
Noon – 1:00 p.m. Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Exhibit Hall – Review new products

The deadline for advance Expo registration is April 26. Pre-registration for IDEA accreditation or certification testing is May 1. Registration forms are available online at www.doors.org. More information on IDEA testing is at www.dooreducation.com.

What’s New at Expo?
THE TOP TEN

Here’s a quick summary of the top ten new features at Expo 2006:

1. New Certification: Testing begins for the new Commercial Sectional Installer Certification program. (Wednesday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.)
2. The largest number of new seminars ever offered (85 percent are new).
3. New Award: IDEA’s Commitment to Professionalism Award, recognizing an individual or company that has made exceptional contributions to the advancement of industry professionalism. (Thursday Banquet, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.)
4. The largest number of new presenters.
5. Special 2-Hour Seminar: Communications expert and professional actress Chris Casady presents, “Thinking on Your Feet: Presenting Your Ideas With Power and Impact.” (Wednesday, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.)
6. Special 2-Hour Seminar: G.K. Mangelson of the National Foundation for Tax Planning and Asset Protection presents, “Covering Your Assets.” (Thursday, 10:00 – noon)
7. The largest number of technical workshops aimed at installers and technicians.
8. SuperTech II: The new and improved SuperTech … with more time for questions and input from installers and technicians. (Saturday, 8:00 – 10:30 a.m.)
9. New Speaker: John Rose of Media Enterprises presents, “Target Marketing Strategy: Ready, Aim, Sell.” (Wednesday, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.)
10. New Speaker: Greg Hoyle of The Construction Group presents, “Creating Customer Loyalty in a Low Bid Market.” (Thursday, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.)

“We feel this is the best educational schedule ever produced for the Exposition,” says Dan Bernacki, president of IDEA. “All things considered, we have the widest variety of programming featuring the broadest group of presenters aimed at the largest number of audience members in the history of the event.”