(ARLINGTON, VA – April 12, 2018) Coverings, the largest international tile & stone exhibition in North America, will feature over 45 sessions in the 2018 conference program. Distinguished speakers will share their knowledge and industry insights with Coverings attendees, with conference programing highlighting key topics for the tile and stone industry throughout the May 8-11, 2018 show at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Open to all attendees, the 2018 conference program continues Coverings’ dedication to providing world-class education. Content is tailored to each attendee segment, with programming available for architects, builders/remodelers, designers, distributors, fabricators, installers, and retailer attendees. With CEU credits available, these sessions continue to bring invaluable free education to the show.
Coverings 2018 will partner with industry leaders to present four featured sessions, as follows:
“Developing Our Workforce: Engaging the Next Generation for the Tile and Stone Industry,” addresses the continuing labor shortage and skills gap within the industry, which has had a direct impact on the quality of installations – as fewer qualified installers are available, increasing the number of callbacks due to improper installations. Moderated by Gayle Silvey, Associate Director of the SkillsUSA Office of Education, programming will highlight opportunities to help engage the next generation and grow the tile and stone industry, ranging from apprenticeship programs to local partnerships.
Wednesday, May 9, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute and Director at Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, will show the forecast that will provide clarification, inspiration and/or validation to the upcoming trends that will work best for businesses. Lee will also include helpful insights from her newest book, “The Complete Color Harmony” Pantone edition, Lee will present a session titled: “Focusing on the Future: An In-Depth Look at the Leading Color and Design Trends.”
Tuesday, May 8, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Moderated by National Tile Contractors Association Executive Director Bart Bettiga and Natural Stone Institute CEO James Hieb, “Town Hall Meeting I: What General Contractors & Specifiers Are Saying About the Stone & Tile Industry?” will open attendees’ eyes to what general contractors & design professionals are saying about the stone & tile industry, and the impact on a successful product installation. The knowledge will allow tile and stone professionals to better understand the needs of general contractors and specifiers for future projects.
Tuesday, May 8, 8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
“Town Hall Meeting II: Meeting General Contractor & Specifier Expectations,” a second town hall session hosted by Bart Bettiga and James Hieb, will discuss how to meet the expectations of general contractors and designers. Using the insight gained from the first town hall, this interactive session will include small group discussions designed to learn about partners’ thought processes. Join a small group of 15 industry peers and learn how the stone & tile trades can enhance the expectations.
Wednesday, May 9, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m.
To learn about the full range of conference sessions at coverings visit www.eventscribe.com/2018/Coverings/agenda.asp.
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About Coverings
Coverings is the largest and most important ceramic tile and natural stone trade fair and expo in the United States. It features exhibitors from more than 40 countries and is the stage for introducing some of the most innovative tile and stone products in the world.
The exposition serves as a valuable resource for continuing education for all segments of the industry, with more than 75 informative, accredited seminars and live demonstration sessions throughout the show, all free of charge. Coverings attracts thousands of distributors, retailers, fabricators, contractors, specifiers, architectural and design professionals, builders and real estate developers, as well as journalists and bloggers who cover this vital and dynamic industry.
Sponsors of the show are The Ceramic Tile Distributor Association (CTDA), Tile of Spain/Spanish Ceramic Tile Manufacturer’s Association (ASCER), Ceramics of Italy/Confindustria Ceramica, National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) and the Tile Council of North America (TCNA). The show is managed by Taffy Event Strategies, LLC.
Coverings 2018 takes place May 8-11 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit coverings.com or contact Taffy Event Strategies, Coverings Show Management, 703-539-5504.
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