Coverings 2014 Sets Keynote Speakers, Featured Sessions
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The keynote-speaker slate is now set for Coverings 2014 in Las Vegas next month.
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The four speakers – Eric Astrachan, Robert Bacon, Lauren Rottet and Sheldon Yellen – highlight an all-free educational experience that includes more than 80 sessions at the tile-and-stone event on April 29-May 2 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Astrachan will discuss “Hot Issues in Tile Standards and Design” on April 29 at 12:30 p.m. Always a favorite, Astrachan will examine standards-based issues, trends and potential liabilities in an entertaining and compelling fast-paced visual presentation. He’ll also will discuss what is and isn’t working for thin tiles along with design trends ranging from ventilated facades to high-definition digital printing. Astrachan will be joined by Luciano Galassini, deputy director general of Ceramics of Italy, for additional information on thin tiles from an Italian perspective.
Bacon will explore “Natural Stone & Green Design,” also on April 29, at 3 p.m. The session will share how the stone industry continues to reduce environmental impacts through technology advancements and responsible manufacturing and shipping processes. Historical uses of natural stone that have stood the test of time will be discussed, and attendees will learn how key characteristics of stone, such as its life cycle and carbon footprint, satisfy elements of green building standards.
One of the most-celebrated interior architects today, Rottet will present some of the nation’s award-winning hotels and offices on April 30 at noon with “Rottet Style with Stone and Tile.” The seminar, sponsored by Contract magazine, will feature Rottet products of the James Royal Palm in Miami (named Best of Year by Interior Design magazine, among other awards); the St. Regis Aspen (Condé Nast’s “Number One Best Ski Hotel” in 2013); Beverly Hills Bungalows; and The Surrey in New York.
Rounding out the keynotes is Yellen with “Breaking Through Barriers by Putting People First” on April 29 at 9 a.m. The business guru, featured on Undercover Boss, will discuss how he took a $5 million company to a $1.5 billion global leader by putting people first. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how his employees have built a culture of loyalty and compassion and explore how taking the long view, by focusing on the welfare of families of workers and of customers, can reap word-of-mouth business opportunities that no amount of marketing dollars can buy.
Coverings also offers seven Featured Sessions that provide additional vantage points from the tile-and-stone industry:
- “Stone Trends” – Vincent Marazita of Marazita & Associates advises that especially in these lean construction years, it is crucial to understand the direction of the market for dimensional stone. The presentation will provide an overall view of the market and its trends in this sixteenth annual “State of the Stone Industry” presentation. April 29, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
- “A Leading Question: ‘Why Can’t I Generate Leads From the Internet?’” – Marty Gould of Focalize Consulting notes that getting qualified leads is a core objective for nearly every home-improvement business, and that the Internet has redefined everything about generating leads. Gould’s session will provide information that will affect how your online messages can make a big improvement in your results. April 30, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
- “State of the Design Industry” – Randy Fiser, executive vice president and chief executive officer of ASID, will examine where the design industry stands today, as well as where it is headed. April 30, 4–5 p.m.
- “New Harmonies: Changing Themes in Color/Design Trends” – Color guru Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute advises that for most consumers and clients today, color and style coordination in interiors is a consistent goal, but the old rigid color rules have been replaced by more-creative guidelines and options. Eiseman will present an engaging, highly visual program that demonstrates the strongest trends in color and styling families. May 1, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
- “Maximizing Your Retail Space For Stronger Sales and Customer Engagement” – RetailMinded’s Nicole Reyhle will observe how consumers navigate through retail and studio spaces, providing a realistic understanding of how consumers engage in stores, with store associates, products and more. Attendees can expect to stand in the shoes of their customers as they learn best practices in store layouts, displays and customer engagements, as well as how they collectively work together. May 1, 2:45–3:45 p.m.
- “Prospering in Turbulent Times: Strategies for Success” – Knowing consumers have more choices than ever before in today’s hyper-competitive marketplace, Rich Kizer and Georganne Bender share what it takes to be successful with ideas to make your store different, special, and memorable to boost your bottom line. May 2, 9–10:30 a.m.
- “Designing for the Post-Carbon Economy: It’s Zero or Nothing” – Eric Corey Freed, organicARCHITECT, will advise a better way to sell your clients on greening their buildings by examining the emotional, psychological and financial reasons why we design the way we do. The presentation will uncover specific, bold ideas for how to retrofit new and existing buildings. May 2, 10:15–11:15 a.m.
Seminars are organized into customized tracks for each segment of attendees—distributors, retailers, architects, designers, fabricators, contractors, builders and professionals seeking green education—yet remain open to all attendees, based on their individual areas of interest. The Coverings conference component is consistently ranked as one of the show’s most valuable features, and has been a critical element since its inception in 1990. The experience yields unparalleled education and, in most cases, the benefit of highly valuable CEU credits.
Learn more about all of the conference programming by clicking here. Register to attend this year’s show for free at coverings.com.
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