New Orleans 2004 Show Guide

One Show
Welcome to ISSA/INTERCLEAN^® New Orleans!

By John Garfinkel, Executive Director

The official Mardi Gras season may be over, but we have plenty of reasons to celebrate at this year’s annual convention and educational conference. Bringing together more than an estimated 16,000 cleaning industry professionals, ISSA/INTERCLEAN^® New Orleans 2004 truly is the ONE SHOW for the cleaning and maintenance industry. Backing up this statement is the addition of multiple organizations collocating their events with us this year.

Just as our members have found value in channel partnering to expand their businesses, ISSA has been working hard to develop and strengthen our alliances. As a result, we are happy to welcome the members of several of our industry partners, such as the International Executive Housekeepers Association, The Association of Higher Education Facility Officers and the National Paper Trade Association, just to name a few. Each of these groups will host their own events in conjunction with ISSA/INTERCLEAN^® and more than 15 distributor and facility service provider associations will exhibit at the show.

To officially kick off this year’s exhibition, ISSA is proud to present keynote speaker former President George H.W. Bush — just two weeks after his son completes his presidential re-election bid. Don’t miss your chance to hear political and business insights from this former head of state as well as pose your own question during the open question-and-answer session following his speech.

This year’s educational lineup is packed with powerful topics that were selected based on recent distributor surveys. If you are looking for the best ways to improve your business and compete in today’s competitive environment, our featured speakers and specialty workshops will give you the edge you need. In addition to Tuesday’s Distributor Educational Conference (starting at noon to help you save on overnight travel expenses), highlights from the rest of the week include the third annual ISSA Women’s Forum, featuring Sara Laschever, author of Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide, as well as a panel discussion led by industry insiders addressing the latest trends in various segments of cleaning.

This year’s trade show floor will feature more than 650 exhibitors presenting the latest products and service enhancements in the industry. In fact, we have many new exhibitors this year who you’ll want to check out November 17-19. Once again, this year, on Wednesday, November 17, while your customers enjoy a full day of seminars sponsored by Contracting Profits and Housekeeping Solutions magazines, you can take advantage of the distributor-only trade show day to network with top suppliers.

One must-see on the show floor this year is the International Pavilion, organized through the hard work of our trade show partner, Amsterdam RAI. Another important stop is the ISSA Resource Center, Booth 2326, where you’ll find a host of new training materials.

You also can try to Beat the Dealer at our Blackjack table to win top prizes or visit the popular ISSA CyberCorner where you can catch up on your e-mail for free.

I look forward to seeing you at ISSA/INTERCLEAN^® New Orleans 2004 — the largest gathering of industry professionals under one roof in the perfect town to enjoy Southern hospitality. This is truly the ONE SHOW for the cleaning and maintenance industry!

Learning Takes Center Stage
Convention Highlights

By Laura Bayard, Contributing Editor

The International Sanitary Supply Association’s ISSA/INTERCLEAN^® New Orleans 2004 trade show is another part of the organization’s ongoing effort to improve and expand its educational offerings. This year’s convention, dubbed the “ONE SHOW,” unites an estimated 16,000 industry professionals from all sides of the jan/san industry and from around the world.

November 16 to the 19, convention goers will attend numerous educational events and will peruse more than 650 manufacturer exhibits that fill nearly 600,000 square feet of space at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Headlining this year’s event is a keynote speech by former U. S. President George H.W. Bush. Besides his role as head of state from 1989-1993, Bush has served as Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National Committee and Director of the CIA, as well as vice president for eight years under President Ronald Reagan. On Wednesday, November 17, Bush will discuss his views of politics and the economy, as well as the current need for strong leadership in the business world.

New this year, the seminars ISSA offers specifically to distributors will begin at noon, instead of 8 a.m., on Tuesday, November 16, allowing attendees to save money on hotel and travel expenses by arriving in New Orleans Tuesday morning. Also new this year is the Certificate Center near the registration area. Distributors who participate in the educational sessions can scan their bar-coded entry badges and print out certificates of completion for the seminars they attended.

A highlight of this year’s show is the addition of several panel discussions, a change based on 2003 feedback from distributors who requested sessions dealing with real-life experiences. At the “Career Coach” question-and-answer session, sponsored by ISSA’s Young Executive’s Society (YES), participants can learn from established professionals about opportunities for advancement in the cleaning supply industry. The “Industry Insider Panel: Cleaning in a New Business Environment” on Thursday, November 18, will feature a group of industry experts who will talk about trends in the cleaning industry and how to deal with issues such as tighter budgets and greater competition. Also on Thursday, the popular Women’s Forum is back for a third year at the conference (reservations are required). During the seminar, “It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask,” Sara Laschever, co-author of the book Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide, will discuss how to make the most of relationships and opportunities, both in business and in life.

Seminar highlights include Dr. Alan Bates’ “If the Economy is Up, Why are My Margins Down,” discussing how distributors can increase profits in today’s changing economic environment. “Tapping the Profit Potential of Communication Skills” by Fred Broder will teach how to create better relationships with clients. Other speakers include Bill McCleave, Doug Levin and Mike Jones. (Click for complete seminar listings)

As in past years, on Wednesday, November 17, distributors will have exclusive access to the trade show floor to meet with manufacturers and other exhibitors, while building service contractors and in-house professionals attend seminars geared specifically to their needs. Thursday and Friday, the show will be open to all members of the cleaning industry.

For more information, visit www.issa.com. ISSA/INTERCLEAN® New Orleans 2004 is the place to be for some of the latest products, information and training in the cleaning industry, as well as an opportunity to meet and connect with fellow professionals from around the world.