It's Electric!

Visit the Electric Expo 2011!

Each year attendees flock to the exhibit hall to see new products and services, network with vendors, and mingle with not just industry peers, but friends that have been made through various IEC conventions and events. It’s no secret that the exhibit hall is one of the liveliest parts of the convention. This year, enjoy a packed expo hall full of meaningful business opportunities, new information, and special events.

“I attend the Electric Expo because I enjoy the opportunity to meet new people and I get a chance to see new products and talk to the vendors, as well as see old friends.” – Marty Lyts, Beneco

With more than 60 exhibitors (and the numbers are steadily rising!) to visit, you will have a multitude of products and services to browse, such as:

• Wire, cable, and conduit manufacturers 
• Insurance Providers
• Training programs
• Safety products
• Signaling and signage companies
• Construction equipment
• Tools
• Light bulb manufacturers
• Telecommunications providers
• And other electrical equipment manufacturers and service providers 

“I love the camaraderie with everybody and the ability to learn every time I come to the tradeshow. I enjoy seeing new products and technologies that I can bring back to my company and implement.” – Stephen Borrelli, All-Brite Electric, Inc.

Besides buying new products and networking with suppliers, there are also opportunities to have a good time while walking the expo floor. The Apprentice of the Year Wire-Off Competition will be held in the middle of the expo. An attendee favorite, come watch IEC’s top fourth-year apprentices compete in this hands-on leg of the competition.  If your chapter’s apprentice is in the running, stop by to show your support and cheer him/her on!

If you want to shop for a good cause, be sure to visit the LiveWires Silent Auction. Browse different products and bid on your favorites. Last year, the LiveWires raised well over a $1,000 to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Remember, it’s not considered “spending money” if it’s for a good cause!

Get your taste of Kentucky. We are planning on having some fun, Kentucky-themed activities for you to participate in while visiting the Expo. If you can’t make the Kentucky Bourbon Tours (or can’t get enough), then stop by the bourbon tasting table. Do you enjoy a good cigar? Then be sure to stop by the Kentucky tobacco cigar presentation.

To learn a bit more about the IEC Electric Expo, view this short video below: 

If you haven’t been to the IEC Electric Expo before, you are in for a great experience. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind before your trip:

1. Be sure to bring your business cards; you will want to pass them out when meeting vendors.
2. Know your numbers! Have an idea of price points you have in mind for specific products and services. Also know how much money you have in your budget if you wish to make a purchase directly at the expo hall.
3. Come with something to write with/on. If you are serious about purchasing new items for your company, it’s best to take notes to review when you get back to the office. If you plan on making a purchase directly at the trade show, make sure you have your company’s method of payment.
4. Save room in your suitcase. Exhibitors like to give out fun prizes and freebies so be prepared to bring home some SWAG!
5. Here is a piece of advice from IEC member Steve Denier of Denier Electric, “Get to know people; don’t be afraid to go up and talk to someone!”
6. Have fun! As we've stated before, who says you can’t have fun while you learn? Make new friends and business partners. Who knows, they may be a huge help to your career one day. 

Expo Location/Dates:

The expo will be located at the Kentucky International Convention Center

October 13, 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
October 14, 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Interested in exhibiting?

The IEC Electric Expo is a great way to meet the top electrical and systems contractors in the country. For more information on exhibiting opportunities, visit the IEC National website, or contact Rich Ryan at (330) 686-0353. 

Who Says Learning can’t be Fun?

We all know that the main purpose of attending the convention is to learn and network. But nobody ever said that having a little fun wasn’t part of the equation. Before we tell you about the Electric Expo 2011 or the education sessions, let’s talk about some other ways to get the most out of your convention experience.

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tours

As part of the convention, IEC is putting together a tour of Kentucky’s two most famous distilleries: Maker’s Mark® and Jim Beam®. If you enjoy a mint julep, or bourbon straight-up, then you may want to look into registering for this tour.

The tour will take place on Monday, October 10, with buses departing the host hotel at 8:30 a.m. From there, guests will be taken to the famous Maker’s Mark® Distillery for a tour and tasting. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is an important part of Kentucky heritage. It was originally built in 1805, but eventually had to shut down due to Prohibition. Beginning in 1933, America was coming out of Prohibition and the founders of Maker’s Mark® believed it was the perfect time to re-open their distillery. The business wasn’t always an instant success; in fact, it went through many highs and lows including being bought out, trying new formulas, and experiencing the normal ups and downs of running a business. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s that Maker’s Mark® became what it is today. Once on campus, not only will you have a chance to walk through the gardens, tour the many buildings, and see rows upon rows of barrels filled with bourbon, but guests will get to sample various recipes.

After a few rounds of bourbon tasting, guests will then go to lunch in famous Bardstown. Being the second oldest city in the state, Bardstown has its charm and guests will enjoy the home-style cooking of local restaurants and the southern hospitality.

The last stop of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Tour will be the Jim Beam® Distillery. This distillery is the largest in the world and houses the actual home of Jim Beam himself. After touring the idyllic Kentucky grounds, step instead for a brief history lesson in the Stillhouse Exhibit. Guests will then be taken to the oldest rack house on the grounds. If the sweet, warm smell of bourbon is too delicious, don’t worry because there will be a tasting here as well. In the tasting room, you’ll be able to sample a variety of Jim Beam’s® small batch bourbons. 

Once guests have gotten their fill of the famous Kentucky liquor, it’s back on the buses and a return to the hotel around 4:30 p.m., which is just in time for happy hour…or a nap. 

LiveWires’ Spouse/Guest Tour

If you are a spouse or guest of an attendee who is looking for a little adventure during the convention, then IEC has something lined up for you. On Friday, October 14, join the IEC LiveWires for a tour of the famous Churchill Downs, shopping, and lunch. Before Churchill Downs, the group will get to see a short movie on Kentucky heritage and culture at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. Then the tour will continue to the beautiful grounds of the Churchill Downs, the site of the Kentucky Derby. You will be able to see the beautiful rose gardens, white stables, large race track, and of course the main feature…the horses!

Once the tour is finished, guests will be taken to lunch at the Wild Eggs Restaurant, which is consistently voted as having the best breakfast and lunch in the city. After filling up on your favorite egg dish, it will be time to pull out the pocket books and begin shopping in Louisville’s Westport Village. This outdoor shopping complex features mostly artistic and eclectic shops such as Les Filles Boutique featuring custom-made accessories; Amazing Green Planet, which is a store filled with 100 percent sustainable and recyclable materials; Croquis Boutique, a women’s apparel store; and more. Guests will return to the hotel at 3:00 p.m., just in time to get ready for the President’s Reception & Awards Gala.  

Welcome to Bourbon Country!

Image from wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisvile

We’d like to introduce you to the convention’s host city, Louisville, or should we say “Looavull.” Nestled on the Ohio River, it is the Bluegrass state’s largest city. With famous attractions, great food, and a vibrant nightlife, this city is a great location for attendees and their families! Our host hotel, Louisville Marriott Downtown, is just steps away from some of the fun things to see and do in “Kentuckiana.”

Attractions:

Photo courtesy of Greater
Louisville Convention &
Visitors Bureau and gotolouisville.com.

Churchill Downs
Many people know of Louisville for one reason: the Kentucky Derby. Part of the Triple Crown, every year thousands of visitors from around the country flock to Churchill Downs in large hats and mint juleps in hand. No visit to Kentucky would be complete without a glimpse of the white stables or thoroughbred horses. Churchill Downs offers tours throughout the year. The LiveWires will have their annual spouse/guest tour at this venue on October 14, 2011. If you are a spouse or guest, click here for more information. If you are not a member of the LiveWires, but still wish to take a tour of this famous location, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory
Any baseball aficionado, or Carrie Underwood fan, is familiar with the baseball bat of choice…the Louisville Slugger.  Walk through the museum and gain an education on the roll that these bats played not just in baseball, but pop-culture. Tours also include a batting cage where guests try out different bats, a gallery of bats used by baseball legends Babe Ruth and Joe DiMaggio, and more. Want to see how Louisville Sluggers are made? Walk though the factory and watch these baseball bats being hand-crafted. For more information on tours, visit www.sluggermuseum.org.

Muhammad Ali Center
If you’re a fan of World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali, then this museum is for you. Located in Ali’s hometown, this museum will take you on a tour of Ali’s epic life. For more information, visit www.alicenter.org.

Nightlife:

The Urban Bourbon Trail
Kentucky is the home of bourbon, and Louisville is home of the famous Urban Bourbon Trail. After convention events have ended, take to the streets of downtown Louisville and taste different bourbons at the city’s best bourbon bars. If you wish to visit all nine bars on the “trail,” be sure to pick up the Urban Bourbon Trail Passport and get it stamped at each bar. Once the passport is complete, take it to any visitors’ center to get a free tee-shirt and a prize! For more information, visit www.justaddbourbon.com.

Photo courtesy of Greater
Louisville Convention &
Visitors Bureau and gotolouisville.com.

Fourth Street Live
This location has everything: fine dining, shopping, and live entertainment! Live shows are scheduled almost every day of the week, so whether you want to see improv comedy, Irish dancing, or a band, this is the place to gather. For more information, visit www.4thstlive.com.

Good Eats:

Lynn’s Paradise Café
This wacky-looking restaurant is a favorite haunt of native Louisvillans. Featured on the Today Show, and Throwdown with Bobby Flay, the colorful interior is a working piece of art designed by the community. But that’s not what draws people to this restaurant; it’s the down-home style comfort food that attracts people. Fan favorites include buttermilk biscuits with gravy, giant pancakes, and mom’s meatloaf.  For more information, visit www.lynnsparadisecafe.com.

Image from wikipedia.org/wiki/hot_brown

Brown Hotel
If fine dining is more your taste, then be sure to make reservations at this historic hotel restaurant. The restaurant is the birthplace of the Kentucky Hot Brown, which is an open-face turkey sandwich smothered in cheese, bacon, and mornay sauce. A staple of Louisville food, you shouldn’t leave the city without sampling this dish. For more information, visit www.brownhotel.com/the-english-grill.htm.