Albany Event a Huge Success

The Albany Pressure Washing Seminar was a big hit this weekend. Along with my friend and colleague, Greg Mack, I got up in the wee hours of saturday morning to make the 3 hour drive from Vermont to Albany.

The seminar was held at the Holiday Inn in Albany, which was the ideal location. From the moment we registered and entered the conference room area, we were impressed all day long with the with the group of professionals, which was estimated to be around 100 contractors and vendors. There was a pleasing mix of guys who have been to many roundtables and seminars, as well as many folks like ourselves who were attend their first event.

The large conference room was very well-appointed for the event, with a nice p.a. system, a power point screen for presentations, and just the right amount of seating for the number of participants. The schedule of presentations and activities was well laid out by event coordinator Matthew Johnson. We benefitted greatly from Jeff “Condo King” Lecours’ presentation on strategies for growing a pressure washing business. And perhaps one of the coolest parts for us was the opportunity to hear Robert Hinderliter speak. It was really interesting to listen to Robert discuss some of his experiences related to working in different states on matters related to the Clean Water Act.

The educational aspects of the event were very beneficial. We received a clear snapshot of the issues facing the pressure washing industry right now and moving forward. The clear snapshot actually revealed that there is a lack of clarity among pressure washing contractors around the country about exactly what it is that they should be doing in preparation for issues such as tighter regulations on water recovery and disposal.

The opportunity to meet and chat with other professionals was invaluable. I appreciated Carlos’ efforts to reach out to people all weekend long and make personal connections. Especially impressive was Carlos’ passion for the UAMCC and his genuine interest in wanting to learn what we want/need from the organization both now and in the future. It is one thing to read about the efforts of Carlos and the team, but it is very much another to spend time face to face with these guys where you can truly get a sense of their commitment, passion and genuine concern for the pressure washing industry.

Also worth noting, the lunch and dinner buffets were excellent, and the after dinner social gathering in the hotel tavern was one of the best opportunities to relax and chat about business, washing practices and just get to know other event participants better. The supplier representatives did a great job of providing awesome prizes that were given away in drawings throughout the day. Greg Mack and I were both winners in the first drawing, which landed us each a rather large, heavy box from Sunbrite Supply containing a variety of different pressure washing products for several different applications. Thanks, Pete!

In a business climate where we spend alot of time considering return on investment, the cost of admission for an event like this brings a return that can’t be immediately measured in dollars or percentages. I highly recommend it. Thanks to Matt and the gang, as well as every single participant who made the seminar the success that it was.

Scott Burt

www.topcoatfinishes.com