NECA Chicago 2008 Means Business – And Fun, Too!

Welcome to the first issue of the NECA 2008 Chicago Circuit, an electronic
Chicago
Chicago at night
newsletter offering you an inside look at all the valuable education, networking, business opportunities and fun that await you at NECA 2008 Chicago!This not-to-be-missed event is occurring October 4-7 at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in exciting downtown Chicago.There’s no doubt about it, you’re going to learn something in Chicago, and you’re going to enjoy learning it!

With a variety of valuable educational workshops and seminars, you and your staff will gain the knowledge you need to remain competitive and boost your company’s productivity in an increasingly competitive and challenging environment.You’ll also explore new markets and gain all the leading-edge information and technical expertise you’ll need to break into the rapidly expanding green construction markets.An entire section of the show floor, the “Green Alley,” will be dedicated solely to alternative and renewable energies, so you can meet face-to-face with the manufacturers of the latest environmentally-minded products and services.

Exciting guest speakers, entertainment, and even a private closing celebration featuring Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby are just some of the highlights you have to look forward to, and future issues of the Circuit will give you all the information you need to prepare. But while you’re in town, don’t forget to check out some of the excitement the city of Chicago itself has to offer.

Chicago boasts cosmopolitan culture and scenic lakefront beauty. It’s the ideal place to bring the kids and spend a little extra time. Must-see attractions range from the historic Navy Pier—where NECA 2008 Chicago will be starting off the fun with the Party at the Pier occurring Saturday, October 4 from 6-9pm-- to brand-new Millennium Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo and world-renowned museums. If you’re looking for exciting nightlife, you can catch live blues and jazz in eclectic nightclubs all over town. The city also offers more than 200 theatres, showcasing Broadway musicals, award-winning drama, and hilarious improvisational comedy If shopping is your passion, you’re in luck. The Magnificent Mile, one of the world’s great shopping boulevards, is just steps from downtown hotels, as are chic shops on Oak Street and the historic department stores on State Street. And, if food’s the thing, note that Chicago has been called “America’s Best City for Dining” by the National Restaurant Association. Its 5500+ restaurants feature everything from prime steakhouses to the famous deep-dish pizza that bears the city’s name and every imaginable ethnic cuisine. read more...

Party at the Pier with Your Peers

Party at the Pier
On Saturday, October 4, NECA 2008 Chicago is opening with the Party at the Pier—a night of glitz and glamour you won’t want to miss. This event will take you beyond the velvet ropes to the Navy Pier, transformed into an area made for partying. Part swanky nightclub, part jazz lounge, part dance club, this party will be unlike anything you have ever seen.

While you’re partying on the pier with your peers, enjoy delectable foods and Chicago treats, and sip on designer cocktails or wines served from specialty bar areas. Or choose your poison from the vast circle bar area, sponsored by Autodesk. And what kind of party would this be without music?

Entertainment will be provided by The Pink Flamingos-- a unique show band famed for facilitating audience participation and contagious enthusiasm. For more than 20 years, “The Pinks” have specialized in corporate entertainment. The group covers a wide range of music, and throughout their non-stop performance, they have the audience out of their seats, on their feet, and up on stage. Combining audience participation with choreography; outrageously original costuming; and the best of rock, R&B, disco, country, and contemporary music has earned The Pink Flamingos a reputation as maestros of the magic that brings people together.

With something for everyone, a jazz lounge will also be available for partygoers who prefer a quieter atmosphere.

This is a velvet rope event, so jackets are requested. read more...

NECA 2008 Chicago is the Place to Go Green!

solar
solar panel
This year the NECA convention and trade show is focusing on the green technologies of the future, and the exciting opportunities that exist for your business. After all, your customers are becoming more educated about the alternatives to conventional power generation, such as solar, wind, and biomass, and they want these energy-saving options for their buildings. The installation and use of these alternative methods of power generation take specific skills and awareness of a wide array of new products. Gaining this knowledge is essential to remain competitive in these rapidly expanding markets, and at NECA 2008 Chicago, your business will gain a distinct advantage with all the education, and product information you’ll need to stay ahead of the industry!

Visit the special “Green Alley” section of the show floor, that features the most significant gathering of alternative energy technologies specifically for electrical contractors, and meet with the manufacturers of the latest energy-efficient products that are becoming increasingly important to your environmentally-minded customers.

And while you’re on the show floor, attend a variety of special technical workshops focused on the latest green technologies, such as:

Greenbacks from the Green Movement: Profit Opportunities for Electrical Contractors
Small Wind Systems
Benefits and Applications of Electric Submeters in the “Green Facility” Environment, and
Fuel Cells: Real World Use

Also, be sure to check out the live demonstrations of solar installations right on the show floor. read more...

Culinary Extravaganza with Celebrity Chef

Chef
Chef Art Smith
Art Smith, chef, author, and television personality has brought back meaning and symbolism to the word "table" and has united families and friends through the sharing of a meal. Bringing a whole family to the table in today’s fast-paced way of life is no easy task. In many modern households, family members eat separately, according to their own schedules, on the run, or in front of the TV. But Smith has a few cooking secrets that are guaranteed to make dinner-time, a family time, and he is sharing them at NECA 2008 Chicago! On Monday, October 6, from 10:00-11:30 am, Chef Art Smith will be conducting an interactive presentation of a few ways to tempt your taste buds and bring your family back to the table.

Smith’s long career in the culinary arts includes positions cooking for families all over the globe, including well-known politicians and celebrities. In 1997, he began an 11-year- position as the personal chef to Oprah Winfrey. And last year, Smith opened a new fine dining restaurant in Chicago called “Table,” where he serves handmade, organic foods gathered from some of the best farms in the Midwest. Enjoy this one-time, delectable experience only at NECA 2008 Chicago.

For more information, visit www.necaconvention.org

NECA Chicago 2008 Means Business – And Fun, Too!

Party at the Pier with Your Peers

NECA 2008 Chicago is the Place to Go Green!

Culinary Extravaganza with Celebrity Chef

Inside This Issue

More Information