Tent Conference 2016 recap

More than 100 attendees and 22 sponsors gathered in Las Vegas, Nev., in January for education,and networking at Tent Conference 2016.

The conference kicked off with a golf tournament at the Las Vegas Country Club and a welcome reception sponsored by Anchor Industries Inc., Evansville, Ind., and Rainier Industries Ltd., Tukwila, Wash.

Keynote speaker Chuck Gallagher led off the educational sessions with a presentation on business ethics. Two TRD members who recently sold their businesses, Scott Woodruff of Tent OX, Enola, Pa., and Steve Kohn of CADMYEVENT.com, Lake Worth, Fla., led a panel discussion on preparing a business for a transition. Rob Roberts of Big 4 Party Rentals, Novato, Calif., shared insight on retraining customers, and Ed Hinkle of Labor Relations Services Inc., Newport Beach, Calif., followed with information on managing labor with the increase in demand.

An inaugural “campfire session,” an open-format discussion among tent rental business owners, received enthusiastic feedback. A “breakfast with the sponsors” gave conference sponsors time to talk to attendees about their latest products. Tent Conference wrapped up with a presentation on emergency evacuation procedures by Ken Keberle of Rhino Staging, Phoenix, Ariz., and Maura Paternoster of the American Rental Association.

At its business meeting, TRD announced leadership changes. Mike Holland, Chattanooga Tent, Chattanooga, Tenn., begins a two-year term as TRD chair. Brian Richardson, L&A Tent Rentals, Hamilton, N.J., begins a two-year term as vice chair. TRD members approved Michael Tharpe, Rainier Industries, for a three-year term as a director. TRD thanked outgoing leaders Biff Gentsch, Anchor Industries, who has fulfilled his term as chair and assumes the role of ex-officio, and Dan Nolan, Tents Unlimited Inc., Marietta, Ga., who has fulfilled his term as ex-officio.

Look for details on IFAI Tent Expo 2017 in the coming months.