This year the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) will “up the ante” February 12 – 14 at its IE3 Show held at the Gaylord National Harbor in Washington D.C. The show aims to attract HVAC and plumbing contracting business owners and managers from near and far, and to equip them with tools needed to lead a business head-on. Attendees range from quality buyers and primed buyers to industry experts and competitors.

There are many reasons to attend the 2018 show, but the most important ones include: direct access to contracting business owners who exclusively attend this show, connecting with an audience that has buying power, interacting with customers and sharing information, generating sales leads and new customers, and facing off with your competition.

This year ACCA has put together a new schedule with a lineup of inspiring speakers who will be sure to get the wheels to turn.

Taste the MainStage

An exciting, all-new series of MainStage events bring contractors of all kinds together for dynamic, powerful presentations.

Be sure to check out the main stage events filled with speakers that will give contractors the kick they are looking for. Headliner Baer Jay of HR Photo, the most retweeted person in the B2B marketing world, will present “Turn You Customers Into More Customers,” and discuss how to get your business out of the Stone Age and into the Digital Age. Tune in on Monday, February 12 at 9:00 a.m.

Then on Tuesday at 8 a.m., take a look into ITR Economist, Connor Lokar’s crystal ball. Lokar will share his expertise in the construction industry and understanding of economic trends and implementation into business planning to give attendees a realistic look into the future of HVAC. Lokar will discuss how the industry can adapt to the many rapid changes we’re currently witnessing, as “multinational Internet companies compete for space in this industry.”

Want to know who some of the champion contractors in our industry? Well, you can get to know a few of them and their techniques when the “legends” get together for the MainStage Industry Champion Award Presentation on Tuesday, February 13 at 8 a.m. The program includes the 2018 Residential Contractor of the Year, 2018 Commercial Contractor of the Year, 2018 Skip Snyder Humanitarian Award Winner, 2018 ACCA/Federated Insurance SUPER-S.T.A.R., and more.

Polish the MainStage series off with Wednesday’s Evolve: Go Forward program. Join ACCA Chairman Don Langston of Air Rite Air Conditioning in Huntington Beach, California, and Chairman-elect Steve Schmidt, president of Frederick Air Inc., in Frederick, Maryland, as they lead us forward with strategic priorities for the upcoming year and the years ahead.

Learning labs

Learning labs are designed exclusively for HVACR contractors and are presented by leading contractors in their fields and industry experts. Labs cover a wide range of topics including: building performance, residential, leadership, commercial, business operations, and plumbing and hydronics.

Here is a sample of some of the Plumbing & Hydronics Learning Labs:

• It’s Nocho’ Mother's Boiler!

This Learning Lab features Steve “Wheels” Wieland of NTI who will entertain and teach you new skills that you can use to sell and install high efficiency modulating condensing gas boilers while increasing your bottom line.

• The Truth About Residential Variable Speed Circulators

This program will separate the fact from the fantasy regarding variable speed circulators, explain the reality of electrical consumption and savings, share what the devices really do, and more importantly don’t do. It will also discuss Delta-T, Delta-P, and the real benefit of these amazing devices.

• Networking with HVACR Women Leaders

Attendees can meet and network with women leaders in the HVACR industry and learn what new things ACCA is doing towards diversity and what resources are available to women today to help them navigate the HVACR industry. Network with other women and have some fun while you are at it.

• I NEED HELP! Proven Methods to Find and Keep Experienced Employees

The need for quality employees is a pressing issue for every contractor whether it’s residential HVAC, plumbing or electrical. Joshua Davis of AccuTemp Services and Trevor Flannigan from HomeServiceChats are going to walk you through where and how to get the talent you need to grow. Their combined experience is going to give you the break in the cycle you need to expand your business in 2018.

For a complete listing of plumbing and hydronics labs, visit www.ie3show.com/program/hydronics. Check the website for labs in all arenas.

To get up-to-date information on shows, attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the IE3 Mobile App, which allows you to add your company information, logos, links to your website, and upload sales sheets, press releases, and marketing materials.

Fun zone

If you need to take a load off after a packed day, be sure to pop into the Industry Party sponsored by Emerson on February 13. Word has it that Emerson knows how to throw a good party, so you may want to get in on that.

Then, blast off during the Big Bang event, an experience that will propel you toward new heights with your contracting business. New surprises are in store this year for a groundbreaking event that is part celebration, part motivation.

For more information on speakers, schedules, registration, things to do in Washington D.C. and more, visit ie3show.com.