NECA 2022 is just around the corner! Starting this Saturday the electrical community is gathering for a few days in Austin to share new products and trends in the industry. We are excited to announce that the Knowify team will be in attendance! Cam, Vin, Jae, and Matty will be ready to answer any questions you may have on how to run a modern electrical business at booth #3124.
We love attending conferences because they offer incredible networking opportunities and we always walk away learning something new. After attending so many, we’d like to share 3 tips to help you navigate these events so that you don’t miss out on anything important.
1. Learn about one topic that you need to improve on most this year
We could spend all day long listening to the curated selection of speakers NECA has this year; but to see real impact on your findings, we’ve found it’s best to focus on one thing at a time. We recommend that you assess what things you’d like to improve in your business and check if any of those are covered in any sessions. NECA has a great schedule where you can find talks organized by track: business development, financial management, productivity, project management, etc.
For us, since the construction industry is facing unprecedented challenges around labor shortage and material costs, two topics that caught our eye this year are change orders and succession plans.
Mon, Oct 17, 8:00 AM – 9:50 AM
Change orders: Getting paid for all the work that you do
by Tamara McNulty, Potomac Law Group
This session will discuss the legal and regulatory framework around change order clauses and best practices for maximizing your return for the work that you perform.
Tue, Oct 18, 8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
Estate and business succession planning during uncertain times
by Mitch McCuistian, Evans & Davis
This session will discuss how to upkeep of corporate documents, liability protection, business entity planning, and business succession planning. It will also cover how the business owners’ own personal estate plan can provide protection and security at an owners’ death or incapacity.
2. See products and services efficiently by planning ahead
More than 300 vendors are expected to be at the Exhibit Hall in this NECA edition. Even though there are two and a half days of open doors to visit them all, come prepared and check the list of vendors ahead of time.
Once you’ve reviewed who is attending, make a list of what tools and services are a priority for you and locate them on the floor plan. The idea is to dedicate day 1 to your most important matters and optimize the route for the top 10 on your list; this way, you won’t waste time walking back and forth between booths. We even recommend reaching out to the vendors that you want to see most before the conference for a chance to schedule time with their reps. If you are interested in building your business with confidence—and need a central platform to run all your projects—you can schedule time with us by emailing us at knowify@knowify.com.
Day 2 and 3 will be backup days for all those interactions that could not happen on day 1. Use these days to explore and enjoy the event, knowing that you have already crossed out most of the items on your list.
3. Stay hydrated
With over 100,000 square feet of exhibits, and thousands of products and services covering all aspects of the growing electrical construction industry, we guarantee that there will be plenty of walking and talking. Don’t forget to take breaks and drink plenty of water. Make sure to bring a water bottle and stay hydrated so you can enjoy all those productive conversations!
The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is a trade association representing the electrical contracting industry. NECA empowers the businesses that make up the almost $200 billion/year industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to communities across the United States. NECA aims to advance the electrical contracting industry through education, research, and advocacy.