As summer heats up, the storm water industry is gearing up for StormCon, the nation’s largest storm water conference. This August, thousands of industry professionals will take on the heat and congregate in Phoenix to learn about the newest techniques and technologies to meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements.
As storm water management becomes an increasingly important component of pollution prevention, regulations become more complex and solutions become more innovative. In response, StormCon has expanded its offerings to serve this rapidly changing industry. Most notably, this year’s program will include two new educational tracks: Construction Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Low-Impact Development (LID), Smart Growth, and Green Infrastructure. To prelude nearly 40 presentations of cutting-edge projects and research on these popular topics, StormCon will offer two new pre-conference workshops on Sunday, Aug. 20.
Shirley Morrow will teach “Stormwater Compliance in SWPPP Preparation and Construction-Site Inspections.” Morrow established the certified storm water professional training program for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and has trained more than 4,500 contractors.
Larry Coffman, president of Stormwater Services, will teach “Low-Impact Development: Introduction, Applications, and Technical Implementation.” Coffman, a pioneer in the use of rain gardens, is one of the nation’s leading experts on LID technology.
With so much going on in one short week, even a seasoned StormCon attendee easily could be overwhelmed once on the show floor, surrounded by more than 150 vendors exhibiting new gadgets and innovations. For those of you attending StormCon, remember that scheduling is the key to a successful tradeshow experience.
Before the event, I suggest you read through the program carefully and highlight the sessions and events you’re interested in attending. Then create a schedule for each day of the show that includes a couple of educational sessions and a networking event. It seems obvious, but many people tend to overbook, so keep in mind that you can’t be in two places at once and be sure to leave time to walk the floor. With a few “must-attends” penned into your planner before you schedule meetings with colleagues and clients, you will have an easier time balancing educational, professional and social opportunities.
To learn more about what to expect at StormCon ’07, turn to the show preview on Page 36 of this issue of Storm Water Solutions. This issue also includes a special product section featuring new offerings from StormCon exhibitors (see Page 37).
I look forward to seeing many familiar faces and meeting some new ones at the upcoming show—don’t forget to visit Storm Water Solutions at Booth #303!
