San Diego Delights NGPP Convention Goers
NEW: View video of the convention.
The first week in September had a lot going on within the beautiful harbor setting of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers started off the week with a great educational program on” Exotic Wallcoverings”. There were 30 plus installers being taught by six of their best installers on high end wallcovering. Mike Zekich, Safe & Simple, is the current Education Chair and was pleased with the sold out event and is already planning more workshops.
Wednesday, September 5th welcomed the First Timers, Monroe Porter, PROOF Management consultant inspired the leaders of today and tomorrow and later Guild members were presented their anniversary pins at the annual business meeting.
Monroe Porter, nationally known speaker and small business guru, was the keynoter, who offered many pearls of wisdom to the audience on topics “Knowing the Numbers” and “How to Get the Job at Your Price”. The business agenda was followed by a tailgate reception with various vans and vehicles showing organizational tips for the mobile office of the contractor.
We must not forget that every morning for those in the mood, met for a Fit Walk, led by Sarah Smyth , Northeast Regional Director.
On Thursday morning, the School Mural Project was unveiled by Elsie Kapteina, C.P. This was the brainchild of Brian Kehoe, BK Wallcovering, NY. This is a great educational charity inspired work offered to Guild members and chapters to give something back to their communities. There is more information on availability of school murals on the NGPP website.
Phil Reinhard, Reinhard Wallcovering, Galloway ,NJ spoke about commercial contracting and the importance of having the right paperwork. Reinhard was followed by Mike Leon, Luxe Surfaces and Hank Alberts, MDC Wallcovering who gave great insight from the manufacturer’s view for installers in the commercial arena .After the talking was done, attendees got to move to the wall for some expert tips from Dave Garnett, C.P., Garnett Painting & Papering, Coeur D’Alene, ID, Cyndi Green, C.P., Monroe, LA,Eunice Bokstrom, Design Wallcovering Professional Installation, Edmonton, AB Canada.
The afternoon session focused on high-end installation. There was a short explanation of liner paper use by Ed Hovnanian, Cavalier Wallliner. Several manufacturers, Thibaut Wallcovering, Maya Romanoff, Flavor Paper, Silk Dynasty, Jacobsen & Balla, Roos International, Crosspoint Fabrics, Bradbury & Bradbury were highlighted. Representatives gave a little history and installers, Phillip Ostler, Donald Foreman, Gary Lucas, C.P., Randy Greene, Bill Williams, Belinda Comboy, C.P., Cyndi Green, C.P., Jeff Singer and Mark Milgraum then gave attendees a chance to show their skills and fine tune their techniques on the wall.
The Winning Walls With Wallcovering contest winners were announced at Thursday’s luncheon. With over 40 entries, this contest is open to Guild members who wish to enter a work he or she feels is worthy of recognition. The Zinsser Company has been a sponsor for the past seven years. Winners in the Residential Category were: Scott Mulhern, Scott Mulhern Custom Paperhanging, Hopewell, NJ- first place; Glen Olsen, Jr, C.P., V&G Services, Woodbridge, IL and John Damme, C.P., Exquisite Interiors, Hickory Hills, IL- second place; Shelly Wilkins, C.P., Walls Etc, Westminster, MD-honorable mention; winners in the Commercial Category were: Carolyn Greene, Carolyn’s Professional Wallpapering, Northridge, CA-first place; William White III, Robert J. White Company, Cincinnati, OH-second place; Michael Baughman, C.P., Baughman Wallcovering, Oceanside, CA- honorable mention; winners in the Specialty Category were: Michael Baughman, C.P., Baughman Wallcovering, Oceanside, CA- first place; K.L. Conner, Conner Wallcovering Bogart, GA- second place; Michael Baughman, C.P., Baughman Wallcovering, Oceanside, CA- honorable mention. Plaques and cash prizes were awarded .
The tradeshow with 35 plus vendors opened and the attendees were delighted with the new products and many new vendors.
On Friday morning, prior to the tradeshow reopening, Steve Andrews, Roysons Corporation monitored a panel of manufacturers who answered some hard questions and offered sound plans for improving the manufacturer-installer relationship by working together for industry’s upswing. Among the panelists: Mike EuBank, RJF International, Roxanne Smith, OMNOVA Solutions, Steve Niebruegge, Thybony; Mike Leon, Luxe Surfaces; Michael Freedman, Innovations in Wallcovering; Doug Joyner, Thibaut; Irvin Cohen, Washington Wallcoverings; Don Lennon, Len-Tex; Whit Newton, Silk Dynasty; Jon Sherman, Flavor Paper; Tim Quinn, Chesapeake; Brian Murphy, Blonder, Marty Gurian, DesignTex.
Following lunch, Verne Manson, Spectra Paints did an antique tool presentation.
The always popular table tops closed the learning portion of the convention: The table top topics were: “The Winning Walls Contest Entry” by Gerri Beauvais, C.P., San Francisco, CA; “Installing the Bull Nose “by Carolyn Greene, Northridge, CA;”Commercial High-End and Outside Bull Nose” by Randy Greene, Burbank, CA; “Using Padded Seams” by Buffy Groves, Heathsville, VA;” Relaxing Various Papers with Paste” by Mike Koritko, C.P., Fairfield,CT; “Different Adhesives” by Phil Ostler, Ferndale, CA;”Mid-Market and High-End Murals” by Alan Rada, C.P., Brooklyn, NY; “Liners and Blankstock” by Michael Weisbrot, Costa Mesa, CA and “Wallcovering Repairs/ Tricks/Tips” by Bill Williams, Pomona, CA.
The Awards Banquet was the climax of this annual event. President Dave Dibacco, C.P. presented a special presidential award to Cyndi Green, C.P. of Monroe, LA and Belinda Comboy, C.P., New Orleans, LA for their tremendous effort on the reconstruction efforts in New Orleans.
Next Belinda Comboy, C.P. theAwards Chair, and Patti Niehaus, C.P., Convention Chair, presented the awards: The Best Newsletter Award went to Bill Archibald, Norfolk, MA Editor of “Pulp Fusion”Boston Chapter for the second year in a row; The Golden Shears Award for a new and innovative program was awarded to Charles Grippo, Custom Wallcovering, Hartsdale, NY: The Guy Cooper Golden Plumbline Award for an outstanding chapter went to the Connecticut Chapter; The Bob Isenberger Member of the Year Award for an outstanding individual went to Tim Bodine, Professional Wallpaper & Paint, St. Louis, MO; The Skip Lowe Award which goes to an associate member who has given that extra effort for the Guild went to Steve Andrews, Roysons Corporation, Rockaway, NJ; and the Sam Kovnat Award, the highest award bestowed upon a member of the Guild went to Elsie Kapteina, C.P., Wallpaper Hangups by Elsie, Bethel, CT.
Several members were recognized for the extra effort of putting this convention together- Margo and Michael Baughman, C.P. Dave Garnett, C.P. and Patricia Niehaus, C.P., Convention Chair.
The comments have been very positive and the plans are already under way for next September 17-20th in Asheville, North Carolina.
|
Wallcovering WebTechs