Vegas Odds Are In Your Favor

photo courtesy Bellemedia | Dreamstime.com

As the pool and spa industry gets set to close the books on another fiscal year, invested parties from across the United States and beyond will again convene in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in search of new products to sell, new ways of working and new business contacts in the hope of doing a bit better in the year ahead. They'll fill rooms in the desert resort with tropical names like South Pacific, Coral and Tradewinds to advance their education, then walk the aisles to collect cards, shake hands and hunt down free swag ("Where'd you get that lanyard! I need one!").

Although the exhibits don't open until Wednesday, Nov. 2, there's plenty going on before that, including the Certified Pool-Spa Operator basic course, which beings on Sunday, Oct. 30, and a wide range of courses for builders, salespeople and service professionals. On Monday alone course offerings include "Keeping Water Where It Belongs! A Pro's Guide To Waterproofing," "Seeing Things Differently" Delivering a New Perspective With Pool Windows," and "Demystifying the Chemistry of Salt Water Chlorine Generation." For a complete guide to the Expo's pre-show plans, see the followng section.

Genesis 3 is also setting up shop, with courses aimed at raising the bar of professionalism and artistry among all levels of watershaping and landscape design and construction. Sections in the G3 schools are filling quickly, and one track, on Twentieth Century Architecture, has already sold out. Other 20-hour courses include "Design Communication — Measured Perspective," which introduces students to rendered drawings and two-point perspective, and "Advanced Fluid Engineering."

On Wednesday, IPSPE's seminar schedule begins in earnest with dozens of different classes offering a wide variety of instruction in all aspects of the industry.

Educational Seminars

CERTIFIED POOL-SPA OPERATOR Basic Course

Sunday, Oct. 30 — 5:00 pm - 8 pmMonday, Oct. 31 — 7:30 am - 6:30 pmTuesday, Nov. 1 — 7:30 am - 6:30 pmTradewinds A

CBP Prep Course

Sunday, Oct. 30 — 8:00 am – 5:00 pmSouth Pacific C

APSP Builder Institute

Monday, Oct. 31

8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. South Pacific C - Seeing Things Differently: Delivering a New Perspective with Pool Windows

10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. South Pacific C - Incomparable After-Dark Visual Effects of Fire & Water

1:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. South Pacific C - Bringing Fire to the People: Barbeques, Fireplaces & Outdoor Entertainment Systems

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. South Pacific C - Keeping Water Where It Belongs! A Pro's Guide to Waterproofing

APSP Builder Institute

Tuesday, Nov. 1

8:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. South Pacific C - Structure Your Marketing to Get the Leads That Others Don't

10:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. South Pacific C - Preparing for the Social Consumer: Social Media and Web Tools You Can Use Now

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. South Pacific C - Why Sales People Fail at Selling Pools (Hint...It Is Not About Price)

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. South Pacific C - Selling & Winning: Battling the Low Bids of Cash-Paying Competitors

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. South Pacific C - Selling and Building the "Million Dollar Pool"

CSP Prep Course

Sunday, Oct. 30

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. South Pacific B

APSP Technical Service Institute

Monday, Oct. 31

8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. South Pacific B - YOU: The Official ADA Expert for Your Customers

9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. South Pacific B - Demystifying the Chemistry of Salt Water Chlorine Generation

10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.South Pacific B - Selecting, Installing & Maintaining Salt Water Chorine Generators

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. South Pacific B - Stains: What are they? Where did they come from?

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. South Pacific B - Traditional Start-Up for Plaster and Other Finishes

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. South Pacific B - Start-Up for Fiberglass and Vinyl Liner Pools

APSP Technical Service Institute

Tuesday, Nov. 1

8:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. South Pacific B - OSHA Safety Training for Technicians

11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. South Pacific B - Lunch and Backstage Tour of Shark Reef Tank at Mandalay Bay

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. South Pacific B - Myths of Metal Staining

2:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. South Pacific B - Acid Start-Up for Plaster and Other Finishes

4:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. South Pacific B - Bicarbonate Start-Up for Plaster and Other Finishes

GENESIS 3 DESIGN SCHOOL

Sunday, Oct. 30 — 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Monday, Oct. 31 — 8:00 am – 5:00 pmTuesday, Nov. 1 — 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Tropics A/B — Design Communication - Measured PerspectiveCoral C — Twentieth Century ArchitectureCoral A/B — Advanced Fluid EngineeringTradewinds B — 3-D Computer Drawing - Part II, A Study in Color, Light and Layout with Markers

Wednesday, November 2

8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Islander E - Renew, Revamp Your Retail Store on a Tight BudgetTropics A/B - VGB Act: Staying Current, A Comprehensive Overview & UpdateCoral A/B/C - Understanding the Unique Challenges of Salt Water Pools Builds Loyal CustomersIslander I - Pool/Spa Builders: Be an Internet Marketing Superstar! Part 1Islander D - Project Profiles - Integrating Water Elements into the Landscape EnvironmentSouth Pacific C - How to Find and Work with a Good Landscape Architect or a Good Pool ContractorSouth Pacific B - The Four Elements of Design in the Pool Industry - An OverviewSouth Pacific A - Advanced Hydraulics of Vanishing Edge and Perimeter Overflow Pools

9:45 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.

Islander G - BUILDER POWER PANEL with Lew Akins, Jeff Fausett, Ron Lacher & Pam VinjeIslander F - RETAIL POWER PANEL with Penny Johnson, Chris Callanan, Matt Gohlke & Shawn MaynardIslander H - SERVICE POWER PANEL with Steve Gorlin, Dave Hawes, Michael Love & Tim McCue

1:30 p.m. – – 2:30 p.m.

Tropics A/B - Certified Aquatic Energy Auditor Introduction

3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Tradewinds A - National Plasterers Council Start – Up Certification Program.

3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Islander E - Romancing Your Retail Customers to Buy with Displays that SellCoral A/B/C - Green RevolutionTropics A/B - Optimizing the Effectiveness of Halogen SanitizersIslander I - Pool/Spa Builders: Be an Internet Marketing Superstar! Part 2Islander D - Understanding and Troubleshooting Chlorine GeneratorsSouth Pacific C - Pool/Spa Service Company Best PracticesSouth Pacific A - Six Keys to Great Fiberglass Pool InstallationsSouth Pacific B - Build a Better Outdoor Kitchen

8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Islander D - How to Hire & Train Employees for Retail Store and Service Department SuccessTropics A/B - Solving The Top Four Pool ProblemsSouth Pacific A - Strategy Shift: Moving from the Defense to the OffenseIslander E - Implementing Ozone as a Secondary Disinfection System in Public VenuesIslander F - A Proper Sales Presentation - The Secret to Selling High End ProjectsSouth Pacific C - How the History of Water Affects Modern Pool DesignSouth Pacific B - In-Floor Radiant Heat - Green and Profitable

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Islander H - Renovation and Remodeling of Existing Pools and Spas - Part A: Options & Design Islander G - The Beauty of the Edge - The Definitive, Internationally Acclaimed Vanishing Edge & Water in Transit Design Islander I - Increase Your Profits with Proper Pool/Spa Job Costing Technique

8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Tradewinds A - National Plasterers Council Start-Up Certification Program

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Islander D - E-Commerce Nuts and Bolts: Basics and Strategies for Pool/Spa/Patio RetailersSouth Pacific A - Human Tech, High Touch: Service Made SimpleTropics A/B - Benefits of Energy Efficiency Legislation and Building CodesSouth Pacific B - Hot Water ChemistryIslander F - Service PanelSouth Pacific C Designing the Outdoor Living RoomIslander E - Gunite and Shotcrete: All You Need to Know

12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Tradewinds A - National Plasterers Council Start-Up Certification EXAM

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Tradewinds B - APSP Certification EXAMS

1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Tropics A/B Certified Aquatic Energy Auditor Introduction

8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

South Pacific C - Black Ink - Cash Flow Management for RetailersSouth Pacific A - Building A Customer Focused Company CultureIslander E - New Regulations and Codes the Pool Professional Needs to KnowSouth Pacific B - How to Work with Your Local Building Inspector for a Win-Win RelationshipIslander G - The Beauty of Glass Tile and Waterproofing ApplicationsIslander I - Profitable and Professional Pool Inspections

8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Islander H - Renovation an Remodeling of Existing Pools and Spas - Part B: Engineering & Construction Islander F - An Inspirational Master Class on Designing & Building Naturalistic Water Features

9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

South Pacific C - C.V.S. Marketing for RetailersIslander G - Social Media Marketing - Getting ResultsSouth Pacific A - Selling Safety = More Pools/Spas, Safer Pools/SpasIslander E - Blame it on the Pool Technician: Avoiding Claims and CourtIslander I - Cutting Edge Hydraulics for Swimming PoolsSouth Pacific B - Edge Pools: Problems and Solutions

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