2024 Philadelphia Convention Agenda
Tuesady, September 17, 2024
Time | Event Name | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
8am – 5pm | Tech Tour | TBD | Wallquest & York Wallcoverings |
Wednesday, September 18, 2024
Time | Event Name | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
9am – 12pm | RIS/WIS Core Skills | TBD | Symphony |
8am – 12pm | Scenics | If you didn’t have the opportunity to participate in the Scenics class at the 2023 convention, here is one more opportunity. The Scenics class is an advanced class. This class is intended for installers with progressed knowledge in trimming techniques, clean table and wall methods, and a minimum of 5 years of installation experience. Class limit: 20 | Aria A |
12pm – 2pm | Hanging Fabrics | TBD | Aria B |
12pm – 1:30pm | Lunch | ||
12pm – 1:30pm | RIS Lunch w/ Mentor | Ormandy | |
1:30pm – 3pm | Scenics | If you didn’t have the opportunity to participate in the Scenics class at the 2023 convention, here is one more opportunity. The Scenics class is an advanced class. This class is intended for installers with progressed knowledge in trimming techniques, clean table and wall methods, and a minimum of 5 years of installation experience. Class limit: 20 | Aria A |
1:30pm – 4pm | RIS/WIS Core Skills | TBD | Symphony |
Thursday, September 19, 2024
Time | Event Name | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
8:30am – 9:45am | Welcome Breakfast | Join longtime member and WIA leader Bill Armstrong as he leads us in the kick-off of this special 50th Anniversary Convention of the WIA. Bill will review our history, the changes the WIA has made in our industry, and what the future holds for our association. | Ormandy |
10am – 12pm | Ceilings | Methods, tips, and tricks will be discussed to make installation of wallcoverings on ceilings easier and less fearful. Safely reaching the work height, measuring for quantity, centering patterns, and the mechanics of getting the material on the ceiling will be demonstrated. | Aria B |
10am – 12pm | Trimming Double Cut | Practices for double-cutting patterned wallcoverings for best match and virtually invisible seams without damaging the underlying wall will be demonstrated. As the digital wallcovering market expands this important technique will increasingly be in demand. Get ahead of the competition by becoming an expert in this critical skill. | Symphony |
12pm – 1:30pm | Lunch on Own | ||
1:30pm – 2:30pm | Estimates | Learn your way through the maze of figuring quantities, time requirements, finish schedules, communication skills, and more in this discussion on how to estimate a job where a site visit is impossible or impractical. This session will provide attendees with the tools necessary to confidently measure and estimate a job without a site visit. | Aria A |
1:30pm – 3pm | Trimming / Wet & Dry | Wet Trimming: This course will provide everything an installer will need to know for wet trimming wallpaper successfully. Important skills, from proper booking of sheets to obtaining the best match possible will be shown and discussed. | Symphony |
3pm – 4pm | Non Woven Panel Discussion | Join in on this discussion on the ever-expanding world of non-woven wallcoverings and wallcovering backings. The panel will be made up of the industry’s experts with knowledge and experience to explain the multitude of different non-woven papers and how they react to various installation techniques and adhesives. As the non-woven market expands, this knowledge will be invaluable to the installers who have the responsibility of getting the product on the wall successfully. | Aria B |
4:30pm – 6:30pm | Vendor Showcase | WIA vendor members will show and share all of their latest and greatest products in the relaxed social setting of this fantastic networking event. This is your opportunity to ask questions and get to know the fabulous associates who have supported the WIA. Don’t miss this fantastic evening! |
Friday, September 20, 2024
Time | Event Name | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
8:30am – 10:30am | Roundtable Discussion | Take part in this popular program where a multitude of topics are discussed, ranging from starting a wallcovering installation business, finding your niche to planning for retirement. Technical topics such as tools and equipment as well as table manners will be discussed. Moderators will guide attendees through this fun, interactive session. | Symphony |
10:30am – 11:30am | Estimating Difficult Spaces | Installers are asked to put up many kinds of wall covering in many kinds of places. The ability to measure these spaces accurately can be a trial. Understanding the formulas to use will save you and your clients time, money, materials, and aggravation. | Aria B |
11am – 11:45am | Mastering Laser Level | We all know that laser levels can plumb a sheet in a hurry. However, there is so much more these devices are useful for. See how to use a laser to maintain patterns over and under windows or cabinets, how to check inside and outside corners for level, and even how to use lasers for ceilings. | Aria A |
12pm – 2pm | Craftmanship Luncheon | This celebration luncheon features a continuous slide show of the fantastic work performed by our installers over the past year. Be a part of this event and show off you’re your own work by SUBMITTING YOUR BEST PROJECTS or just sit back and enjoy the amazing art on the wall created by the membership. | Ormandy |
2:30pm – 4:30pm | What to do from Set Up to Finish | TBD | Aria B |
2:30pm – 4:30pm | Inside/Outside Corners | Some of the trickiest areas we face every day are inside and outside corners. Getting around the corners and onto the next wall level and plumb is a critical skill. This session will show how to predetermine how corners will need to be treated on the job. How to use an extra sheet can save a match, when to split a corner, and when to wrap it, plus a whole lot more will be discussed. | Symphony |
7pm – 11pm | 50th WIA Anniversary Celebration | It’s time to party! Friday night the WIA will celebrate its 50th Anniversary. This fun night will feature the music by the A.M. Radio Tribute Band. Flashback to the 70s with us. Tie Dye t-shirts will be provided to all registered members of the convention to wear. Be sure to include your favorite bell-bottom pants, macrame belts, platform shoes, and retro shades to complete the look. Hors d’oeuvres, an anniversary cake, and a cash bar will be available. | Ormandy West |
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Time | Event Name | Description | Location |
---|---|---|---|
10am – 11:30am | Hands on with Naturals | Naturals, grass cloths, and other textures that have a paneled appearance make up a major part of the wallcovering industry. This session is an in-depth study on how to create works of art, utilizing the paneled effect of these wallcoverings. Seaming techniques, treating inside and outside corners, and more will be shown. Become a specialist in the installation of these materials with skills taught in this session. | Symphony |
10:30am – 11:30am | Creative Kill Points | Finding ways to make virtually invisible kill points by tricking the eye into seeing a flowing pattern that looks like part of the original design will be shown. Learn how to determine the best place for a kill point based on both aesthetics and physical properties. | Aria A |
11:30am – 1pm | Lunch On Own | ||
1pm – 2:30pm | Rigging Tough Areas | This important topic will show the safest way to access difficult areas on job sites, from getting over a freestanding tub to knowing when a site needs to hire a professional scaffold company to rig the job. Best practices to avoid injuries and damage to worksites will be shown. Being injured on a worksite is painful and costly, but often preventable. Help protect yourself by attending this informative session. | Aria B |
3pm – 5pm | WIA Olympics | Wrap up your time at the WIA Convention with this fun and skill-based competition. Skills taught throughout the convention will be used in multiple fun challenges where teams will be scored on creativity, technical skills, and following the theme of each challenge. Learn and laugh while working with your fellow installers. Form a team but don’t forget a creative name and look for your group! | Symphony |
6:30pm – 9:30pm | WIA Farewell Celebration | As is the tradition of the WIA, we close the convention with our Farewell Celebration. A scrumptious dinner will include the presentation of the WIA Member of the Year Award. You won’t want to miss the one last hurrah with your WIA friends and family. | Ormandy |