Attendees of the 2014 Atlantic City Pool & Spa Show have the opportunity to register for the education conference, which offers the opportunity to brush up and improve skills with more than 40 technical sessions and almost 30 business sessions, plus five certification programs.
“We have increased the amount of business seminars,” says Paulette Pitrak, deputy executive director of NESPA. “They have been going over very well the past few years.”
One business class that will help attendees gain valuable skills is “Getting The Most From Microsoft Excel: Working Smarter, Not Harder.” It’s a hands-on, all-day class on Jan. 27 to familiarize participants with the program.
“We’re hopefully trying to teach them the tricks of the trade,” Pitrak says.
Already know the basics of the program? Great! Then “Excelling With Microsoft Excel: Go to the Next Level with Advanced Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts” is for you. The class is on Jan. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
NESPA also added business sessions about employee management in response to survey feedback from previous years.
“So You Think You Know How to Interview? 3 Steps to Become Power Interviewers,” “You’ll Love Working Here: The Performance Power of Workplace Culture,” “What Makes Employees Want To Leave and When To Ask Them to Leave,” and “Good To Great: 4 Things Great Managers Do to Improve Employee Performance” all address employee issues.
“We hope people will take as many business classes as possible,” Pitrak says. “We’d like to see them filled up.”
Returning to the technical seminar lineup is the National Plasterers Council Start Up Certification, which certifies industry members in the NPC method of properly starting up the water chemistry and care of a newly surfaced swimming pool or spa. Other certifications include the National Swimming Pool Foundation’s CPO course and the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals’ Certified Building Professional course.
Technical seminars include separate, additional registration fees and equipment.
Classes that were almost full by presstime included the hands-on specialty spa courses, “Troubleshooting Spa Controls & Equipment Packs with Hands-on Simulator Training,” and “Electronic Controls for Spa/Hot Tubs.”
These courses filling up so early was unusual. “That normally doesn’t happen,” Pitrak explains.
Registration for the conference and specialty seminars is available on the show’s website at www.ACPoolSpaShow.com
