Outdoor demo class

Outdoor demo class

This year’s National Plasterers Council conference proved another brisk affair. Attendance at the event, which took place Feb. 10-12 in Fort Worth, Texas, increased over last, said NPC Executive Director Jeff Henderson, with more than 400 individuals in the classrooms, meetings and vendor show.

The organization introduced a series of outdoor demonstration sessions, showing techniques for applying plaster and exposed aggregate, as well as other related processes. “They were very well attended,” Henderson said. “Next year, we’ll be doing more of those.”

Genesis sponsored a two-day design course before the conference began.

The board inducted new chairman Scott McKenna, president of Gardner Outdoor and Pool Remodeling, San Diego.

The group reports a membership of 500 professionals. NPC has already taken commitments from vendors planning to exhibit next year, Henderson said.

He reported that the conferences have grown progressively more positive each year, as NPC puts its financial troubles allegedly connected to its last association management team behind.

“This year, you could just see where things kind of come a full 180 [degrees], and people are signing up,” Henderson said. “This thing seems to be gaining more and more momentum.”

Attendees were happy with business, he said: “Generally everybody had a good year, so it was a bit of a celebration.”

Next year’s conference will take place Feb. 8-10 in New Orleans.