2023 SCHEDULE 

Sheraton Monarch Place, Springfield, Massachusetts

(Thursday, January 19th - Saturday, January 21st)

Thursday, January 19-

5:00 - 7:00 pm | Registration Table Open 2nd Floor

6:00 - 8:00 pm | Networking Evening Reception in the Worthy Room 2nd Floor 

Friday, January 20-

8:00 - 9:00 am | Breakfast in Mahogany Room 2nd Floor 

9:00 am - 4:50 pm  | Marine and Awning Seminars in Charles and Highland Rooms 2nd Floor (see full schedule below)

10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Registration Table Open 2nd Floor

12:00 - 1:00 pm | Lunch in Mahogany Room 2nd Floor 

12:00 - 6:00 pm | Exhibitor Set-Up in Ballroom 3rd Floor

2:00 - 4:00 pm | Registration Table Open 2nd Floor

6:00 - 9:00 pm | Party at the Sheraton - “Keeping you In Stitches” with headline comedian Ken Krantz in Mahogany Room 2nd Floor

Saturday, January 21- Expo Day: see who's exhibiting here

8:00 am - 2:00 pm | Registration Table Open 3rd Floor

8:00 - 9:00 am | Breakfast in Mahogany Room 2nd Floor (Full Conference, Friday Day, and Friday Dinner Pass Holders only)

8:30 - 9:00 am | NECPA Annual Board Meeting in Boardroom 3rd Floor (All are Welcome)

9:00 am - 2:00 pm | Expo Show Floor Featuring 40+ Vendors in Ballroom 3rd Floor

Thank you for your interest in the NECPA 2023 "In Stitches" EXPO! 

 Friday, January 19, 2023

Marine and Awning Seminars in Charles and Highland Rooms 2nd Floor

Marine Track – Powered by ATA MFA

(Charles Room 2nd Floor)

9:00–10:30am

How-to session on Dodgers

Presenters: Katie Bradford, IFM, MFC, and Nick Olsen of Custom Marine Canvas (Nick is the stand in for Bob Mills of Wm J. Mills & Co)

In this how-to session on the design and fabrication of dodger covers, we’ll focus on these takeaways:

• Design fundamentals: height, coverage, visibility.
• Frame structure: radius, crown, grab rails, rigid supports and selecting the proper clear material.
• Fine tuning your fabrication and finishing techniques.
  
  

10:45–11:15am

There is more than one way to "Skin" an upholstery project!

Presenter: Tonya Ricketts, The Canvas Lady

Working with pre-purchased skins versus creating from scratch.

11:15–Noon  

Intro Into the Digital World

Presenter: Jamie Marozzi, Bayview Canvas

Bayview Canvas will explain about their experiences of going digital and how they utilize PhotoModeler in their marine canvas shop.

Awning Track – Powered by ATA PAMA

(Highland Room 2nd Floor)

9:00–10:00 am

Equipment Technology in Your Shop

Presenters: Jason Damis, Miller Weldmaster, James Doherty, Autometrix, Mark Horton, Atlantic Awning

Preview equipment technology with experts in the industry and learn about best practices for incorporating technology. 

10:10am–Noon  

Tools Available to Sell and Use

Presenters: Brett Baird, Trivantage LLC on behalf of PAMA Board, Dan Lister, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC on behalf of PAMA; John Tavano, Miami Corp., Mike Cornell, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics LLC, Todd Raskin, Sattler Corp.

Learn about tools and resources available to enhance awning product sales, including awning visualizing and composing tools, PAMA’s energy calculator and American Institute of Architects (AIA) course. Bring your questions and preview the following.

• Awning Composer
• Awning Visualizing Tools
• PAMA Energy Calculator
• PAMA AIA Course
  
  

Noon

Lunch is provided

 

Combined Sessions

(Highland Room 2nd Floor)

Powered by ATA MFA/PAMA

1:00–2:30pm

Interviewing and Hiring Best Practices for Small Businesses

Presenter:  Gary J. Convertino, Ed.D., SHRM-CP/PHR, CPC, Executive HR Consultant and Coach/ 3P HR Consulting & Coaching Description

This abridged “A to Z” presentation will help small business owners navigate the process of hiring and retaining an employee.  This easy-to-understand overview presentation covers:

• What do you know about interviewing? Come find out!
• Developing a job description and posting a job
• The foundation of a good interview
• Steps to ensure a legal, compliant, and sound interview process
• Onboarding a new employee
• They’re hired. Now what?
• Q & A

In this session, you’ll come away with:

1.  Why is it important to follow hiring best practices when I have been doing it "my way" all this time?

2.  What are the ramifications if I don't follow best practices when hiring and interviewing?

3.  Why is it just as important to follow best practices in onboarding after a person is hired?

2:35–4:00pm

Get a Grip on Your Business: Six Keys to Getting What You Want from your Entrepreneurial Company

Presenter: Lisa Manning, EOS Trainer

Our businesses can benefit from a state-of-the-art operating system. Lisa will outline the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model and how it can help you with simple, practical tools that you and your leadership team can use immediately for your business.  EOS is a great tool to manage the vision for your business, focus on priorities, get clear on issues and gain traction together as a healthier leadership team.

EOS helps you get clear on three areas: 

·        Vision: Get everyone in your organization 100% on the same page with where you are going and how you want to get there.

·        People: Surround yourself with great people who will help you achieve your vision.

·        Process: Identify and document your core processes to create consistency and scalability in your company.

4:10-4:50pm

Combined Session: Tools, Tips and Tricks

Share interesting tips and solutions that have helped you to work smarter and discover tricks of the trade in this interactive session.