Coverings 2015 to Feature Conference Program with Industry Authorities

Coverings 2015 LogoCoverings 2015, the largest stone and tile exhibition in North America, returns to the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., April 14 to 17, and the show is slated to feature a robust program of notable, respected speakers. More than 75 educational sessions begin one day before the show proper, on April 13, and they will cover a broad range of topics relevant to the stone and tile industry that are designed to give businesses an edge in today’s highly competitive marketplace.

All educational sessions at Coverings 2015 will be organized into tracks curated for each segment of attendees: fabricators, distributors, contractors, builders, designers, architects and retailers. In addition, a special segment will be provided for professionals wishing to learn about sustainability and green programs. However, sessions are free and open to all exhibitors and attendees, and selection is ultimately based on individual interest.

The conference component of Coverings ranks as one of the show’s most popular features, and it has been a vital element since being implemented in 1990. In addition to providing an excellent educational experience, attendees may benefit by earning valuable CEU credits.

Keynote Sessions

The lineup for the Coverings 2015 educational sessions is headlined by four keynote speakers:

Tuesday, April 14 – 8:00 a.m.
“Industry Update: Latest News on Tile Standards, Specification Issues, and Other Important Developments”
Presented by Eric Astrachan, Executive Director of the Tile Council of North America (TCNA)

Back by popular demand, the TCNA Executive Director will report on industry current events, including regulatory issues, consumption data, changes to standards and the TCNA Handbook. Mr. Astrachan will also discuss a host of other issues and controversies with a focus on how they affect segments of the tile industry. The broad-spectrum update will cover latest developments from the TCNA Lab, the latest on tile and green construction and various pitfalls and liabilities to avoid.

Wednesday, April 15 – 9:15 a.m.
“Interior Design Magazines Hospitality Design Power Panel”
Presented by Edie Cohen, Deputy Editor of Interior Design Magazine

The panel will showcase top designers from Interior Design’s Top 100 Hospitality Giants, who will discuss innovations, trends and developments in hospitality design, growth sectors, and how tile and stone comes into play. Panelists will offer their insight and tips on creating inviting and innovative spaces through case studies, projects and more.

Wednesday, April 15 – 12:00 p.m.
“The Sensuality of Surface”
Presented by Joey Shimoda, Chief Creative Officer of The Shimoda Design Group

The Shimoda Design Group has spent more than a decade crafting spaces that celebrate the sensuality of surface. The firm specializes in creating spaces that elevate each client’s brand vision and the innovative use of surfacing materials that set a tone to deliver a focused message about culture and design.

Thursday, April 16 – 8:00 a.m.
“One on One with Bart Bettiga”
Presented by Harris Rosen, President of Rosen Hotels & Resorts

Bart Bettiga of the National Tile Contractors Association and Coverings’ 2015 Chairman will sit down with Mr. Rosen for a one–on–one exclusive interview that will address the hospitality business, the design industry and his view of the future of design.

Featured Sessions

Coverings 2015 will also offer six Featured Sessions that provide additional vantage points from the stone and tile industry.

Tuesday, April 14, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
“Future Color/Design Trends: Innovation and Impact”
Featuring Leatrice Eiseman of the Pantone Color Institute

Eiseman will discuss how to stay on top of the latest color forecasts in a highly visual world in order to sell products or services, examine how traditional media such as print and TV commercials have become more inventive and sophisticated and how new technologies have introduced unexpected color stories. This session will also address what is driving these color trends and how they impact ones business to better know how to make critical color decisions.

Tuesday, April 14, 10:45–11:45 a.m.
“Secrets to Creating Remarkable Customer Experiences”
Featuring Sandy Smith of Sandy Smith Seminars

Smith’s presentation notes the decreased dependency of the customer on the seller for information due to the emergence of the Internet, identify the escalating expectation of today’s 24-hour customer and highlight best practices of organizations that consistently deliver remarkable customer experiences. 

Tuesday, April 14, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
“Stone Trends 2015”
Featuring Vince Marazita of Marazita & Associates

Marazita will provide an overall view of the market and market trends at this 17th Annual State of the Industry presentation on the dimensional stone marke
t in the U.S. This session covers information, sourcing, marketing and application trends in the stone industry over the last year with examples of award–winning projects that have been recognized for their use of natural stone.

Wednesday, April 15, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
“Designing Wellness”
Featuring Randy Fiser, Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID)

Fiser will advise on how ASID and its members are improving lives through better design in response to the increased attention to wellness. With policy makers and the public focusing on health and wellbeing initiatives, interior designers have taken on a valuable role in this wellness movement.

Thursday, April 16, 9:15–10:15 a.m.
“Design Build Obligations: You May Not Know It, But You Own It”
Featuring Tommy A. Conner of Superior Tile and Stone

Conner will explore Design Build, a project delivery method that provides the owner with a single point of contact for design and construction. This session will provide awareness of the unique financial and liability risks associated with design build that are essential to avoiding unpleasant surprises.

Thursday, April 16, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
“10 Best Practices to Maximize Your Store Experience & Sales”
Featuring Nicole Leinbach Reyhle of Retail Minded

Reyhle will present the 10 best practices in today’s crowded marketplace to help retailers and designers increase their success. This session will review current market trends, in–the–know retail tips, and realistic ways to maximize time and sales. Attendees will have the opportunity to develop a checklist to evaluate their own store best practices to grow beyond existing store goals. These 10 tips may be quick, but they are spot on and will offer effective support in surviving in today’s competitive marketplace.

Learn more about the Keynote Sessions, Featured Sessions and all of the conference programming by clicking here. Register to attend this year’s show for free at Coverings.com.