Taking in the Experience

It’s February and that means it’s once again time for the Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show in Indianapolis.

While most of this show is geared toward septic pumpers, portable restroom operators and drain cleaners, there is a ton of equipment and sessions to attend even for those in this industry.

Throughout a show floor of over 600 exhibitors, you’ll find hydroexcavators and vacuum excavation tools from many different manufacturers. You’ll also find equipment related to pipe bursting and directional drilling.

If you’ve already made plans to attend the WWETT Show with its education seminars and marketplace Feb. 20-23 at the Indiana Convention Center, we’ll see you there. And while you’re there, be sure to take full advantage and reap these benefits:

1. FIND THE TREASURES

If you’re a contractor looking for that new piece of equipment, this show won’t fail you.

Many exhibitors debut some exciting new equipment at the show. Some of those include never-before-seen trucks that are large but still maintain road-legal weight limits. That new equipment could be different wands and nozzles for those vacuum excavation trucks, or it could be pipe bursting or directional drilling tools.

Look for those innovations. Don’t just walk past that shiny truck; ask the salesperson about any new features that will benefit your crew and customers. Look at all the trucks and equipment and think about how adding it could give you an edge over the competition.

2. Talk to Vendors

Piggybacking off the first item, it’s likely that all the companies that you buy products from are in Indianapolis for the WWETT Show. When you arrive and start looking over the program, map out how you are going to include visits to each of your vendors. Appointments are the best way, but if you didn’t have time to set any up, don’t worry: Many are still available if you just walk up to them.

Make visiting your suppliers a major priority. See their new products, ask about industry trends and find out what they see for the upcoming busy season. Tell them how your business did this past summer and what you plan for the future. They could be full of ideas to help you grow your business.

3. Learn Something New

The WWETT Show features more than 100 educational seminars over three days to help you improve business practices. On Wednesday, Feb. 20 alone, there will be nearly 50 sessions to choose from. Here are a few that might interest you:

Cross Bore Prevention Detection Guidelines — With the number of public agencies using directional drilling, it is of great importance that utilities and municipalities have a set of guidelines to protect both the organizations and their customers. The guidelines include the steps to follow both prior to and after drilling, communication with the customer and documentation.

The Power of Personalization: Building a Brand Experience — Nicole Arnett, vice president of operations at Superior Industrial Services, will talk about building brand identity with topics ranging from choosing the strongest social media platforms to building a sales funnel.

How to Attract, Hire and Retain Rockstar Employees — Carter Harkins and Taylor Hill, co-hosts of the Blue Collar Proud Show podcast, will help contractors analyze leadership failures and successes, engage employees in the work they’re best suited for and look at what companies offer job seekers.

Veteran Hiring, Transition and Thriving in the Workplace – From “We Will” to “At Will” — Andrew Morton, director of social engagement at the Society of Human Resource Management, and Justin Constantine, leadership expert at The Constantine Group, will discuss the best ways to incorporate military veterans into a contracting business through a veterans employment program. Learn how to cultivate a military-friendly work environment and attract more veteran candidates.

ENJOY THE SHOW

Those are only a few simple suggestions of ways you can make the WWETT Show work for you during the three days you are in Indianapolis. If you’re going to the show, don’t be afraid to reach out, I’ll be there as well. Email me at editor@digdifferent.com to set up a meeting.

Enjoy this issue!