Coverings 2019
When: April 9-12, 2019
Where: Orange County Convention Center
9400 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
Booth 3090
We look forward to seeing many of our members and industry friends at Coverings'19.
Join us for our annual Happy Hour!
When: Wednesday April 10th, 5:30 – 7:00pm
Where: North Concourse Foyer
Coverings 2019 Education Schedule
TUESDAY, April 9
8:30-9:30am
Residential Town Hall Meeting: What Homebuilders & Specifiers Are Saying About the Stone & Tile Industry
Learn from the insight offered by industry influencers and the impact it could have on your stone and tile business. Attend the follow up roundtables for more in-depth discussions and gain greater perspective from our panelists as well as your peers in the industry.
1:30-2:30pm
Whiskey Tango Delta! A Discussion of Stone Tile Deflection Standards
During this session, we will discuss deflections standards and how they affect stone tile installation. Learn about how stone tile is installed on subflooring, underlayment decks, or framing. Come away with a template for selecting the correct stone for each tile application.
1:30-2:30pm
Residential Town Hall Roundtable: Meeting Homebuilder & Specifier Expectations
Join small groups of your industry peers and learn how the stone and tile trades can enhance the expectations of homebuilders and specifiers.
3:00-4:00pm
Knowing Your Rights: Preparing for a Safety Inspection
Join us as we discuss both types of OSHA inspections (Voluntary and Enforcement). Review and inspection checklist and leave this session with a safety program that addresses overall training, recordkeeping, noise and silica exposure, and baseline testing.
WEDNESDAY, April 10
8:00-9:00am
Stone Trends: A Historical Perspective
This session will cover information, sourcing, marketing, and application trends in the stone industry over the last year, including examples of award winning projects that have been recognized for their use of natural stone.
9:30-10:30am
Glues and Adhesives for Fabrication and Restoration
This presentation will focus on the comparative properties of chemicals used in the stone fabrication and restoration industry and will highlight the pros and cons of each. We will also discuss some of the “Dos and Don’ts” when using these adhesives.
9:30-10:30am
Commercial Town Hall Meeting: What General Contractors & Specifiers Are Saying About the Stone & Tile Industry
Hear what general contractors and design professionals are saying about the stone and tile industry. Learn from the insight offered by industry influencers and the impact it could have on your business.
1:00-3:00pm
Fabricator Trend Tour: New and Innovative Products from the Marketplace
The natural stone industry is always changing, and a company’s success can be based on their understanding of new and innovative products. During this interactive tour, visit vendors on the show floor and learn what new products are available to the industry. Come away with a plan to implement new products that could grow your business.
1:30-2:30pm
Commercial Town Hall Roundtable: Meeting General Contractor & Specifier Expectations
Join small groups of your industry peers and learn how the stone and tile industry can enhance the expectations of general contractors and specifiers.
THURSDAY, April 11
8:00-10:00am
Location: Meet @ Exhibit Hall Main Entrance (between S210 & S220), South Concourse
Women in Stone: An Interactive Stone Project Competition
Join Women in Stone for a fun interactive event on the show floor. Teams will work through the material selection, design, and management of stone project scenarios. Several vendors will be identified to aid each team in their project details. A winner will be selected based on creativity and ability to overcome obstacles.
9:30-10:30am
Location: S230E
Natural Stone Building Materials: An Overview of Materials and Specifications
Natural stone is a building material that combines the beauty of nature with the strength of time. The session will review the geology, processing, and applications of natural stone. Come away from this session with a plan to build natural stone into your architectural portfolio.
1:00-2:30pm
Fabricator Forum Breakout Session
The session will include three breakout groups (Technical, Business Administration, and Marketing) where fabricators will discuss top challenges. Participants will then reconvene for a facilitated discussion to recap each topic group. All attendees are encouraged to participate by presenting a problem or sharing a solution.
3:00-4:00pm
Location: S230E
Attracting More Designers to Your Showroom: How to Deliver CEU Courses
This session will showcase how the Natural Stone Institute CEU program works and how to position your company as the leading expert on natural stone in your marketplace. We'll also explore how the various CEU programs work (AIA, ASID, IDC, IDEC, IIDA, NKBA and others) and how to get started giving presentations.
FRIDAY, April 12
9:00-11:00am
Managing a Family Business
Working in a family business can be a challenge. Why are some businesses successful, while others struggle? What are the best practices? Join a panel of stone professionals from three different family businesses as they share their experiences. Plan on joining this robust Q&A session.
