Contractors and suppliers offer feedback on the inaugural CPIA Leadership conference, held last year, which featured education sessions, panel discussions and networking events. This year, the CPIA Leadership Conference will take place Oct. 10-13, at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Henderson, Nevada, in conjunction with Technology Publishing Company’s Commercial Contractor Connect event.
Commending the 2021 Event
While the agenda for the conference will be announced soon, members are encouraged to register now, as reservations for premium activities are limited. In addition to networking opportunities in this beautiful, western resort setting, attendees will enjoy educational sessions and meetings with the leadership teams of some of the most successful commercial painting businesses in the world.
Several 2021 attendees have praised the success of the inaugural conference as excitement mounts for the 2022 event in October.
“Overall, it’s a great experience,” said John Jacob, Commercial Division Manager and Senior Project Manager, Hester Painting & Decorating. “The learning that you learn from not only the keynote speakers but the information that you learn from all your colleagues that are in the same field as you has been greatly appreciated and very helpful.”
“Number one, the best thing about these conferences is always the networking and getting to know people,” said John Chisham, Director, gpac. “As a recruiter, I don’t get to meet people face to face a whole lot, so when I can meet some of the people that I’m already working with, some of the contractors I’m already working with it’s awesome. I’ve met a bunch of new people as well.”
In response to if he would recommend the event to a colleague, Chisham answered, “I always do—I’ve been recommending the CPIA. It’s a phenomenal organization. The number one thing I think for me is the peer groups. Being able to talk, vent and share just stories about being in the industry and talking with people that understand the industry is a really huge help. I think the CPIA is the best paint organization out there.”
Some of this year’s group activities feature lakeside golfing at Reflection Bay Golf Club, which is designated as a prestigious Jack Nicklaus Signature Design course, as well as a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, courtesy of Sherwin-Williams. Participants will be flown over the site and then descend to the canyon floor to celebrate with a toast.
Jeremy Barrett, Project Manager and Estimator from Siegner and Company, said his biggest takeaway was “the ability to network with like-minded professionals and just get to know people. It’s been really good hearing some of the sales seminars.”
“Love the networking—meeting companies from around the U.S. and hearing the similar issues they run into and learning from them.” Barrett added he was “definitely” making better connections with the suppliers at the event, and he would “absolutely” recommend this event to colleagues at home.
“For me and our company, I believe that the knowledge to play with bigger dogs than we are is important to learn what we can do right and avoid things that maybe we’ve been doing wrong,” said Amanda Kelley, Owner, Kelley Painting Services.
“My favorite thing about the inaugural event was the networking itself, meeting people who are maybe in the same position I am as far as company goes, my scale of company and to know that we can grow to a bigger company when we have better processes and things in place.”
“I have definitely made better connections with suppliers, with customers, with colleagues. I have had so many great conversations with so many of the folks that are involved in the CPIA. Taking away from the event, I wanted to be more involved and I really want to do more commercial.”
“I would recommend the CPIA to any commercial contractor out there. I think the more the merrier,” Kelley added. “If you are thinking about joining the CPIA, do it! It is worth it!”
Jack Franks, Contractor Development Manager; Lisa Swift, Marketing Assistant; and Glen Wiseman, District Manager, from Wooster Brush Company said they would “100%” recommend the CPIA Leadership Conference to associates.
Franks explained his favorite thing about the conference was the “ability to meet one-on-one with decision makers from commercial contractors.” Swift added she enjoyed the informative panel discussions and roundtables.
“I would also add the comradery we get at dinner and some of the events. It’s time well spent getting to know people from around the country,” Wiseman noted.
“I really enjoyed all the speakers and I have different takeaways from every single one, but I found all of them interesting,” noted Liz Perez-Lavin, President of Service Contracting Solutions. “I thought they had great inputs and came up with different ways to look at strategies on planning and ways to grow our business.
“One of our core values is commitment to growth, so I came here with that mindset of ‘I’m going to learn something so that I can grow and help our business grow,’ and I came out of the conference with so much more. I built some great relationships while I was here, I was able to network not just with vendors, but also with like-minded individuals who are running like-sized companies all over the U.S. It’s been a great experience.”
When asked if she would be returning for 2022, Perez-Lavin replied, “For sure. Count me in!”
Registration for the CPIA Leadership Conference can be accessed here.
Registrants are welcome to invite colleagues and a spouse or significant other. A special rate is offered for spouses/significant others who are not in the commercial painting business. While they will not attend conference sessions, they can enjoy meals, recreational activities, receptions and all the resort has to offer.
If interested in sponsoring the second annual CPIA Leadership Conference, please contact Executive Director Mike Stanley at mstanley@thecpia.com, or call 610-301-4248.
Western Location
The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa by Marriott Bonvoy is located just minutes away from the Las Vegas Strip and is reported to offer dozens of recreational and relaxation opportunities.
Looking out from the resort, and from many guestrooms and suites within the complex, guests attending will be met with stunning views of Lake Las Vegas and the surrounding canyon.
The award-winning Reflection Bay Golf Club, which features a signature Jack Nicklaus-designed course, sits adjacent to the resort. In addition, guests will also find several other onsite amenities, including restaurant and bar options, numerous guest activities such as its full-service spa, fitness center, outdoor pools and beach access.
Reported to be one of Nevada’s most sought-after meeting locations, Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa boasts over 90,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, 25 state-of-the-art meeting rooms and 12 breakout rooms designed to spark creativity and inspire colleagues.
