A Good Investment

The 2012 NOWRA Annual Conference is the place to get knowledge and ideas that can give you a critical edge on your competitors

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As a professional contractor, you might ask yourself: Why would I want to attend NOWRA’s 21st Annual Conference (April 2-5 in Providence, R.I.)?

You may think it’s too far away, too expensive, too technical, not focused on your state’s issues. Any of these may look like valid reasons to stay home, but consider some of the ways you might benefit by attending.

Get a competitive advantage in your market. State onsite conferences are extremely valuable, but it’s much harder to get an edge when everyone in the room gets the same information you do. NOWRA’s conference brings together people from all around the country. Whether it’s through a hallway conversation, a social event, or an education session, chances are good that you’ll get business ideas that your competitors aren’t hearing. Here are some specific ways to get great ideas:

Industry vendors. The conference will feature an extensive trade show with many of the industry’s most progressive companies exhibiting.

Case studies. Examples of new technologies deployed in the field are sprinkled through the management, policy and technical education sessions.

Face-to-face conversations. You’ll have ample time to connect with leading professionals from around the country. Remember: Practitioners from other states aren’t apt to be competitors.

Field trips. The scheduled trips will show you a variety of innovative onsite technologies in action: new treatment processes, soil dispersal systems, solutions for difficult sites, commercial systems, and stormwater technologies based on onsite principles.

Meet your continuing education requirements. In most states, NOWRA’s conference curriculum qualifies for credit hours in licensing or professional certification. That includes the Onsite A to Z Course, offered as a two-day track.

This comprehensive course covers the biology and chemistry of wastewater management, soils and site evaluation, septic tanks, ATUs, media filters, pumps, soil treatment principles, dispersal methods, operation and maintenance. If you’re a seasoned pro, this course can fill gaps in your knowledge; if you’re new to the business, you’ll gain valuable insights about every aspect of onsite wastewater management.

If attending the conference gives you just one good idea that translates into more business, you will more than justify your cost of attending. Wise professionals look at the conference as an investment. Ample research shows companies that invest in their business during difficult times gain market share as business conditions improve.

Registration fees for the NOWRA conference are modest, the hotel is inexpensive, and airfares are reasonable. Visit the conference page at www.nowra.org and see how affordable the cost can be.

You likely have much in common with your colleagues regardless where they are located. For example, nitrogen reduction is a nationwide concern, especially in sensitive watersheds. It’s also a hot topic at the conference, and you’ll have a chance to hear multiple perspectives.

In times when business conditions are tough, it’s difficult to get a leg up on your competitors. Getting ahead takes new thinking and fresh ideas that are difficult for your competitors to duplicate. If you’re looking to make your business grow, NOWRA’s 2012 conference may be just the tonic you need.



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