NGPP TOOK THE PLUNGE AT NIAGARA FALLS Niagara Falls, NY
September 9-12, 2009
Dayton, OH -- The National Guild of Professional Paperhangers held its annual Convention & Tradeshow in Niagara Falls this September 10-12th. With over 135 in attendance, it was a great show. The vendors and installers spent time instructing each other on new products and innovative techniques for installation. It was hailed as one of the most interactive educational extravaganza ever. The Niagara Falls Conference Center offered room to expand and explore the world of wallcovering installation.
Prior to the start of the convention, on September 9th, there was a Lift Certification (U.B. U’Ren Equipment in Niagara Falls) class where 17 participants became certified on three different lifts, a great tool for the commercial boom in wallcovering. LaFarge Gypsum also hosted an afternoon class in wall preparation. Even some of our more experienced installers learned something new. Later that day seven paperhangers took the Certified Paperhanger exam, proctored by Alan Rada, C.P., Certification Committee Chair. Those seven members now have the distinction of having that coveted C.P. after their names: Mitchell Forry, C.P., Elizabethtown, PA; John Keane, C.P., Burlington, IL; Mike Gorman, C.P., Arlington, VA; Shannon Russell, C.P., Silverton, OR; Bill White III, C.P., Cincinnati, OH; Vincent LaRusso, C.P., Brewster, NY; and Bruce Johnson, C.P., Pomona, NY.
Thursday was the first day of the convention and from welcoming nine first timer attendees to a hands-on “Installing Muslin” presentation by Denis Picard, C.P., Denis Picard Wallcovering, Kensington, CT and Bill Bender, Wallcovering Contractor, Windham, CT to ActionCoach Josh Slavitt presenting a session on “Five Things to Maximize Your Business Profits Now” to a regional networking luncheon, the morning was busy and informative.
A new project “Art of Wall” was unveiled at the luncheon a web program sure to bring excitement to the wallcovering concept. After lunch came a “How Would You” challenge, a team approach to solving dilemmas on the job. Vendors were invited to team up with the installers and got first-hand experience on what challenges the installers face every day. The opening of the Tradeshow using walls constructed for actual demos instead of the traditional pipe and drape proved to be a useful way to demonstrate the use of products. Later the folks gathered for a “Meet and Greet” at the Crowne Plaza. Safe and Simple sponsored this extracurricular part of the program with commemorative glasses to remember our great time in Niagara Falls.
On Friday, the Tradeshow reopened with live demonstrations and great interaction between vendors and installers who participated in the Olympics challenges. “What creative uses of wallcovering” was the most common comment of the judges. Of course, the Winning Walls With Wallcovering contest Luncheon, sponsored by the Zinsser Company, brought the crowd to its feet. With close to 60 entries, this contest is judged anonymously with the help of the PDRA and PDCA finding impartial designers and installers to judge on criteria set up by Chair, Phil Curtis, C.P. Throughout the year, various magazines publicize the entries to show the public what can be done with wallcovering and promote the industry within itself as well to the consumer. Cash prizes and beautiful marble plaques also are presented to the winners. This year congratulations are in order for: First Place winners: Residential Category - Frank & Eunice Bokstrom, Design Wallcovering Professional Installation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Commercial Category - Dennis George, C.P., Hung Right Wallpaper Specialists, LaQuinta, CA; Specialty Category - Sarah Smyth, John J. Smyth LLC, Medford, MA; Second Place winners: Residential Category - Vincent LaRusso, C.P., Time for A Change Wallpapering, Inc, Brewster, NY and Elsie Kapteina, C.P., Wallpaper Hangups, Bethel, CT.
Commercial Category - Cyndi Green, C.P., Cyndi Green Papering, LLC, Monroe, LA and Pam McCartney, Wallpaper Fashions, Mineola, TX and Specialty Category - Michael Kelly, Jr., Michael J. Kelly & Sons, Inc., Wayne, PA; and Honorable Mention winners: Residential Category - Tim Bodine, Professional Wallpaper and Paint, St. Louis, MO; Commercial Category - Frank and Eunice Bokstrom, Design Wallcovering Professional Installation, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and Specialty Category - Phil Reinhard, Reinhard Wallcovering, Galloway, NJ and Cliff Hayes, Best Paperhanging Company, Farmingdale, NJ.
The evening concluded with a truck show and a paste machine demonstration and comparison using a variety of machines.
Saturday, as every other day began with a fit walk under the leadership of Sarah Smyth, Northeast Regional Director. The first presentation of the day was a “Mylar and Foil Demonstration” with Dave Garnett, C.P., Garnett Paperhanging, Coeur d’Alene, ID. This was followed by several sessions: “Five Reasons Not to Have a Website” by Anne Sheer, Sheer Images, Chicago, IL; “Navigating the Website” by Bill Archibald and Mike DiGilio of NGPP; “Small Claims Court and Liens” by Mike Zekich, Safe & Simple, Pasadena, CA; and “Networking via the Web” by Lillian Weist, Lillian’s Interiors, Nashville, TN. After lunch, the “Murals from Inception to Completion” was introduced by Scott Peto, C.P., Restoration Service of Ohio, Middleburg Heights, OH.
There were two separate tabletop demonstration/presentations this year. This is one of the more popular activities and a chance to watch our skilled professionals demonstrate techniques of the job. From trimming to tools to specialty wallcovering to mixing colors, everyone went home a little better equipped to handle their next job.
The Convention concluded at the President’s Reception and Banquet. Awards and an installation ceremony mark this special event. Awards presented: Harold Laffer Award is presented to an individual most instrumental in starting a new chapter. This was presented to Rex Landem, Interiors by Rex Landem/Wallcovering Installations, Arvada, CO for his work on the Rocky Mountain Chapter; Bob Isenberger Paperhanger Member of the Year Award was presented to Alan Rada, C.P. for his contributions to the Guild and industry during the past year; The Best Newsletter Award went to Bill Archibald of the Boston Chapter for their newsletter “Pulp Fusion”.
The Skip Lowe Memorial Award is presented to an associate who has gone above and beyond. This was presented to Greg Laux, MDC Wallcovering for his outstanding work during the year on the convention and other Guild projects. The Guy Cooper Golden Plumbline Award goes to a chapter who maintains membership, great programs and this year Chicago was the recipient, for the second year in a row. The Sam Kovnat Award is the most prestigious award and is awarded to an individual who over a number of years has given outstanding service to the
organization. This year the winner was one of the Guild’s founding fathers, Lou Ligeri, Wallpaper Removal Specialists, Roslyn, NY.
This year a new award was introduced. The Patricia Niehaus Leadership Award named for one of our outstanding leaders, Patricia Niehaus, long term Board member, instructor, Convention Committee Chair and dedicated supporter. Our first recipient was Patricia Niehaus, The Wall Doctor, Bayonet Point, FL. There were also two members inducted into the honorary “Life Member” category Glen Hall, C.P., currently retired in Mexico and Patricia Niehaus, The Wall Doctor, Bayonet Point, FL.
The evening concluded with a champagne toast to the newly installed officers; President Elsie Kapteina, C.P., Wallpaper Hangups by Elsie, Bethel, CT; First Vice-President Phil Curtis, C.P., Curtis Enterprises, South Holland, IL; Second Vice-President Vincent LaRusso, C.P., Time For A Change Wallpapering, Inc., Brewster, NY; Treasurer Jennifer Curtis, C.P., Curtis Enterprises, South Holland, IL; Secretary Cyndi Green, C.P., Cyndi Green Wallpapering, LLC, Monroe, LA; and Immediate Past President David DiBacco, Artistic Designs by David A. DiBacco, Rochester, NY.
A special thanks to Phil Reinhard, Reinhard Wallcovering, Galloway, NJ and the Convention Committee for a great convention.
NGPP TOOK THE PLUNGE AT NIAGARA FALLS
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