About the author: Caitlin Cunningham is managing editor of Storm Water Solutions. Cunningham can be reached at 847.391.1025 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Pack up your golf clubs and mouse ears—the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) is hosting its annual world’s-largest soil and water event in Orlando, Fla. EC08 is set to take place at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort Feb. 18 to 22.
IECA encourages contractors, engineers, regulators, consultants and other industry professionals and interested parties to attend the weeklong event through its “Drive Your Future” theme. The erosion control and storm water community will come together to connect with like-minded experts, learn from others’ trials and triumphs and discover the latest and most efficient products and technologies.
Get Schooled
Registrants may take advantage of full- and half-day training courses at EC08, as well as shorter, topical technical sessions presented in case study, technical paper, forum, workshop and poster presentation formats.
The event’s educational offerings will be organized into seven categories: slope stabilization; stream restoration; vegetative establishment; storm water management; wetlands technology; erosion and sediment control; and beach and shoreline stabilization.
Opportunities range from “The Mike and Chuck Excellent Adventure: BMPs with Field Trip” and Greenwood Urban Wetland retrofit site tour to “How to Design Natural Channels Using Principles of Geomorphology” and a forum on post-hurricane Louisiana coastal protection.
New for 2008 is a business development track featuring courses such as “Business Development Basics” and “Estimating and Bidding;” the track aims to provide advice for running a smooth, competitive and profitable enterprise. Also, individuals interested in obtaining Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC) and Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ) titles may take advantage of CPESC and CPSWQ review courses and examinations.
Have a Ball
EC08 is designed so participants can merge business with pleasure. The exposition kicks off with a grand opening celebration Feb. 19. The show floor will open again during select hours Feb. 20 and 21.
Keynote speaker Chad Pregracke, founder and president of Living Lands & Waters, will share his story of helping clean U.S. rivers at EC08’s general session on Feb. 20. Other special events include a Feb. 18 orientation party, the Feb. 20 Chapter Challenge HydRodeo and a Feb. 21 5K charity run/walk benefiting IECA’s SOIL fund.
Finally, Disney’s Coronado Springs is located in the Animal Kingdom Resort area, giving guests convenient access to all four Walt Disney World theme parks, championship golf courses and entertainment districts. So sneak in some tourist time and bring along family and friends—IECA has arranged special tours to keep them busy.
Editor’s note: EC09 is scheduled to take place Feb. 9 to 12 at the Reno Convention Center and Atlantis Casino Hotel in Reno, Nev. For more EC08 information and to register, visit www.ieca.org/conference.
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