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IECA’s annual conference Feb. 25-28 in Nashville
Registration is now open for the International Erosion Control Association’s (IECA) Environmental Connection 2014. EC-’14 will include new and interactive education sessions, the largest expo of its kind, and opportunities to develop new business relationships at the world’s largest soil and water event.
There are nine pre-conference courses offered on Tuesday, Feb. 25. These courses do not conflict with expo hall time or technical sessions. This allows you to focus on the course you wish to take without missing out on other conference events. Full-day courses are worth 7 professional development hours (PDHs) or 0.7 continuing education units (CEUs).
Full-conference passes include: access to half-day and one-hour sessions, lunch, and access to Environmental Connection 2014’s expo hall and reception. The early-bird registration deadline is Dec. 13, 2013.
Register today via IECA’s secure, online registration system.
Environmental Connection 2014 also hosts several special events:
Conference meetup
Tuesday, Feb. 25, 5–8 p.m.
After checking in, stop by The Falls—a great place to reconnect before the conference gets under way the next morning.
Opening session and keynote breakfast
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7:30–9 a.m.
“The Cumberland River Flood: Impact & Recovery”
May 2010 brought heavy rain and severe thunderstorms through Nashville, with some areas receiving more than 19 inches of rain. The Cumberland River crested at 51.86 feet, flooding the city and causing $2.3 billion in damage. The Grand Ole Opry and the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, host hotel for EC-’14, were both left several feet underwater. Join us for the IECA opening session where we will be greeted by the mayor of Nashville, Karl Dean. He will discuss the city’s “greening goals,” which rely heavily on water management. Gaylord Opryland Hotel manager, Derek McCann, will discuss the impact the flood had on the hotel’s exterior and interior structures. Nashville’s Scott Potter, director of metro water services, will conclude the address by discussing the magnitude of the flood and the tools put into place for efficient response time in the future. Learn more about the city and how it relates to the industry at the opening session breakfast.
Lunch and awards ceremony
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 12:30–2 p.m.
Join IECA for lunch as we honor the industry’s best and brightest. The Awards for Environmental Excellence presentation will highlight some of the most notable projects, persons, and organizations of the year.
Expo hall lunches
Thursday, Feb. 27, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 28, 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Enjoy lunch in the expo hall before visiting with Environmental Connection 2014 exhibitors. The exhibit hall is open Thursday from 11:45 a.m.–6 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Expo hall opening reception
Thursday, Feb. 27, 3–5 p.m.
Join us for appetizers and drinks in the expo hall on Thursday afternoon for the opening of the Environmental Connection 2014 expo hall. The exhibit hall will be open Thursday from 11:45 a.m.–5 p.m. and on Friday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
Environmental Connection 2014 Closing Bash
Friday, Feb. 28, 4:30–6 p.m.
Plan to stick around and celebrate with IECA for the 2014 Closing Bash extravaganza. The bash will be complete with food, drinks, entertainment, and cash prizes—IECA will be giving out $2,000 in cash. This is a free event for conference attendees—registration for the bash is included in your conference pass.
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center
The Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center offers guests remodeled guest rooms and suites, a completely redesigned Cascades Lobby featuring a VIP check-in area, and a 20,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. Gaylord Opryland also provides business travelers and meeting attendees a central location, 600,000 square feet of flexible meeting, convention and pre-function space, and 263,775 square feet of exhibition space for meetings and other convention experiences.
From now until Feb. 5, 2014, special rates of $159 plus tax per night are available at the Gaylord Opryland Resort: 1-800-429-5673, group name: International Erosion Control Association or IECA; or book online.