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Since 1884, the Painting Contractors Association (PCA) has been devoted to elevating the image and ethics of the painting community. With this goal in mind, PCA is happy to hold its yearly EXPO convention as it represents how the association builds a culture of excellence in the trade.

The national EXPO convention brings together professionals in the industry by providing educational sessions led by seasoned professionals and networking opportunities that will impact all attendees by enhancing business relationships. This year, the EXPO will take place at the Sandia Resort & Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from February 22nd to 24th. We are eager to see what guests will take away from this year’s new events as well as the events that members know and love.

Tried-and-True EXPO Favorites

PaintED Talks

The inspirational PaintED speeches, led by industry professionals, will kick off each day of the convention. Their ability to deliver clear information while empowering professionals in the field makes these Ted-like talks a big focus of the event.

Panel Discussions

One of EXPO’s most thought-provoking features that attendees enjoy is the panel discussions. These panel talks aim to spark conversation among industry professionals and thought leaders so that the audience can gain insight from their discussion.

Brandon Pierpont, the owner of Painter Marketing Pros, will be moderating a panel discussion on brand equity and awareness. In addition, he will be conducting a presentation on the top learnings from his podcast, Painter Marketing Mastermind.

“We’re going to be speaking on patterns that we have identified from 35 of the most successful painting businesses in the country. This will include the recipes and secrets for success,” said Pierpont. “We’re excited to unveil these patterns in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

Brain Meld Roundtables

Brain melds are intimate conversations around a small table where participants discuss their professional worries, annoyances, and failures. Participants exchange concepts and strategies that have benefited their professional development as they connect with potential mentors and lifelong friends.

Networking Opportunities

Throughout the week, PCA’s industry partners will host special, nightly events to extend attendees’ fun and build relationships. Exclusive to EXPO attendees, these events provide the space to connect in a more relaxed environment. The sponsors of these events include Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, PPG, and Behr.

This Year’s Highlights

Women in Paint Happy Hour

The Women in Paint happy hour, sponsored by Behr, is one of the many social networking opportunities of the convention. Maggie Kuyper, chair of the education working group committee at EXPO, is also the founder of the Women in Paint happy hour. These happy hours are typically held via zoom, but EXPO allows the opportunity to bring them in person, which is even more exciting.

“I’m just excited to get everyone in one room and give hugs to these women,” said Kuyper. “We’ve grown together on Zoom and have had a lot of deep conversations about what it’s like to be a female business owner in the industry. I hope to get new women to come in as well. It’ll be nice to meet and network with one another and continue building those relationships.”

Trade Show

The EXPO Trade Show will offer a great chance to discover new technology trends to implement into your business, learn about the most recent painting tools and supplies, get business management and marketing insights, and connect with top manufacturers and industry experts.

Industry Awards

PCA is aware of how important it is to recognize the accomplishments and dedication of its members to encourage and congratulate them. As a result, we will recognize fifteen PCA members at EXPO 2023 for their commitment to their businesses and the trade. The awards will be presented for both craft and leadership at the luncheon held on Friday.

New for 2023

Fix My Business Panel Discussion

Expert panelists will tackle business challenges from the audience and provide real-time solutions. Attendees are encouraged to bring their challenges and be prepared to unpack and examine them from a multidimensional perspective.

Paint-It-Forward Event

On February 21st, the day before the EXPO convention officially begins, PCA will host its inaugural Paint-It-Forward Event. The Painting Services will benefit The City of Albuquerque Gibson Medical Hub. As part of the city’s larger “One Albuquerque” initiative, the goal is to restore the facility to its former glory by creating a hub of resources for people experiencing homelessness. PCA’s Paint-It-Forward project will focus primarily on bringing the interior entrance back to life by restoring and repainting the iconic lobby. Be sure to check the box to participate in the Paint-It-Forward project when you register for EXPO.

Providing Useful Information as Effectively as Possible

EXPO provides attendees with so much helpful information. All the individuals on the education committee worked hard to bring the highest quality of content to the EXPO. Considering the amount of content, they wanted to be sure attendees will retain as much as possible.

“We’ve gotten feedback from attendees that the event is great, but the amount of information can be overwhelming,” said Kuyper.

To provide relevant information that can be processed and useful to every attendee, event’s content was split up into themes. Marketing, Leadership and Personal Development, and Operations are the three main topics that will be focused on throughout the week of EXPO. By being dedicated to one theme a day, PCA and the education committee of EXPO are confident that attendees will get more out of the contents of the event that way.

Register for EXPO Today!

EXPO is a fantastic event that PCA hopes painting business owners will take advantage of to expand their businesses, promote their careers, widen their horizons, and proudly contribute to the and growth of the industry.

“The PCA itself is growing, and the EXPO is growing in a long step. I think the content gets better every year.  It gives you valuable information to work through when you get home,” said Pierpont.

To register for EXPO, go to pcapainted.org/expo. PCA members receive $250 off onsite registration pricing. For any questions regarding EXPO or how to register, email our member resources coordinator, at support@pcapainted.org We hope to see you at EXPO 2023!

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