Keynote Presentation: Becoming an Idea Factory: How to Turn Yourself (and Your Organization) into an Innovation Machine | Thursday, April 18, 2024

Keynote Speaker: Kyle Scheele, The Patron Saint of Crazy Ideas

If there is one belief that is holding you back from getting the most out of your team, it is this one: some people are creative, and some people are not. In fact, creativity is a skill that can be learned. During this session, Kyle Scheele will inspire attendees to harness their own capacity for creativity, give practical tips on how to get more (and better!) ideas out of yourself and your team, and share how to build a culture where innovation thrives.

2024 Economic Outlook | Friday, April 19, 2024

Speaker: Chris Kuehl, Managing Director, Armada Corporate Intelligence

Economic forecasts are constantly changing, and Chris Kuehl knows which trends to watch so that you know what to expect for the rest of 2024. Chris will share his expertise and provide a comprehensive overview of the latest data along with his expectations for the various segments of the U.S. economy, focusing on the domestic construction industry spending for manufacturing, transportation, and the insulation sector.

Sustainability Panel Discussion: Insulation’s Impact on Energy Efficiency and Emission Reductions | Friday, April 19, 2024

Sustainability has been a popular buzzword over the last few years, but how is this movement impacting the mechanical insulation industry? Attendees will hear from panelists on how their companies define sustainability, how it impacts their customers and vendors, and how the industry can work together to gain recognition for mechanical insulation’s role in ESG/decarbonization initiatives.

Reducing Fire Risk at the Perimeter of High-Rise Structures | Thursday, April 18, 2024

This session will focus on basic design features to contain a fire, outline 5 common misconceptions during design and installation, and provide guidelines on proper design. Angie Ogino will also discuss installation quality and reducing fire risk.

Speaker: Angie Ogino, Senior Engineering Lead, Owens Corning

Design Considerations for District Energy Insulation Systems | Thursday, April 18, 2024

District energy systems provide heating and cooling to modern campuses and urban areas. The water and steam piping in these systems introduces some unique challenges for insulation contractors. Alec will also cover the challenges, solutions, and the impact that material selection can have on system performance.

Speaker: Alec Cusick, Technical Lead, Owens Corning

The Amazing Race—Competing for Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction Recognition in a Crowded Space, a Foundation Town Hall Discussion | Thursday, April 18, 2024

With a global focus on carbon emissions, energy efficiency, and sustainability, every industry is competing for recognition of their efforts and contributions to these initiatives. The mechanical insulation industry is no different in its commitment to a more energy-efficient world, and our story and capabilities in this space are unquestionable.

Working diligently behind the scenes to support these efforts is your industry’s Foundation for Mechanical Insulation, Education, Training, and Industry Advancement. Its work to develop and implement strategies to advance and expand the industry is impressive. But how much do you know about the Foundation’s work? Can you name a recent initiative the Foundation has supported? How does this work impact the industry and our specifier, engineer, plant owner, and facility manager audiences as well as your company directly? Join members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and staff for an informative discussion about its industry advancement initiatives, its priorities for the coming years, and learn why the Foundation is so important to the future of our industry. This is an open-format panel discussion where we want your input and involvement.

NIA’s Premier Industry Manufacturer Award Presentation 

NIA launched the Premier Industry Manufacturer Program to recognize and distinguish exemplary companies as industry advocates and leaders. Join us as we find out which NIA member companies will receive the Premier Industry Manufacturer recognition!

2023 Safety Excellence Award 

Join us as we recognize and congratulate the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum winners of NIA’s Safety Excellence Award! This national award is the industry’s highest safety honor and recognizes top companies that have established structured safety programs to ensure the well-being of their employees and create safe working environments. Click here to learn more about NIA’s Safety Excellence Award.

NIA’s Business Session 

NIA’s active members (Contractors, Distributors, Fabricators, and Laminators) should plan to attend NIA’s Business Session, where they will vote on the new members of the Board of Directors.