Your number may be up. It may be as high as six.
As this year's APWA International Public Works Congress
readies for takeoff (Aug. 24-27 in San Diego), it seems more attendees will be
towing a few family members--or perhaps just a simple special someone.
"(San Diego) is a premier location," Dave Dancy,
director of marketing, told Roads & Bridges. "We are seeing an
increase in the number of spouses and guests that are coming with people. It's
exciting to see people wanting to bring their families and make it a family
event."
APWA also is investing in the future with this year's show.
Inspired by John Luthy's Tuesday presentation "Leading the Future: Public
Works Administrators as Community Leaders" (1-2:50 p.m.) event planners
caught on to the idea of a "public works of tomorrow" theme. All
general sessions will have the show's "Future Works" focus as well as
some other educational sessions.
"We didn't start with that specific plan, but based on
member input it became that plan," Karen Wilson, project manager for
APWA's education department, told Roads & Bridges. "Our members are
interested in doing a little bit of strategizing with each other to plan for
the future of public works."
APWA had the right frame of mind when it came to catering to
the demographics of the attendees this year. Due to a heavy Hispanic population
around the San Diego area, all general sessions and select education sessions
will offer simultaneous interpretation in Spanish.
In terms of audience numbers, Dancy expects about the same
turnout as the last couple of years. Over 450 companies will cover over 100,000
sq ft of exhibit space.
"Attendee-wise we're probably looking at an 8% increase
(from last year)."
Forward talk
APWA has bookmarked its keynote presentations with a trio of
well-known authors.
John Naisbitt ("A World Between Eras," Sunday,
Aug. 24, 10-11:45 a.m.) landed a spot on the New York Times bestseller list
with his first book, Megatrends. He has since written eight more novels and is
recognized as the "world's futurist philosopher." To open the
Congress and Exposition, Naisbitt will preview his upcoming book, A World
Between Eras. Naisbitt believes now is the time for society to re-evaluate its
priorities.
John P. Carlos will be the featured speaker on Monday
("Gung Ho!," Aug. 25, 8:30-9:45 a.m.). Co-author of Empowerment Takes
More Than a Minute and The 3 Keys to Empowerment, Carlos will take attendees on
a journey of discovery, describing how to inspire organizations to let go of
old behaviors, systems, processes and policies that no longer support vision
and direction. He'll examine how to create a culture of excellence supported by
committed, energized people.
The first true "future" keynote speaker will be
David Zach ("Blueprint for Tomorrow's Public Works!," Tuesday, Aug.
26, 8:30-9:45 a.m.). Zach is futurist and president of Innovative Future, and
will provide a new perspective on the challenges those in the public works
sector are facing. Zach believes in the capacity of people to imagine
possibilities and find solutions. The session will conclude with some
interactive visioning dialogue.
Sondra Thiederman, Ph.D., will close the show's keynote
presentations on Wednesday, Aug. 27 ("Getting Culture Smart--Strategies
for Making Diversity Work," 11 a.m.-noon).
Thiederman, president of Cross-Cultural Communications and
author of Bridging Cultural Barriers for Corporate Success: How to Manage the
Multicultural Work Force and Profiting in America's Multicultural Marketplace:
How to do Business Across Cultural Lines, will take a light-hearted look at the
challenges and opportunities of cultural diversity. Her philosophy is centered
on the core values of honesty and practicality.
The APWA San Diego affair is stocked with over 150 education
sessions. Those relating to the road and bridge industry are as follows:
Sunday, Aug. 24
2-2:50 p.m.
Five Years Later: San Diego County's Experience with Managed
Competition of Fleet Maintenance Services; and Moving Public Works Emergency
Management from Logistics to Response.
3-3:50 p.m.
Confronting Infrastructure Protection;
GASB 34 and Right-of-Way Management;
How Bakersfield, CA Erased Its Graffiti Problem;
Taking It to the Streets: How Bid-to-Goal Increased
Productivity in Greensboro, NC; and
Technical Updates: Ford Crown Victoria and Diesel Engine
Emissions.
4-4:50 p.m.
Earthquakes: Response and Recovery Times Along Fault Lines;
Regional Alternative Fueling Program; and
Traffic Calming: To Be or Not To Be.
Monday, Aug. 25
10-11:50 a.m.
Terrorism and Crisis Response: The Trauma That Does Not
Bleed. (Super Session)
10-10:50 a.m.
Pavement Preservation Tools: Right Treatment, Right Road,
Right Time;
Synergy: An Integrated Approach to Work and Asset
Management; and
Using Demand-Driven Methodology to Set Arterial Impact Fees.
11-11:50 a.m.
Creating Support for Right-of-Way Management; and
Traffic Signal Preventive Maintenance: It Works!
2-2:50 p.m.
Full-Depth Recycling of Old Asphalt Pavements Using Cement;
Interfacing Handheld Devices with Transportation Asset
Management Services;
Managing Team Diversity;
Streetscapes and Funding Alternatives; and
Using GIS to Improve Refuse Collection and Snow Removal.
3-4:30 p.m.
Creating Livable Communities through Traffic Management.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
1-1:50 p.m.
21st Century Approach to Arterial Street Design;
Americans with Disabilities Act: Practical Compliance
Solutions; and
Partners in Slurry Seal.
2-2:50 p.m.
Quality Partnerships: Tales from the Road to America's
Future; and
ROAD WATCH.
3-4:30 p.m.
Liquid Chemicals in Winter Maintenance: The Pre-Meltdown;
The Road Less Traveled: A Transportation Agency's Bold
Change Process;
The Webbers Fall Bridge Disaster: Lessons Learned;
Using GPS/GIS for Mapping Traffic Signal Systems; and
Work Zone Traffic Control: Compliance and Regulatory
Changes.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
8:30-9:20 a.m.
Alternative Treatments for At-Grade Pedestrian Crossing; and
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: Enhancing the
Streetscape.
9:30-10:45 a.m.
Pavements Life-Cycle Cost Analysis; and
Prioritizing Intersection Improvements: Are You Making the
Right Choices?
