NAPP Cancels Las Vegas Conference and Expo

Release Date: February 3rd, 2012

After a conference call with our Board of Directors on Wednesday, February 1, we have made the decision to cancel the NAPP Conference and Expo scheduled for February 26 - 28 in Las Vegas, NV. While we did have an adequate number of exhibitors and attendees signed up to make the function a break-even proposition, we did not feel that it would be fair to the exhibitors and presenters to make the commitment of time and resources necessary for their participation and not get a fair return on this investment. All expenses paid to NAPP to date by exhibitors for booth space and attendee registration funds will be returned in full.

There is no question that the primary reason cited for lack of participation was the economic climate. Everyone felt that we had put together a very strong educational program, had a great keynote speaker in Eamonn Hughes, and a desirable venue at a good value since registration included two nights lodging and meals for two days. There are contractors who cited the fact that they did no installations in 2011 and got by solely through maintenance and repairs. I personally had one retailer who promised to attend, apologize, and say that after the year he had last year, it just wasn’t feasible for him to make it. Knowing how hard the guy works, there was no way I was going to try to talk him into a bad decision. A slow economy is the only reason a guy who works this hard isn’t successful.

Ultimately, the Board decided to cancel the show because it was the right thing to do. Going forward, we would like to continue to pursue an event like this because we believe it is good for the industry, and will give our organization the resources to promote the industry. There will also be fewer reservations about participation in a fledgling show, if people know that regardless of how the chips fall, the organization will do the right thing by them, as we have here.

I’d like to thank Sherry and her staff for doing everything in their power to try to make this a success; the Board for their input and assistance in trying to make this work until the last minute; and, the prospective exhibitors and attendees who were interested in helping to make this show a reality. Most of them are people who are cornerstones of the industry on the manufacturing, retail and contracting sides. For all of us, I hope that 2012 will be a much better year.

Respectfully,

Mark Krupka

President, National Association of Pond Professionals