The 13th annual National Electrical Contractors Convention and Trade Show will be held from Oct. 3-7, 2008 at the McCormick Place Lakeside Center in Chicago, IL.

NECA Convention and Trade Show
NECA is the premier trade show for the electrical, power, and cabling industries. Along with meeting the manufacturers, inventors, engineers, distributors, and consultants that make your company go, the trade show boasts more than 200 vendors who will display the latest technology, tools, software, and system controls currently available—and some that are on their way soon. Like many trade shows, the NECA Convention will also offer workshops, enabling you to get hands-on experience and tutorials on many of the latest products.

For many electrical contractors, this is your best avenue to talk to vendors face-to-face and make the best supply purchasing decisions for your company. This alone can easily justify the annual trip to this convention. You'll also be able to see celebrity sportscaster Bob Costas give the presentation, "Winning through Teamwork and Fair Play."

NECA 2008 Registration
You can decide your own level of involvement in the tradeshow and convention. As an industry professional, you're certain to find something useful in the seminars, workshops, and events that will take place throughout the show. Maybe you can only justify the expense of attending the tradeshow and mingling with contractors, manufacturers, and other industry professionals on the exhibit floor. For admission to the tradeshow only, your registration can be as cheap as $75. All-inclusive registration, by contrast, will cost $825 for NECA members and $1,075 for non-members. The first registration deadline is August 8—early registration and full refund cancellations expire on this date.

The National Electrical Convention Association has created an entire department, the Convention Management Resources (CMR) to help you make your travel reservations and secure convention hotel discounts.

NECA 2008, Chicago, and Special Events
Along with the professional presentations, workshops, and exhibits, the convention will be featuring the city of Chicago itself through various tours and presentations. Between the opening Party at the Pier, the Lifestyle Program "Cooking with Chef Art Smith," comedian troupe "Second City," and the closing celebration with Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby, you won't lack for entertainment.

Here are also some of the Chicago-area tours you'll be able to take part in:
"Cuneo Mansion and Long Grove Village"
"Highlights of Chicago and John Hancock Observatory"
"Explore Chicago's North Shore"
"River Cruise Charter and Walking Tour"
"Architecture of Early Chicago"
"Chicago Sports Spectacular"

NECA 2008 Schedule

Friday, October 3
8:00am—5:00pm Pre-Convention Workshops
9:00am—5:00pm Tours

Saturday, October 4, 2008
6:45am—7:45am District Breakfasts
8:00am—4:00pm Board of Governors Meeting
8:00am—5:00pm Pre-Convention Workshops
8:30am—1:00pm Tours
12:00pm—1:30pm Industry Leaders Lunch
5:30pm—6:00pm Presidents Reception*
6:00pm—9:00pm Party at the Pier

Sunday, October 5, 2008
8:00am—9:50am Management Seminars
10:15am—11:30am Opening General Session
10:30am—5:00pm New and Featured Product Room
11:30am—5:00pm NECA Show Technical Workshops
12:00pm—1:00pm Student Chapter Summit Luncheon
6:00pm—7:30 pm Academy Reception*

Monday, October 6, 2008
7:00am—8:00am Committee Breakfasts
1:00pm—5:30pm Tours
8:00am—9:50am Management Seminars
10:00am—11:30am Lifestyle Program
10:00am—11:30am Labor Relations Town Hall Meeting
10:30am—4:00pm New and Featured Product Room
11:30am—4:00pm NECA Show Technical Workshops
12:15pm—1:15pm International Lunch
12:30pm—2:00pm EMI Reunion Luncheon*
1:30pm—3:30pm ELECTRI COUNCIL MEETING
4:00pm—5:00pm Future Industry Leaders Reception*
6:30pm—8:30pm ELECTRI International Reception*

Tuesday, October 7, 2008
7:00am—8:00am Workforce Development Committee Breakfast
7:30am—8:45am Management Seminars
9:00am—10:15am Closing General Session
9:00am—1:00 pm New & Featured Product Room
10:00am—2:00pm NECA Show Technical Workshops
2:00pm Grand Prize Drawing
8:00pm Closing Celebration
*By invitation only