Every October like clockwork, members of our editorial staff make their way to the NECA trade show destination city to witness the latest electrical products and innovations first-hand, network with attendees and manufacturers, and attend general and technical educational seminars to broaden our industry knowledge. As has become customary with 2020, an in-person event was not feasible. Nevertheless, the National Electrical Contractors Association pressed on, instead offering NECA 2020 LIVE, a virtual convention and trade show (sponsored by Powering Chicago) that would still be the year’s premier event for the electrical construction industry, delivering not only on quantity of choices but also quality. Held virtually from October 6 to 8, the event definitely did not disappoint. Featuring a wealth of education and entertainment options along with a virtual exhibit hall with more than 80 exhibitors, the experience was easy to navigate, interactive, responsive, reliable, and overall very worthwhile.
Our small but mighty editorial team tackled the virtual trade show with the same plan of attack that we do in person, splitting up educational sessions that we feel are of most interest to our reader base and reporting back on the results of our coverage in a show daily e-newsletter sent out at the close of each business day. Posted on a dedicated NECA Show Coverage landing page, check out the content from Day 1, 2, and 3. From technical sessions to Q&As with leading industry execs to the latest new products unveiled at this year’s event, following are some highlights of the items that have already resonated remarkably well with our readers.
As has historically been the case every year, our most popular galleries came from the product arena, featuring Group Editorial Director Mike Eby’s Product Picks from Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Readers are always anxious to see just which products catch our lead editor’s eye — and this year was no exception. Kicking off the event with a “Fireside Chat,” I found the candid conversation between NECA CEO David Long and IBEW President Lonnie Stephenson to be both informative and refreshing. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, recent social unrest, labor relations challenges, and other hot-button issues, the pair did not shy away from tough topics. Instead, they discussed the real challenges electrical professionals are facing as they adjust to a new normal (read the full article). Could 42% of electricians really be replaced by robots? That was a question Professor Lonny Simonian of the California Polytechnic State University attempted to answer in “Robots in Construction: Current Use and Outlook for the Future.” Managing Editor Stefanie Kure Glickley dove into this controversial topic, shedding light on the increasing use of workfoce automation and what it could mean to electrical contractors. Jim Lucy, editor-in-chief of Electrical Wholesaling, explored how to sell your electrical contracting business for the best possible price based on a session presented by Joseph Bazzano, COO of Beacon Exit Planning. Exploring the myths surrounding offsite construction practices, Associate Editor Ellie Coggins Angus examined how how organizations can take advantage of prefabricated construction methods to make electrical work more efficient, safe, and cost-effective, as outlined by presenter Lonnie Compton, NECA’s director of construction manufacturing. These are just a few of the sessions covered. Visit our NECA Show Coverage page to peruse the full complement of editorial offerings.
