March 2008: For the Record
Words: Dan Kamys
For the Record
Working the Show Circuit
Most every industry I've worked in as an editor has had its perks. The newspaper industry meant that I could know and work with lots of local people and organizations. The sporting goods industry equaled free sneakers and outerwear, sent to me by manufacturers to "test." In healthcare, I had all the sanitary gloves, vitamins and alcohol swabs a girl could want. Real estate allowed me to know the cities of Chicago and Miami like the back of my hand.
So what has working in the masonry industry meant to me so far? Why, standing atop a mound of rock, operating a Bosch jackhammer at the World of Concrete in Las Vegas, of course. I have to admit, once Rob Foster and the nice guys at Bosch's outdoor booth convinced me to climb up onto their display and use this piece of equipment, it was empowering. There have been times since when I wished I had that jackhammer, like when I am cut off by another driver in Atlanta traffic. I could do some serious damage, and have fun doing it.
At our Lionheart Publishing offices, we plan a list of trade shows, events and meetings we'll be attending on behalf of Masonry magazine each year. The travel itself can be both good and bad. Work-related travel means working ahead and playing catch-up to assure our magazines go to press on time. It constitutes a brush with airport and airplane germs. And, it means time away from my 18-month-old daughter, Macy.
But traveling from city to city a few times a year to see what's new out there, put faces with voices, and make new friends in the industry is incredibly rewarding to my coworkers and me. We love mixing it up with vendors as well as having our booth at different trade shows to spotlight our construction publications (Masonry, Masonry Design, and Building Stone).
On the heels of World of Concrete/World of Masonry, we attended the International Builders Show in Orlando. There, we had productive meetings and enjoyable conversations with many in our growing industry. When this issue publishes, we'll be at Hardscape North America, and then it's on to ConExpo in March, Brick Show 2008 in April, and so on and so forth. I hope that, during our jet setting, I get to bump into you. Please email me — jmorrell@lionhrtpub.com — if you'll be attending an industry-related show or event. Maybe we can grab a cup of coffee (or a cold beer) and talk shop.