WESTERN Trade Show Overland Park, KS

Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009 at 9-11:30am

Overland Park Convention Center (Courtyard Level) Meeting Room 4&5

Have you been thinking about expanding the hardscape services you provide? Are you trying to reach a niche market in the landscape industry? Then “2009 Donuts to Dollars Session: Hardscaping Trends,” an exciting new panel discussion at the 2009 WESTERN Annual Meeting and Trade Show, could be just what you are looking for.

A panel of industry professionals will discuss innovative technical and product developments in hardscapes. The panelists will provide examples of how these products can be used in the landscape and how you can incorporate them into your company and enhance your bottom line …we’ll even bring the donuts!

The discussion is being moderated by Ann Marie VanDerZanden, associate professor of horticulture at Iowa State University and a WESTERN University professor. The “2009 Donuts to Dollars Session: Hardscaping Trends” is included in your registration for the 2009 WESTERN Annual Meeting and Trade Show.

This year’s presenters are:

• Bob Race, vice president/chief technology officer of Millenia Wall Solutions (www.milleniawalls.com) in Minneapolis, Minn., is addressing new technology for retaining walls, including introducing a new plastic composite wall product with similar strength as traditional keystone walls. Race is an internationally recognized expert in retaining-wall engineering. He directs engineering design and product development and testing at Millenia. He previously was a vice president of Keystone Retaining Wall Systems, where his wideranging responsibilities included engineering design, technical product and installation training, and international sales and marketing. He has also served as Director of Engineering at Tensar Corporation, Engineering Manager at CRS Sirrine, and Geotechnical Engineer at Stone & Webster Engineering. Click here to read the article in the Fall issue of the WESTERN magazine about Millenia Wall Solutions.

• Brad Punke, territory manager for Unilock Chicago Inc. (www.unilock.com) is addressing trends in residential hardscapes. Unilock originally introduced the paving stone to North America in 1972. Traveling the globe in search of new inspirations, Unilock strives to stay in touch with the illuminating world of fashion, design and manufacturing techniques, all to ensure its mix of products continually reflects the evolving wants, desires and sense of style of its customers. This year, Unilock introduced Pre-Built Outdoor Design Solutions, and Belpasso pavers featuring CleanTop Technology. The highly dirt-resistant CleanTop with CF-120 (Clean Factor 120) surface prevents the penetration of many urban contaminants which can stain concrete. Unilock’s new pre-built Outdoor Design Solutions feature beautifully handcrafted outdoor features, prebuilt to exacting standards resulting in the installation time of your project being greatly reduced.

• Grant Thompson , LEED AP, of gēnus Landscape Architects (www.genus-la.com) in Des Moines, Iowa, is addressing permeable pavers. Grant first joined the gēnus team as an intern and now is an Associate Landscape Architect. He is a 2007 graduate of Iowa State University with degrees in landscape architecture and horticulture. Passions for urban design, historical interpretation, and fine arts are Grant’s driving design interests, which lead him to studies in Rome, Italy and with a First Nations group in northwestern Idaho. Wanting to learn more about sustainable development and incorporate it into his professional work, Grant recently passed the LEED exam and is now an Accredited Professional.