Betting on change: the ISRI 2002 Annual Convention embraces change at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. (Convention Preview).

While the state of commodity markets and the economy in general don't present scrap recyclers with much to get excited about, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) hopes the possibility of adapting to and surviving a changing economy will.

ISRI, the Washington-based trade association for the scrap processing and recycling industry, has adopted "Embracing Change" as the theme for its 2002 Annual Convention and Exposition, which takes place March 10-14 at the Bellagio Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The theme is intended to celebrate the success of the industry try and to explore new means for achieving success in an unpredictable environment.

David Krohne assistant director of communications for ISRI, says the theme "will be featured prominently in major addresses as well as in a variety of sessions focusing on how to deal with change in a positive way to keep the industry viable and growing, along with the myriad changes in the world at large. Attendees will learn techniques and gain information for coping with changing laws and regulations, new technologies and new technologies."

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES"

In addition to providing an occasion for networking and browsing the exhibit hall for equipment and services, ISRI's Annual Convention provides attendees with several educational opportunities.

The convention includes workshops presented in tracks based on general topics:

* Black Track: Keeping Your Company in the Black -- issues regarding business management;

* Red Track: Cutting Through the Red Tape -- issues regarding compliance with government regulation;

* Green Track: Running an Environmentally Sound Operation -- advice for surpassing compliance require

* Blue Track: The Blue Sky is the Limit -- emerging and trends;

* Gold Track: Enrich Yourself -- ideas for personal enrichment; and

* Silver Track: Dollar Saving Programs You Should Know About -- presents ISRI's partnership programs and business-related topics.

The convention also features commodity spotlights presented by notable members of the industry. Bob Garino, director of commodities at ISRI, says the Ferrous Spotlight features Donald Huizenga of Curdziel Industries, Muskegon, Mich., and Christopher Plummer of Metal Strategies, East Chester, Pa.

At the Nickel/Stainless Spotlight, Vanessa Davidson of CRU, London, and Phillip Rosenberg of Keywell LLC, Chicago, will speak. Gary Miller of Asarco Inc., Phoenix, is a featured speaker during the Copper Spotlight.

Garino says those presenting at the Aluminum Spotlight are Neil Banks of the London Metal Exchange, London; Lloyd O'Carroll of B.B.& T. Capital Markets, Richmond, Va.; and William Bosanquet of PechineyAluminum, Paris.

In addition to the typical commodity spotlights, ISRI has added a Spotlight on Rubber to this year's lineup. Detailed information on session dates and times can be found on ISRI's Web site www.isri.org.

Krohne says the plenary session "Consumer/Processor Dialogue -- Focus on Ferrous," will be of interest to attendees. This follow up to the 2000 dialogue features a panel of scrap processors and consumers within the steel industry discussing the issues facing both industries, such as low scrap prices and bankruptcies.

Opening general session speaker Michael H. Annison, futurist and president of the Westrend Group, explores the theme of change in his address, Monday, March 12. Annison is also author of the books Managing the Whirlwind: Patterns and Opportunities in a Changing World and Trust Matters, which was co-written with Dan Wilford.

Bill Bradley, former senator from New Jersey and gold medallist in basketball at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, serves as keynote speaker, Thursday, March 14 at 8 a.m. The former presidential candidate is currently managing director of Allen & Co. Inc. and chair of the Advisory Board of McKinsey & Company's Institute for Management of Nonprofits. Bradley has also authored five books, the most recent being The Journey From Here.

ON EXHIBIT

Krohne says ISRI is excited about returning to the Bellagio, the site of its 2000 convention. "The 2000 convention at the Bellagio was ISRI's largest and most successful ever," he says.

As usual, the show offers indoor and outdoor exhibit space. Although exhibitors are still signing up, Krohne expects more than 100 exhibitors in total with attendance greater than 2,500.

The exhibit hall opens March 11 at 6:30 p.m. with a reception. Show hours are then 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. March 12 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. March 13. The hospitality lounge, a popular spot for networking, is located in the center of the exhibit hall.

Exhibitors include companies providing products and services to the scrap recycling industry, such as processing equipment manufacturers, attachment manufacturers, business management software providers, brokerage services, material handling equipment manufacturers, transportation providers and insurance and financial services.

21st Century Programming of Long Beach, Calif., a maker of business management software for the recycling industry, is a first-time ISRI Annual Convention exhibitor at the 2002 convention. Co-owner George Kane was a speaker at ISRI's 2001 convention in San Antonio. Kane says this exposure helped him to conclude that the 2002 convention would be worthwhile. Kane adds that he and his brother Dave, co-owner of the company, "feel that it's the only real forum for recyclers to go to of a substantial magnitude. It's something we felt we had to do."

Kane says he looks forward to the convention and the recognition exhibiting will bring 21st Century Programming. "I hope we get sales from it."

Of course, this is a sentiment shared by veteran exhibitors as well. Ohio Magnetics of Maple Heights, Ohio, has been exhibiting at ISRI's annual conventions for more than 20 years, Ken Richendollar says. He says that the convention allows Ohio Magnetics to "meet with the customers face-to-face, to have an opportunity to talk to them about what's going on in their businesses and what we can do to make their lives easier, what services we can provide. Obviously it's an opportunity to sell our organization to the scrap industry."

For more information on ISRI's 2002 Annual Convention and Exposition, including registration information and access to the virtual trade show, which lists the show's exhibitors, visit www.isri.org.

ISRI 2002 EXHIBITORS (as of January 21)

* 21st Century Programming
* Admetco Inc.
* Aggregates Equipment Inc,
* Al-Jon Inc.
* Allied-Gator Inc.
* American & Ohio Locomotive
  Crane Co.
* American Baler Company
* American Iron & Metal Company Inc.
* American Pulverizer/Hustler
  Conveyor
* American Shear Knife Div.
  of Asko Inc.
* Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corp.
* Ansam Metals Corp.
* Atlantic Stainless Co Inc.
* Bureau of International Recycling
* Cargotec Inc.
* Case Corporation
* Catepillar, Inc.
* Central Manufacturing Co.
* Columbia Steel Casting Co. Inc.
* Commodities Management
  Exchange Inc.
* Data Transmission Network
* ECS Underwriting, Inc.
* Edax, Inc.
* Enterprise Co.
* Eriez Magnetics
* Forrester Environmental Services Inc.
* General Kinematics
* Genesis Equipment &
  Manufacturing Inc.
* Gensco Equipment (1990) Inc.
* GlobalCommercialCredit/ProfitGuard
* Global Recycling
* Hagglunds Drives Inc.
* Harris Press & Shear
* Hustler Conveyor
* International Baler Corp.
* John Deere Commercial
  Worksite Products
* Keith Mfg Co.
* Klarmann & Partner
* Kobleco America Inc.
* Komatsu America International Co.
* LBX Company L.L.C.
* Lefort, U.S.A.
* Liebherr Construction Equipment Co.
* Logemann Brothers Co.
* Ludlum Measurements, Inc.
* Mac Crushers/Granutech-Saturn
  Systems Corp.
* Mack Manufacturing, Inc.
* Magnatech Engineering Inc.
* Magnatech Industrial Services, Inc.
* Marathon Equipment Co.
* Mayer Information Technology
* Mayfran International
* MET/Envirogen Inc.
* Metal Bulletin Inc./American
  Metal Market
* Metorex, Inc.
* MTB Recycling
* NASCO-OP
* Niton Corp
* Ohio Magnetics, Inc.
* Osborn Engineering Inc.
* Oxford Instruments
* R.M. Johnson Co.
* Rad/Comm Systems Corp.
* RecycleGuard/Willis of
  New Hampshire
* Recycling International
* Recycling Today Media Group
* Riverside Products
* Rotobec USA Inc.
* Scrapsite
* Sennebogen L.L.C.
* SETCO Solid Tire & Rim Assembly
* Shred-Tech, Inc.
* Sierra International Machinery
* Spectro Alloys Corp.
* Spectro Analytical Instruments
* SSI Shredding Systems, Inc.
* Stanley Hydraulic Tools,
  LaBounty Attachments
* Steinert/Resource
  Recycling L.L.C.
* Strip Technology, Inc.
* Svedala Industries --
  Recycling Division
* Sweed Machinery
* Ty Cushion Tire
* Texas Shredder Inc.
* Thermo Eberline
* Thermo Measuretech
* Transact Payment Systems
* Tube City Inc.
* US Conveyor
* Vezzani USA Inc.
* Volvo Construction Equipment
* Walker Magnetics
* Waste News
* WEG Electric Motors Corp.
* Wendt Corp.
* Winkle Industries
* Young Corporation

FAMILY GET-TOGETHER

The words "family reunion" don't typically conjure images of four-star hotels, exciting nightlife and fine food. More likely, it's campgrounds, badminton and overcooked hamburgers.

But promoters of the Annual Convention of the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC) look upon the event as the gathering of the demolition industry's family, even if the setting is undeniably that of a trade show.

This year's NADC show takes place March 10-12 almost simultaneously with ISRI's, at the MGM Mirage hotel and convention facility in Las Vegas.

"We like to think of the convention as a way of getting the industry together as a family," says Alicia D'Arcy of the NADC says. "We're hoping that people come because they are trying to get over what happened in September and to see their old friends. This year, of all years, we're happy just to get the demolition family together."

Susanne Cobey, president of long-time NADC associate member and exhibitor Eagle Crusher Co. Inc., Galion, Ohio, echoes the sentiment. "It feels like a reunion." She says many of the NADC's members are small, family owned companies much like Eagle Crusher. "Yes, we are there to promote our equipment. But everyone looks forward to going because it is such a special experience seeing all the family members again."

Cobey adds, "It's our industry, there's no question about it. Many of our customers are members. It's just a great organization. That's why we're there."

Eagle Crusher is also exhibiting at the ConExpo-Con/Agg Convention, which is March 19-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. "It's a great show," she says of ConExpo, "but it doesn't have the warmth and the camaraderie [of the NADC Convention]."

The March 2002 annual meeting of the NADC will be its 29th annual event. Headquartered in Doylestown, Pa., the NADC is a trade organization representing more than 500 demolition contractors and 200 associate companies that supply the industry with products and services. In addition to an exhibit area featuring the products and services of more than 75 companies serving the demolition industry, the convention also includes seminars and networking opportunities.

Leonard Cherry of Cherry Demolition, Houston, who is current president of the NADC, says that exhibitors are responding positively. "We're anticipating a show equal to or larger than those of prior years, despite what we've heard about some shows suffering."

THE BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH

ConExpo-Con/Agg 2002 Exposition, which bills itself as "the largest exposition for the construction and construction materials industries ever held in the Western Hemisphere," is March 19-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The exposition, which is held every three years, is a showroom for the latest equipment and services for the construction, aggregates and ready-mix concrete industries. Among the equipment of interest to recyclers that is featured at the show is mobile material handling equipment, concrete and asphalt crushers and grinders used to process recyclable wood.

Show management expects more than 2,300 exhibitors to occupy the 1.9 million net square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space, according to a fact sheet available at the show's Web site, www.conexpoconagg.com.

The exhibits are divided among several product concentration areas. Maps are available at the Web site to help attendees determine their schedules.

According to the fact sheet, more than 100,000 visitors from 135 nations will attend, including contractors and government officials.

This year, nine association conventions are to be held in conjunction with the event, including that of the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA), Lisle, III. William Turley, executive director of the CMRA, says, "we are delighted our attendees will get a chance to check out the show floor as part of our annual meeting, in addition to learning the latest in recycling from our event."

"Industry summits," free sessions sponsored by industry associations that offer a forum for ideas on key industry issues, are new this year. In addition, attendees can register for seminars that are grouped into industry specific tracks, including recycling/environmental regulations. This track includes sessions on concrete and asphalt recycling, recycling at construction sites, and recycled asphalt shingle use in hot mix asphalt.

For more information, visit www.conexpoconagg.com or phone [phone].

The author is a staff member of Recycling Today and can be contacted via e-mail at [e-mail].