Report of the MCAA Convention Committee

Educational Sessions
Both Foreman Development and Basic Estimating Seminars will be offered in the 2004 program. Marketing efforts for these programs have been included in the attendee brochure to help further promotional efforts during the 2003 Showcase. Both instructors have been contracted.

Educational sessions have been scheduled and the majority have speakers contracted. Colin Faul is currently working with Education Chairman David Hill to finalize speakers for the open educational offerings. The 2004 show will offer 4 educational session timeslots that will not conflict with convention and more convenient to attendees needs.

A number of exhibitors will be hosting on floor demonstrations and off floor sessions to further inform attendees of products and industry trends.

Social Events and Keynote Speakers
The Opening and Closing Banquets have been scheduled and will include an Opening Event at MAMMA MIA and Closing Banquet at Bellagio followed by Cirque du Soleil's "O". Spouse Tours: A Day of Art (Claude Monet) at the Bellagio and the Las Vegas Art Museum; Fashion Outlet Mail Shopping have also been contracted.

Speakers for the Opening Session Lunch (Sam Wyche NFL Bengal's Coach and Commentator); Keynote Breakfast speaker (Art Hoist famous NFL Official) will be at the 2004 Showcase.

Registration
We have a new/former registration company that we have switched to. The new company will now provide online registration capability for our attendees and exhibitors (event only) along with Lead Retrieval at a more affordable cost.

New Highlights
New highlights for the 2004 Masonry Showcase include shortening exhibit hours to condense foot traffic on the show floor. We have also move the Fastest Trowel and Skills Challenge to opposite days in order to draw people onto the exhibit floor during the two exhibit days. We will also offer exhibitor signup for the 2005 show during the conference and hold an exhibitor forum to further inform them of the Construct America Merger.

For 2004 we changed brought our attendee brochure back in house and designed a well detailed 4-color brochure that is being mailed as a ride along to all Masonry Magazine subscribers as well as mailing blast to specific geographic attendees. Approx over 100,000 brochures will be sent out for the 2004 show coupled with monthly show promotions in the magazine. A contractor list is also being purchased to add new contractor companies into our promotional demographics. The brochure is also available online for viewing of all the events and educational programs.

For exhibitors we have also brought back the "Showcase News" newsletter to further inform them of the current events of the showcase and to further promote exhibits and showcase events.

Exhibits
Exhibit sales for 2004 have been behind what we experienced in 2003. Many companies have been delaying their contracts and decisions waiting for money to come in or to see how the economy turns around. This time last year we were at 16,400 sq ft and currently we are holding 8,000 sq ft with verbal commitments of 2400 sq ft. A number of larger companies are downsizing their booths so more exhibitors will need to be brought in to keep us at last year's number of 18,200 sq ft. Exhibit rates for 2004 went up one dollar for existing exhibitors to $22/sq ft and new exhibitors are up to $26/sq ft to help prepare them for the rate hike for Construct America.

Following is a breakdown of exhibit sales and projections:

2004 Exhibit Sales

Current Secured Sq Ft: 8,000
Multiquip Inc
Continental Cast Stone
Marshalltown
OmniQuip Textron
D-Cut Products
Schwing America, Inc
EZ Grout/ Grout Hog
Halfen Anchoring Systems
Peninsula Products, Inc
Tradesmen's Software
Partner Industrial Products
Spec Mix Inc
Gehl Company
Fraco
Hydro Mobile
Prosoco, Inc
Brick Industry Association
Cosella-Dorken Products
Heckmann Building Products
Trenwyth Industries/ Northfield Block
International Masonry Institute
Metromont - RMC
Kem-O-Kleen

Conservatively Based Projections

Verbal Commitments: 2,400
TUT Software
Polymaster Fom
MK Diamond Products
CEMEX
EZ Rod
Kraft Tools
Non-Stop Scaffolding
Kennison Forest Products
Pittsburgh Coming

Anticipated Returning Exhibitors: 4,500
Crank-Up Scaffolding - 200
Dixie Cut Stone & Marble - 100
Dow Coming - 100
Dur-O-Wal - 100
Eastern Marble & Granite - 200
EDCO -100
Fom Company - 200
Granicor - 200
IMER - 400
KD Manitou - 900
LiftKing Industries - 400
MBW -100
Metromont Materials - 100
National Diamond - 100
Park Industries - 100
PR Diamond Products - 200
Quickcrete - 400
Rolling Rock Building & Stone - 200
Smart Masonry Products - 100
Sterling Handling Equipment - 200
Tailored Chemical Products - 100

Verbal, New Companies: 500
Bennu - 200
Align International - 100
Irwin Industrial Tools - 100
HEK - 100

Strong Potentials: 500
Alajon - 100
ChemGrout - 100
Masonry Tec - 100
EZ Rod Enterprises - 100
Illinois Products Corp - 100

Undecided 2003 Companies: 800
Anderson Masonry Products - 100
Bon Tool Company - 100
Marv Post Industries - 200
Rhino Tools - 100
Slip Industries - 100
Sunbelt Scaffolding - 100
Trow & Holden -100

TOTAL: 16,700

2003 Exhibitors Not Returning
Amerimix Industries (Only Local Shows) - 100
Diedrich Technologies - 100
Florida Masonry & Apprentice - 100
Halbert Mill Company - 100
Pro Right Industry Diamond Tools - 100
Putzmeister America - 200
Sandell Manufacturing - 100
Specialty Masonry Product - 100
The Caldwell Group - 100