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Convention 2005

Educational Presentations

Tuesday, March 22

General Sessions

Laugh At Fear - Frank Miles
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Frank Miles is one of a rare breed of speakers. Not only does he have an original message that is convincing enough to stand alongside the best motivational presentations on the circuit, he is also a consummate comedian and entertainer. Using hilarious comic monologues, juggling, music and magic, he illustrates simple techniques that allow his audiences to free themselves from the self-imposed limits inspired by their personal fears.

Miles' "Laugh at Fear!" presentations were inspired by an extraordinary event. After spending more than 20 years as a successful professional variety comedian, he died in a hang gliding accident and was revived by emergency room doctors. True courage, he came to realize, is not facing death in daredevil pursuits-true courage is facing life. After a full recovery (which included spending two months in the hospital), he decided to leave his comedy career and share what he had learned with lecture audiences.

Join us for a morning of entertainment and fun, as Frank Miles touches us all with his heartfelt message.

NIA' Foundation-Looking Down the Road to Your Future and Charting the Course to Your Success - Ron King, Foundation Steering Committee
10:15 - 11:00 a.m.

It's been five years since the Foundation embarked on its ambitious journey to establish NIA as the Voice of the Insulation Industry. We have indeed achieved our primary objective. We have established ourselves as experts in the energy efficiency industry through marketing and training programs designed to upgrade our industry's image and bring badly needed recognition to the value of insulation. Our new leadership role, combined with our education and marketing tools, has opened the doors for partnership.

We are working to leverage our funds and our tools with elite organizations that will help take our insulation industry messages to a new level.

Don't miss this year's Foundation presentation. Find out what the Foundation has been doing to help secure this industry's future. It's one you won't want to miss.

Business Ethics: An Oxymoron? - Joe Gilbert, UNLV
11:00 - 11:45 a.m.

From Enron and ImClone to Martha Stewart and Wall Street, business ethics is all over the headlines. This discussion will delve into how business may be changing in the aftermath of the most recent series of charges and convictions. Ethics impacts every facet of our lives. How will these latest scandals affect our own industry? What can we do to improve the business climate?

Wednesday, March 23

Roundtable Exchanges
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.

How Do They Do That? Best Practices in Safety

Finalists for the 2004 NIA Brodie Distinguished Safety Award will discuss their award winning safety practices and procedures. Dale Haden, chairman of the NIA Health and Safety Committee, and NIA's General Counsel Gary Auman will moderate the session and discuss why these practices are important, as well as an update on what is new in safety and OSHA.

Can You Hear Me Now? Acoustics Discussion - Jrgen Schmoldt, FESI

Noise control may just be the most undersold benefit insulation has to offer. Is it because no one is listening or are we just not telling the right story? How can we bring this valuable benefit more into the forefront of our selling?

Technical Paper Presentations

How Many Barrels of Oil Does Mechanical Insulation Save?
Gordon H. Hart, P.E., Artek, Inc.

It is widely acknowledged by energy efficiency experts that thermal insulation in general, and mechanical insulation in particular, can save significant amounts of energy. However, the public does not always understand or appreciate how much energy mechanical insulation alone can save. When expressed in quantities such as millions or billions of Btus, calories, or Mcf of natural gas, only experienced energy analysts and energy managers really appreciate the magnitude. If expressed in terms of barrels of oil, and compared to our society's daily consumption, however, the public may better understand the potential for energy savings.

The small but effective $8 billion per year American mechanical insulation industry is making enormous contributions towards cost-effective reduction of our society's crude oil consumption. In terms of equivalent number of barrels of oil, the annual savings potential of mechanical insulation represents about 2.5 percent of total U.S. consumption of crude oil. Therefore, there is a large market opportunity for NIA member companies that urges us to better promote the energy-efficiency benefits of our products and services.

Technical Challenges in the Last 50 Years
John W. Kalis, Jr., P.E.

What milestones has the mechanical and industrial insulation industry achieved in the last half century? What challenges remain for the future? For 50 years the evolution of insulation has been extensive. Both energy shortages and the "age of technology" accelerated major advancements in insulation materials, applications and cost-efficient systems to the end-user. This presentation will focus on such industry advancements as insulation jacketing, vapor retarders, removable insulation covers, specifications and safety procedures. It also will cover how the industry responded to challenges such as corrosion under insulation and the asbestos crisis.

Flexible Cladding Products
Roger Schmidt, Nomaco K-Flex

New flexible jacketing systems offer both abuse protection and a moisture vapor barrier with user-friendly installation procedures. In the past several years, concerns about the issue of mold in below-ambient applications have grown considerably. All the articles relating to mold come to one conclusion: Control moisture, and you will control mold. The moisture issue relates to both water and moisture vapor intrusion. Preventing water intrusion usually relates to the integrity of the jacketing or mastic and its ability to prevent mechanical abuse. Preventing moisture vapor intrusion usually relates to the integrity of the moisture vapor barrier. Traditionally, rigid metal / plastic jacketing is used or a mastic coating for mechanical abuse. Recently, a new breed of flexible cladding has been introduced that provides both a moisture vapor barrier and mechanical abuse protection. This presentation will focus on the range of products available, their application and benefits as they relate to controlling moisture intrusion in below-ambient insulation systems.

Thursday, March 24

Roundtable Exchanges
8:00 - 9:30 a.m.

New 4.0 Version of 3E Plus®- Gordon Hart, ARTEK, Inc.

The 3E Plus® software program was designed to give users a better understanding of the true dollar and performance value of an insulation system. Developed by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), the program is a tool that quantifies the amount of energy and actual monetary value a facility is losing with its current in-place insulation system-and demonstrates how a more efficient system can: Save hundreds of thousands of Btu; Improve process control and efficiency; Reduce fuel costs; and contribute to a cleaner environment through the reduction of emissions into the atmosphere. Gordon Hart will speak on the value of the 3E Plus® program as well as highlight many of the new features included in the new 4.0 version of the software.

The Rise and Rise Again of Insurance Premiums - Kenneth F. Porter, Porter & Curtis, LLC

NIA conducted a member survey and the findings are telling. With liability insurance premiums rising in the double digits each year, who can afford to stay in business? Exclusions are rampant and deductibles are going up. How can our industry get reasonable coverage without exclusions? What are some of our options? Join Kenneth F. Porter of Porter & Curtis, LLC to find out more.

Asbestos Legislation - A Solution In Sight? - Wayne Killion, Jr., Special Projects Task Force Co-Chairman

Congress continues to wrestle with efforts to address the current asbestos tort environment. Meanwhile, several states have taken the initiative to enact asbestos legislative reform. This roundtable discussion, led by Wayne Killion Jr., is an opportunity for you to learn what is happening in this area, what it means to you, and what you can do to influence the process.

A Regulatory Update on the Status of Refractory Ceramic Fibers - Dean Venturin, Unifrax

This roundtable discussion, led by Dean Venturin, the Director of Health, Safety and Environmental Quality (HSEQ) for the Unifrax Corporation, will provide an update on the regulatory status of refractory ceramic fibers (RCF) in North America. Venturin will compare and contrast the regulatory approach taken within North America to that of the European Union, and explain the European directive for the development of bio-soluble fibers.

General Sessions

A Power Industry Forecast - Gary Bases, BRIL,inc
9:45 - 10:30 a.m.

Gary Bases, president of BRIL,inc a consulting firm specializing in the field of brick, refractory, insulation, and lagging will present A Power Industry Forecast, focusing on the power industry's future and its impact on the insulation, lagging, and refractory industries. The future of the power industry will be discussed, as well as the impact it will have on energy consumption, the environment and the economy. This informative session is one you can't afford to miss.

Award Presentations
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Join us for a special awards presentation as we announce the winners of the 2004 Theodore H. Brodie Distinguished Safety Award, an award designed to recognize NIA members who, by taking proactive steps to implement safe working practices, have established outstanding safety records.

In addition, we will recognize the service of our Board of Directors, Committee Chairman, and the winners of the 2005 Golf Tournament.