January / February 2017 NICA News

WFA Convention Preview
Rey O’Day, West Council Executive Manager
The WFA Convention and Trade Show is
January 15 – 18, 2017 at the Grand Sierra Resort
and Casino in Reno, NV. This year’s theme is
“Reconnect!” Register at www.westernfairs.org
or in person at the event. The Grand Sierra Rosert
hotel rate is $69 per night. Michelle Card, Executive
Director, and Paulette Keene, President, are looking
forward to meeting and mingling with the many
members of our sister organizations. We hope to
see you there!
Sunday, january 15
• 8:00 – 11:00 AM: Bowling Tournament hosted
by Service Members • Awards Sponsored by
NICA
monday, january 16
• 8:30 – 9:45 AM: Service Members Opening
Meeting
• 10:00 AM: General Session featuring keynote
speaker Jim Knight, who served 21 years as
Hard Rock International Director of Training
and Development; President Paulette Keene
will speak on behalf of NICA
• 12:30 - 4:30 PM: Trade Show including NICA
Sysco Marketplace Food Show
• 4:15 PM: Drawing for one year free NICA
membership at booth
• 4:45 – 6:15 PM: Annual NICA Membership
meeting sponsored by Source1 Purchasing
featuring “Future Proofing Your Business,”
presented by Jim Teece and “Making the NICA
Sysco Marketplace Work for Your Bottom
Line,” presented by Jim Guenthner
tuesday, january 17
• 8:30 – 9:30 AM: Service Members Division
Breakouts: Commercial, Food and Beverage,
Entertainment
• 9:45 – 11:00 AM: “Survival Guide to Training
Green Help,” presented by Courtney Conkle
• 11:15 AM: General Session keynote speaker
Elisa Hayes presents “When Life Hits You Like
a Truck”
• 12:30 – 3:30 PM: Trade Show including NICA
Sysco Marketplace Food Show
• 3:15 PM: NICA fundraiser drawing for two
prizes (Clover Mini and $500)
• 5:15 – 6:15 PM: WFA Committee Speed Dating
• 7:00 – 8:00 PM: Wine and Cheese Reception
(Wine donated by NICA)
Wednesday, january 18
• 1:00 – 2:15 PM: “Minnesota State Fair and How
It Works,” presented by Dennis Larson, CFE,
License Administration Manger, Minnesota
State Fair
• 2:30 – 3:45 PM: “Big Fairs Big Issues,”
presented by Industry Standards Committee
• 4:00 – 5:15 PM: Service Member Closing
Meeting
• 5:30 – 8:00 PM: Industry Awards Dinner and
Celebration: congratulations to Jon Baker, CEO,
Pima County Fair, NICA Advisory Committee
Member, and WFA Hall of Fame Recipient
• 8:30 PM: Suite Night
The Calendar of Events at the back of each NICA
News lists the Fair Association meetings and other
events with their dates and locations. A lot of
fellowship, education and networking go on at these
meetings, so give one a try! Is there a program that
we missed? Contact us today at (813) 438-8926 or
communications@nicainc.org ▲
January / February 2017 NICA News 17