7:00 a.m.-7:30 a.m.

Registration & Breakfast

7:30 a.m.-8:20 a.m.

Conservation, Efficiency, and the Next Big Thing - 1 NCICLB Irrigation, 1 Tier 1 IA CEU
Chris Keating, CID, Toro/Irritrol/Unique Lighting
This session will explain the difference between water conservation and irrigation efficiency. One being the desired result, the other, the preferred method to achieve it. It will identify emerging technologies that can improve efficiency while reminding everyone about the under used and misused existing technologies that exist now that are capable of significant water savings and increasing efficiency. We briefly discuss new laws sweeping the country that mandate the use of more efficient products and even ban the use of popular sprinkler types.

8:30 a.m.-9:20 a.m.

Irrigation Piping Trends – Where Have We Been and Where are We Going? - 1 NCICLB Irrigation, 1 Tier 1 IA CEU
Rodney Crow, HARCO Fittings
The irrigation industry has changed exponentially over the past 20 years, but where are we headed for the next 20 years?  Knowing your company’s options to install the most cost-effective yet reliable water distribution system is paramount to staying current in today’s market. Learn your options for what the future holds, and how your business can be at the forefront of these progressing trends.

9:30 a.m.-10:20 a.m.

Hazards in the Irrigation Industry - 1 NCICLB Business, 1 NCLCLB Business
Ted Hendrix, North Carolina Department of Labor
This session will cover what irrigation-related hazards OSHA Compliance Officers have observed in the field in North Carolina in previous years, including irrigation-related inspection and citation results. Specific irrigation-related hazards to avoid to protect the safety and welfare of irrigation professionals and their clients will also be discussed.

10:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Carolinas Irrigation Association Annual Business Meeting - 0.5 NCICLB Irrigation
This half-hour presentation and discussion will give updates on legislative issues, green industry updates and trends that landscape and irrigation contractors alike will find valuable, and upcoming volunteer opportunities with the CIA.

11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Trade Show & Lunch - 2 NCICLB Irrigation
Two-hour trade show and networking event featuring industry products and services for the professional contractor. Contractors will get the opportunity to make connections with distributors and manufacturers as well as learn about the latest products and services to better serve the irrigation industry and their companies.

1:00 p.m.-1:50 p.m.

The 3 Essential “E’s” of a Successful Green Industry Contractor: Estimation, Execution, Evaluation - 1 NCICLB Business, 1 NCLCLB Business, 0.25 Tier 3 IA CEU
Steve Hill, New Leaf Associates
Instead of thinking of traditional tools used in the landscape industry (mowers, trimmers,  trenchers, skid-steers, shovels, rakes, etc.) this session will focus on the essential business and organizational skills that will improve the efficiency, productivity and profitability of smaller (under $2,000,000 sales) or new  irrigation and landscape firms. 

2:00 p.m.-2:50 p.m.

Irrigation Controller Wireless Innovation - 1 NCICLB Irrigation, 1 Tier 1 IA CEU
Rick Hall, K-Rain Manufacturing
Every year professionals look for industry innovations to better aid them with efficiencies and productivity. Irrigation controllers no longer require multiple output wires to control multiple zones. Today we have controllers that no longer require the time and expense of installing ANY wires! This session will discuss some of todays no-wire innovations that still allow controllers operation of the irrigation system. We will also take a quick look at some of these innovative products providingprofessionals more installation and maintenance options.

3:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m.

Managing Soil Moisture in the Landscape - 1 NCICLB Irrigation, 1 NCLCLB Landscape, 1 Tier 1 IA CEU
Kurt Thompson, CIC, CID, CLWN, CLIA, CGIA, CIT, K. Thompson & Associates
Keeping plants healthy and attractive with a minimum amount of water and labor is the goal of every landscape or irrigation manager. But this goes beyond plant selection and applying the water uniformly and at the right time. Water conservation and plant health begins and ends in the soil. This course teaches landscape and irrigation managers to apply the connection between plants, soils, and water to manage soil moisture. Especially for those creating and adjusting irrigation schedules of traditional or “smart” controllers.  It explains the basic physics of how soils store and release water and nutrients to the plants and the importance of the soil biology’s role in the process.