2005 Midwest Builders Show & Conference Draws Top Decision Makers

2005 Midwest Builders Show & Conference Draws Top Decision Makers From Across the Midwest and Beyond

ADDISON, IL, -- The 2005 Midwest Builders Show® & Conference, held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL on March 16-17, 2005, is being called the most successful in the show's three year history. Produced by the Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago (HBAGC), this year's show attracted 6,000 builders, contractors and building industry professionals, a 50 percent increase over the 2004 show.

"We are so pleased with the turnout at the show this year," said Peter Schwartz, CEO of the HBAGC. "Feedback from exhibitors and attendees indicates that the show exceeded all expectations," he continued. "The heavily attended educational sessions were a perfect complement to the wide variety of products and services on display on the show floor." Schwartz added that much of the credit must go to his first-rate show management team. He is confident that 2006 will be another banner year for the Midwest Builders Show & Conference, with 70 percent of the floor already sold out.

Staying Ahead of the Game
The housing market is continually evolving, and building industry professionals must have the most up-to-date information to stay relevant in this competitive market. The 2005 Midwest Builders Show & Conference included dozens of high-caliber educational sessions headlined by nationally recognized experts. Conference chairman Mike Cason pointed out, "One of the most effective ways to grow a business is by incorporating the best practices of your peers who are often presented with similar challenges." He continued, "Our educational line-up provides the perfect atmosphere to encourage peer-to-peer networking and information sharing."

The schedule included sessions such as "Winning at the Zoning Table," "Mix It Up: Recipe for Success in Mixed Use Settings," "Planning for Profitability - Then Achieving It" and "Lower Cost and Increase Profits through Customer Service." Attendees were able to take away from these sessions important, factual information and immediately apply what they learned in day-to-day business.

Martin Dignan, owner of Dignan Homes, found the educational lineup to be extremely valuable. "I thought the seminars were awesome," he said. "They were very motivating and educational and I will be changing some of the ways I do things. I thought I knew how to do everything, but the sessions really made me rethink some of the ways I handle bids, change orders and contracts."

Exhibiting Confidence
Exhibitors at the 2005 Midwest Builders Show® & Conference represented over 70 product categories and included such industry leaders as Basco, In-Sink-Erator, Kohler, Marvin Windows and Moen. Many of the exhibiting companies in 2005 had been with the show since its inception in 2003.

Madge Douglas, vice president, exposition and conference operations, stated, "Our exhibitors realize that the combination of educational opportunities and the convenience of a centrally located convention are a strong draw for the region's busy home builders, developers and contractors." She added, "Many of these exhibitors were so happy with the turnout that they've already secured space for the 2006 Midwest Builders Show® & Conference."

A post-show survey of exhibitors found that they were impressed by the quality of attendees with regards to their decision-making power. In fact, William Styczynski, president of the Willowbrook, IL-based architectural firm Styczynski Walker Associates, said, "The contacts we made at the show exceeded all of our expectations."

Next year's Midwest Builders Show® & Conference is scheduled for March 15 - 17, 2006. For more information on exhibiting or attending, contact Julia Roberts at 630/627-7575, or visit the website at www.midwestbuildersshow.com.

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