Members of the Concrete Decor Show staff will evaluate all proposed programs based on the following criteria: overall quality, relevance to the industry, well-defined focus within the program track structure, practical applications of material, timeliness of the topic and speaker qualifications.

To be considered as a speaker, your program must be educational in nature - that is, sales presentations will not be accepted. (See training guidelines below for clarification.) In addition, your material should be original; otherwise, sources must be referenced. For multiple speakers, each speaker must agree to the guidelines. Incomplete program submissions will not be considered.

The final program selections and notifications will be made five months prior to the show. Manufacturers or vendors not represented in the trade show are not eligible to submit presentation proposals. You will be notified only if your program is selected.

Your program should address one of the educational tracks listed. If you are interested in speaking on a track not listed, please submit the proposed topic to be approved. We will seek continuing education unit (CEU) accreditation for all courses once they are selected.

Educational seminars should be no longer than 2 hours including time for question and answer. Hands-on workshops should last no longer than 4 hours, but may span over the course of multiple days. Panel discussions should be no longer than 2 hours and should not consist of more than four panelists and one moderator.

Seminars include any type of program content that is a classroom style session indoors. A seminar session is educational in nature and may include lecture, PowerPoint presentations, video, discussion and Q&A. It might include some simplistic tabletop demonstration, such as pouring water on pervious concrete, or mixing something in hand-held beakers to show even dispersion vs. uneven dispersion. Tabletop demos are limited by what can be done in meeting rooms.) There may be one presenter, a team of presenters or a panel discussion. Seminars have presenters, moderators or leaders, not "trainers". Typically seminars can accommodate medium to large audiences. Whether seminars are targeted to contractors or to other audiences should be specified. AIA/CES education programs would fall into this category.

Workshops include any type of training that includes a percentage of live demonstration of work-in-process by the trainer, and hands-on participation by the attendees. It may be structured to also include any of the elements in a seminar but is intended to be "participatory" on some level. Trainers may choose to have some meeting room segment as part of the training if the proximity to the convention center permits. The percentage of classroom content, demo content and hands-on participation will be determined by each trainer who is the designated leader of the session. It is important to manage expectations for attendees for our marketing course descriptions to define what part of the total length of the workshop is dedicated to participation. Workshops have "trainers". The lead trainer is responsible for managing others he may recruit as helpers and keeping the agenda on track. The size limitation for each workshop will be defined by the trainer providing the course description. Workshops are longer in duration and may extend over half a day, one day or multiple days.

Panel Discussions include any type of program content that involves a group discussion participated in by several experts and a moderator. The discussion allows the members of the panel to ask each other pertinent questions, provide feedback, and engage in dialogue that is entertaining and enlightening in ways a simple presentation might not be. A panel is also an ideal way to get two or more colleagues, friends or business partners in front of a group and have them present together, allowing the audience to get several perspectives at the same time on one project or issue. A panel discussion is educational in nature and may be supplemented by PowerPoint presentations, video, or Q&A with the audience. Panel discussions can accommodate medium to large audiences.

• Architectural Elements: furniture, fireplace surrounds, wall panels, statuary, fire pits, etc.
  
• Artistry, Graphics & Specialties: advanced color applications, color theory & blending, air-brushing and stenciling on concrete or cementitious surfaces, etc.
• Business Strategies: The Business of Decorative Concrete, marketing, sales, etc.
• Concrete Walls & Cast-in-Place Concrete: concrete homes, forms, formliners, precast wall panels, etc.
• Counters & Tabletops: mix design, admixtures, additives, reinforcement, etc.
• Grinding & Polishing Concrete
• Maintenance, Repair & Restoration
• New Concrete Floors: mix design, admixtures, reinforcement, radiant heat, moisture management, etc.
• Resurfacing: coatings, micro-toppings, overlays, toppings, etc.
• Staining & Coloring: new and existing concrete floors, hardscapes, stains, dyes, integral colors, specialty aggregates etc.
• Stamping, Texturing & Engraving Concrete
• Vertical Decorative Concrete, Interior or Exterior: spray-on finishes, veneers, wall-carving, etc.
• Water Features and Rockwork

*** If a course includes discussion covering "green building," sustainability, or LEED it is indicated with a green leaf.

The following stipulations apply to "in session" time in front of a training audience at this event.

Accuracy: When work in progress is shown either in photos or in action, it may be helpful for the sake of accuracy to explain and mention product names and details regarding what product is being applied or what equipment is being used since different manufacturers recommend different methods, times or compatible products, such as sealers. Therefore to aim to be totally generic would be unrealistic - and would not be accurate. Explanation permitted: The trainer shall say, "When using (product name), the manufacturer recommends doing it this way for best results, the manufacturer recommends using this compatible sealer, this type hopper gun..." Endorsement NOT permitted: The trainer may not say, "I recommend (product name)" nor "I always use (product name)."

Criteria For Product Selection: Different products meet different needs and are suitable for different uses. Explanation permitted: For example, the trainer may say, "(Product name) was specified or was used on this job because it is environmentally friendly, low-VOC, contains recycled materials or durable for high traffic, disperses evenly, cures rapidly." Product characteristics or benefits may be described. Endorsement NOT permitted: The trainer may not say, "(Product name) is the best, better, or only product that is environmentally friendly" or "(Product name) is the only one I use for this issue."

Product Preferences: Trainers may state: "This is one of the products I use often and am most familiar with." Trainers may NOT say: "This is the only product I would use" or "This is the product I recommend." Trainers who work for manufacturers may say: "Since I work for (company name), I am most familiar with (product name), I cannot address comparisons to other products during the session." Outside the training session, the manufacturer's employee certainly may endorse the manufacturer's products. PROJECT PLANNING, PREPARATION AND EQUIPMENT, ETC: The focus on the training should be on all aspects a contractor needs to know for success in the work. The intent is to be well-rounded in talking about all things necessary for success, not just products or equipment.

References For Additional Product Information: The trainer or host should say something of this nature: "The products used in our session today have been donated by (list of companies). We'd like to thank them for supporting this training. We are not here to promote any specific product, but if you want to know more about any product mentioned in the session today, you could find more information (on a table at the back of the room/tent, etc.) Representatives of the company will be available to answer your questions individually here after the training session or at their exhibit booths." Product literature may be available on a table, but not as part of handouts.

Identification Of Samples Or Pictures Of Projects: When showing examples, the trainer or speaker may name the specific products used or include product names in labels. Facts about products are permitted. However, the trainer should avoid endorsement or recommendation. Endorsement NOT permitted: The trainer may not say, "I recommend (product name)" or "I always use (product name)."

Trainers Representing Manufacturers: The trainer is not allowed to turn the session into a sales pitch for the company or the product. The level of technical knowledge of the trainer is the best endorsement for his employer. The trainer may mention his employment or contractual relationship with the manufacturer who is supporting the training session.

Endorsement NOT permitted: The trainer may not say, "(Product name) is the best, better, or only product that does X" or "(Product name) is the only one I use for X."

Exhibitors may provide donations of products, materials, supplies, services or equipment for use during the Decorative Concrete Spring Training. The manufacturers who are supporting training sessions with donations will receive the following recognition and credits:

• On the event website, the credits included in training course descriptions may include both the company name and the product name - after the course description, and may be in smaller type similar to a photo credit. (Primary product names should be listed, for instance in a concrete staining training course, a stain name could be listed but not all the compatible related products or sealers- Due to space considerations.)
• In the printed advance prospectus and official show program, credits included in course descriptions will include only the company name, following the course description - due to tighter space limitations in print.
• If photos are supplied, appropriate photo captions and credits will be used naming a product or a manufacturer.
• Signage at each session will list credits for manufacturers supporting it with donations. The manufacturer may provide materials listing the products by name.
• Announcements during the course will be made thanking the manufacturers for donations and support.
• Directions on how to find additional information in ways permitted.
• Donors may provide a card with the info on company booth number.
• Product and company literature may be placed on a table provided for the purpose.
• Showcase Arena demo times may be promoted.
• Follow-up opportunity: A list of attendees and contact information will be supplied to donors.

Representatives of a manufacturer who are participating in the program will be identified in the program. Other support staff may not stand up to give product-specific information as a scheduled part of the presentation, but they may answer technical questions if the trainer asks for their assistance or additional details. Any participating party must be apprised of the ground rules, and the trainer is responsible to put a halt to any impromptu "sales pitch", by saying something such as... "In the interests of time you can find out more about that after our scheduled training."

Our intent is to give manufacturers due credit and thanks for donations and assistance.