Get the most out of your time at the METALCON expo!

By Emma Peterson. 

METALCON is fast approaching! Get ready by learning about some of the education sessions that will be available there! 

Hosted in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center, the 2024 METALCON show is running from October 30 to November 1, 2024. From exploring the trade floor and visiting companies like Exceptional Metals, Scope Technologies and The Coffee Shops (come say hi at booth #901!) to networking with metal professionals from around the world, there is so much to do at METALCON this year! But you can’t forget a huge part of the show, which is the industry learning sessions in the expo hall! 

These are incredible opportunities to get practical, solutions-oriented education to boost your business! No matter how experienced you are or how you work with metal, there is a session for you. The industry learning sessions, besides workshops, are all included in your registration, all you have to do is show up at the right time. Here are a few sessions we are especially excited about here at The Coffee Shops! 

Wednesday, October 30, 2024 

State of the industry – Presented by the Metal Construction Association (MCA) | 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. 

Moderated by Jeff Henry, the executive director of Metal Constuction Association (MCA), this panel will discuss the current and future opportunities and challenges that the metal construction industry is facing. This is a great opportunity to learn more about technical developments, regulatory issues and more from Brian Partyka, the vice president of Carlisle Architectural Metals; Paul Trombitas of FMI Global; Chandler Barden, president of CIDAN Machinery; Sean McCue, the business development manager at A2Z Precoat Metals; Tom Seitz from In Seitz Strategies; and Bob Zabcik of Z-Tech Consulting. 

Metal mastery demo: Standing seam metal panels | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Taught by a crew from Sheffield Metals International that includes David Stubbs, their assistant technical director, Jason Ayres, a member of their technical department, and Andy Lesmeister, their weathertight warranty inspector, this course highlights the basics of choosing a standing seam metal roof system and installing it using best practices.  

This session is also available on Thursday, October 31 from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.  

What is the value of MCM system fabricator certification | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Join MCA’s MCM Alliance Executive Director Tom Seitz, Alfrex’s Director of Commercial Operations Samuel Chastain, East Coast Metal Systems’ VP John Trifonoff and MillerClapperton’s President Zeke Miller as they discuss the growing importance and presence of metal composite materials (MCM) in the industry.  

Metal mastery demo: Metal retrofit systems with metal roofing | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

This session will explore the emphasis on sustainability that is driving the retrofit industry. Learn about all the considerations when working in this part of the industry from D.J. Highnote, Roof Hugger’s executive VP; Charlie Smith of McElroy Metals; and Ray Davis, a contract warranty inspector and technical advisor. 

This panel is also sharing on Thursday, October 31 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Using metal roofing to provide climate and budget conscious solutions for existing buildings | 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. 

Listen as Chuck Howard, the president of Metal Roof Consultants, and Dale Nelson of Roof Hugger discuss the different climate effects of a variety of roofing materials. This conversation will cover everything from different life cycle costs to insulation and reflectivity characteristics.  

Today’s architectural metal panels for interior applications | 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

This course highlights the adaptability and versatility of metal when it comes to interior design. It is taught by ATAS International’s Director of Interior Business Development, Kevin Cox. Kevin has over 25 years of experience in commercial construction and has worked in architectural business development. 

Thursday, October 31, 2024 

Advancements in cool roof and wall evaluation and compliance | 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 p.m. 

Learn from Audrey McGarrell, a project manager at the Cool Roof Rating Council, about the power of roofs when it comes to improving building energy efficiency and mitigating urban heat islands (UHI). This session will highlight the different compliance options and resources available for projects.  

Turning workforce development into dollars: Recruit, train, retain | 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 p.m. 

For this panel, Amy Staska, John Esbenshade and Jared Ribble of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) discuss the challenges of workforce development in the industry and what NRCA is doing to help professionals in the field recruit, energize and train new members of the industry. 

Achieving sustainable performance for decades with coil and extrusion metal coatings | 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. 

Explore the advantages of using coil and extrusion coatings to improve the sustainability of a built environment. Guided by Lauren Rogers, a sustainability manager at \, this session will cover everything from solar reflective coatings the LEED and Well credits! 

Holding strength comparison between short rail and direct attachments on racking systems on metal rooftop for solar applications | 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Attend this session and learn from Ricardo Barroso, the engineering, research and development director at S-5!. Ricardo will discuss the different uplift mechanical load tests that are out there and what that means for engineering racking systems. Overall, he will highlight the benefits of having a stronger uplift resistance system in terms of engineering and finances. 

Friday, November 1, 2024 

Metal mastery demo: Best practices in portable rollforming | 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 A.M 

Join D.J. Highnote, Roof Hugger’s executive VP; Charlie Smith of McElroy Metals; and Ray Davis, a contract warranty inspector and technical advisor, as they discuss the power of on-site rollforming. The trio will discuss common features on portable rollforming machinery, on-site troubleshooting strategies and best maintenance practices. 

Another session of this panel will also be on Thursday, October 31 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Chemistry to create color in coil coatings | 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. 

Brynn Wildenauer and Kiki Redhead from Sherwin-Williams Coil Coatings will be teaching this session about color in relation to coil coatings. This includes the basics of color theory, the relationship between color and performance and the importance of color in the built environment. Brynn is one of Sherwin-Williams DesignHouse's architectural color designers and Kiki is their global CMF and trend manager, which means she leads their Minneapolis, Minnesota DesignHouse. 

Sales 101: Successful sales strategies from cross-selling to up-selling | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 p.m. 

This session is your go-to for improving your sales strategy. Learn about the fundamentals of cross-selling, up-selling, relationship selling and conversion selling from S-5!’s Director of Sales, David Stahler. David has almost three decades of experience in sales and has worked with S-5! for over 13 years. 

AC472 and AC478 accreditations for improving quality and success in metal building design and construction | 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

Get an overview of two accreditation programs from a panel that includes International Accreditation Service’s Program Manager David Musselwhite, P. E.; the CEO of Halme Builders, Inc. Dan Halme; and the Executive Director for the Metal Building Manufacturers Association Tony Bouquot. As the title indicates, this panel will focus on presenting about and answering questions related to the Metal Building Systems Inspection Accreditation AC472 and Metal Building Assemblers Inspection Accreditation AC478. 

If you haven’t registered for METALCON 2024 yet, make sure to do so right away! For more about the education sessions, visit their website!