Press & Media

Keynote Addresses Resilience and Mindset of Champions

The keynote presentation by Darren Woodson, Former NFL Player and current managing principle in commercial real estate, drew a capacity audience to experience a powerful lesson of strength, perseverance and excellence. Woodson shared insights from his athletic career and demonstrated how these lessons translate into effective leadership.

Categories of Focus

Prominent industry experts delivered comprehensive education on highly sought-after topics in decking and outdoor living. Decks Done Right, presented by Simpson Strong-Tie, delivered presentations covering topics from footings, post bases and beams to corrosion and pressure-treated wood. The Outdoor Living Stage featured sessions on client acquisition and relationship building, artificial intelligence in deck building, modern marketing, future-proofing business and strategic business growth. This year, two sessions were also presented in Spanish by professional builder Tony McKlem, covering topics such as efficient quotes and sales and effective uses of social media for businesses.

Expert decking professionals from Hollywood Decks, Culpeper Wood Preservers, GW Davis Co., and Simpson Strong-Tie participated in dynamic panel discussions, sharing proven strategies behind winning high-end clients, mastering the art of selling luxury outdoor living and leveraging artificial intelligence for smarter deck building. NADRA also hosted a three-day workshop titled The Deck Business Blueprint, presented by Legacy Deck Academy, covering essentials like sales, marketing, performance and hiring.

Innovation took center stage at Deck Expo as companies unveiled groundbreaking products and services that are revolutionizing the outdoor living landscape. MoistureShield introduced CoolDeck Technology, the industry's first composite decking solution designed to significantly reduce heat absorption. Simpson Strong-Tie presented the latest collection of structurally rated fasteners and anchors designed to be stronger, faster and safer installation for outdoor living professionals.

"The industry's best minds united this week to advance critical conversations that positively impact the entire sector," shares Dana Hicks, Group Director, Pool Spa Patio and Deck Expo. "The progress demonstrated here reflects the industry's unwavering commitment to advancement, advocacy and innovation which ultimately benefit consumers everywhere through safety standards, energy-efficient practices and genuine breakthroughs across all categories."

More than 50 in-depth decking and outdoor living training sessions focused on the enhancement of outdoor living spaces span multiple tracks: business, design and construction, outdoor living and service. Building professionals will host sessions exploring various materials like plasters, as well as design elements, remodels and renovations. Business experts are set to deliver key insights into effective management, technological innovation, client relations and marketing for industry professionals.

A keynote presentation will feature Former NFL champion Darren Woodson, in the session titled “Creating Cultures of Excellence with Darren Woodson” who will share what leaders must embrace in order to build a culture of excellence with their teams. Woodson will provide critical insights into embracing change, fostering competition and building organizational excellence.

On the show floor, the Outdoor Living Stage covers an array of topics including “Smarter Deck Building with AI: Tools That Work as Hard as You Do”, offering a practical look at how builders can use artificial intelligence to save time, increase sales and enhance customer experience, even with zero technical background. Another session, “The Hiring Funnel: A Step-by-Step System to Attract, Filter, and Hire Top Talent”, addresses how to create a structured, repeatable hiring process to help find the right people without wasting time.

“Deck Expo is the most essential place for professionals to develop new connections and find new solutions that continue to fuel the ongoing industry growth and build the future of outdoor living," shares Dana Hicks, Group Director, International Pool Spa Patio and Deck Expo. "The products shown here will become the essential elements of tomorrow's spaces, setting new standards for comfort, functionality and design that consumers will soon consider indispensable."

Special Events and Networking Opportunities:

• Welcome Party: A networking opportunity on Wednesday, October 22 at AYU Dayclub in Resorts World.
• Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge: An annual design competition for pool and outdoor living designers.

"Deck Expo is hands down the must-attend event for the outdoor living world,” says Michael Beaudry, Executive Vice President of NADRA. “It is the place where leading professionals, from manufacturers to builders and remodelers, come together to check out the latest technology, products, and training. With the industry growing fast, Deck Expo is still the best spot to connect, learn and grow your business."

Expo Hall Pass holders will have access to the expansive expo hall, all show floor educational programming and three thought-provoking keynote sessions. Core Conference Pass holders receive everything included in the Expo Hall Pass, plus guaranteed access to an additional 50+ specialized conference sessions.

The advanced matchmaking platform allows participants to search through attendees to find specific contacts that match business needs, request meetings with potential partners or clients and schedule conversations at the on-site lounge or directly at vendor booths. To access the dashboard, please visit www.deckexpo.com.

To register for the event, please visit www.deckexpo.com.

About Deck Expo

Deck Expo is the ultimate gathering for decking and outdoor living professionals across North America. This prestigious event, proudly sponsored by NADRA (North American Deck and Railing Association), brings together industry leaders, innovators, and experts to showcase the latest in outdoor living solutions.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets, a subsidiary of Informa plc (LON:INF), creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio comprises more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Engineering, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, visit www.informamarkets.com.

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