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ATTENTION SOUTHEAST BRANCH MEMBERS!

Do you have news or events to share on this webpage?  Send them to Sharon Valiante at svaliante@missouricitytx.gov


 

Texas Public Works Association Annual Conference & Equipment Show

Written by Sharon Valiante

 

The Texas Public Works Association Annual Conference & Equipment Show, hosted by the Southeast Branch of TPWA, was held, June 11-14, 2008, at the Moody Gardens Hotel, Resort and Convention Center, Galveston, Texas.  The event saw well over 400 delegates register and over 100 exhibitors participate in the Equipment show.

 

The event kicked off with a Golf Tournament at the newly renovated Moody Gardens Golf Course on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, followed by the event’s Welcome Reception, poolside terrace at Moody Gardens.  A special feature this year for our welcome to the conference was the “Texas Hold Em” poker contest, which was held in the exhibit area – something new for the exhibitors to encourage visitation and traffic thru their area.  The contest was well received and most all enjoyed the excitement of drawing that biggest and best hand!  The prize? - $500 cash!  The winning hand was a four of a kind – and, yes, they all were Aces.  With all that excitement behind us, Thursday morning bright and early, the big breakfast and general session kicked off the technical part of the conference.  That morning’s guest speaker, Michael Marot, PE, Director of Public Works, City of Houston, gave a great recount of just a portion of what the City of Houston was up to in Public Works. From there, it was time to reel it in and head for the technical sessions.  The education program was a treat with many speakers and presentations to rival the best of the best educational programs.  Intertwined with the technical sessions, the exhibitors received, entertained, and talked turkey (biz) with many of the conference delegates and visitors about their equipment, services and wares.  That night, all were treated to a Family style hamburger, hot dog with all the trimmings buffet dinner at the Moody Gardens Palm Beach area.  What a treat!  It rained a bit, but all enjoyed the event with a complimentary glass of wine while we waited for the thunder shower to go its course.  After that, Katy bar the door – good food, good spirits (pun intended here, too!) and good tunes and times were in store!  Not too much party and fun, though, as it was back to the grind on Friday morning - breakfast, educational sessions and then the technical tours to cap off the educational program.

 

And, then – the all waited for Awards Reception and Banquet on Friday night.  What a grand event with many in attendance.  This event was one of the biggest so far for our area – we received and seated almost 200 at this event and awarded almost 50 well-deserved awardees.  The reception prior to the banquet also saw two of the local Southeast Branch’s members receive some national recognition – Eric Dargan – City of Houston, Public Works and Engineering – Community Service and Scott R. Elmer, PE, City of Missouri City Public Works – Top Ten Public Works Leader of the Year – 2008.  And, finally, as always to say farewell and to end a great conference, the Lime Association of Texas’ Farewell Lime Breakfast hit us on Saturday morning – yes we have lime sherbet for breakfast, and oatmeal, too!

 

 

Please Note:  A Special Thanks to our Platinum and Event Sponsors

 

 

Platinum Sponsors   Event Sponsors  
       
Bury + Partners   AGC of Texas  
Freese and Nichols   HNTB  

Huitt-Zollars

 

Jacobs Carter Burgess

 
Rush Truck Center   Lime Association of Texas  

TYMCO

     
       
       
Gold Sponsors   Silver Sponsors  
       
Chiang, Patel & Yerby   Aguirre & Fields  
Dannenbaum Engineering   Binkley & Barfield  
East Jordan Iron Works   Bureau Veritas  
Fugro Consultants   CDM  
Malcolm Pirnie   Cutler Repaving  
SEM Materials   Hanson Pipe and Precas  
    HDR/Claunch & Miller  
    Kimloch Equipment & Supply  

Golf Sponsors

  Neel-Schaffer  
    N. Harris County Regional Water Authority  
HDR/Claunch & Miller   PBS&J  
Huitt-Zollars   S & B Technology  
Jacobs Carter Burgess   TCB AECOM  
Rapid Road Repairs Products   Transystems  
       
       
Refreshment Underwriters  
       
Amani Engineering  
Geotest Engineering  

 



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Last modified: August 10, 2008