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Young 2012 Expo Deadline Nears for Early Pricing
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The deadline is fast approaching for individuals interested in attending this year's Youngstown Ohio Utica & Natural Gas Conference & Expo, and exhibitor space is tightening as well.
As of yesterday, just seven exhibitor spaces remained, reported Bergen Giordani, director of special events for the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber, which is staging Young 2012. The event is scheduled to take place Sept. 6 at the Covelli Centre downtown, followed by a half-day session featuring industry-related panels Sept. 7 at the Holiday Inn Boardman.
The cost of attending the Sept. 6 session is $75 if registered by Aug. 15; after that, the cost increases to $100. The Friday session is an additional $50 and is only open to those registered for Sept. 6.
In addition, a VIP reception will take place Sept. 5 at the Holiday Inn Boardman for sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and attendees. The reception also is open to the first 150 non-exhibiting chamber members to register.
Different from last year's event, which featured several organizations talking about the industry in general, Young 2012 will have more representatives of companies on the main stage discussing macroeconomic conditions, drilling activity and their part in it, and where they see themselves in the Utica play in the future, said Eric Planey, the chamber's vice president for international business attraction, who coordinates shale development activities for the chamber.
"Last year we did a public session in the morning because we felt very strongly about educating the public about landowner legal rights and also about the science of hydraulic fracturing," he said. "We still are going to support public events in the future, but this year we want Young 2012 to be a business-to-business forum only so we could bring in more industry players."
Another change this year is holding the conference and expo in September. Last year, the inaugural event took place Nov. 30.
"We had some challenges on the Covelli show floor because the ice was down for hockey," Giordani said. Also, moving the event to early September provides greater opportunities for exhibitors. "We can have outdoor exhibits that people can walk through," she remarked. "So much of the industry is large equipment. We can better display that."
The move also led the chamber to shift its annual Business Showcase to Oct. 18. The event will be staged at Mr. Anthony's Banquet Center in Boardman.
"The showcase really could go any time of year so we pushed it back a month," Bergen said. Contracts will be mailed next week for the Business Showcase, she reported.
Those interested in attending Young 2012 can register at the event website. Limited sponsorships and vendor space are available by contacting Giordani at 330 744 2131, ext. 21, or via email.
Copyright 2012 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.