2023 Spring Conference
Thank you for your support of our 2023 Spring Conference April 27 & 28 hosted by Empire Radiator in Rochester, New York! We’ll see you at AAPEX in the Fall!
Did you know all NARSA/IDEA members and their employees have access to all past presentations on our website? To view presentations from the 2023 Spring Conference, click here!
(Note: Members must be signed in to view all past presentations. If you need help logging in, contact linda@narsa.org)
PROGRAMMING SPONSORS LOCAL ATTRACTIONS
Programming
*Events are subject to change
7:30 a.m. – Continental Breakfast in Strathallan Ballroom (located on first floor next to the lobby)
8:30 a.m. – Shuttle departs for Empire Radiator (10 minute drive)
9:00 a.m. – Emissions Training – Diesel Laptops
10:00 a.m. – Safety Standards that Affect Your Business – Randy Gardner, Western Maryland Safety Consultants
During this presentation, Randy Gardner will cover LOTO, Hazcom. PPEs, OSHA record keeping, as well as employers’ responsibilities and hazard recognition.
11:00 a.m. – Oil Cooler Bundles & Service Procedures – L&M Radiator
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
1:00 p.m. Breakouts
- Scan Tool Demonstration – Diesel Laptops
- Proper Lifting & Rigging Techniques – Randy Gardner, Western Maryland Safety Consultants
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Empire Radiator Demonstrations
- Radiator Parts Fabrication Demonstration – Empire Radiator
- Tube Bending and Fabrication Demonstration – Empire Radiator
- Welding & Fixture Table Demonstration – Empire Radiator
4:15 p.m. – Cocktails
5:00 p.m. – Dinner
6:00 p.m. – Bus departs Empire for Strathallan Rochester Hotel (10 minute drive)
8:00 a.m. – Breakfast Buffet in City View Ballroom (top floor of Strathallan Rochester Hotel)
9:00 a.m. – “Today’s Human Resource Market” by Lisa Schaffer, Director of Career Services at North American Trade Schools
10:00 a.m. – “Simple Social Media for the Blue Collar” by Will Garrett, Radiator Supply House/Ice Box Performance
Will Garrett from Radiator Supply House will be sharing some Tips, Tricks, to help your social media platforms. Will is going to show some simple basics of how to engage people with a radiator that is hidden under the hood. Understanding social media is not used just to drive sales but has more useful advantages. Prepare to think 180° Different!
11:00 a.m. “Advantage Play™: The Art of Knowing What’s Next” by Joel Block, Bullseye Capital
12:00 p.m. – Lunch
12:45 p.m. – Awards / Hall of Fame Recognition for Pat O’Connor, longtime NARSA member.
1:00 p.m. – Going Deep into Advantage Play™ by Joel Block, Bullseye Capital
2:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. – Table Top Exhibits
Guest Speakers
Joel Block, Bullseye Capital
The adage the house always wins is a well-established truth in the world of gambling. However, there are a select few players who cause even the most powerful casinos to take notice. Dubbed Advantage Players™ (APs), these elite gamblers possess an unparalleled mastery of games like blackjack, which are typically considered unbeatable. By leveraging their exceptional skill, lightning-fast insights, and razor-sharp instincts, APs are able to outmaneuver even the most formidable of opponents, securing victories especially when the stakes are at their highest.
But what sets Advantage Players apart is their ability to bend the system in their favor. Joel Block, an Advantage Player™ and expert blackjack player, has taken these same skills, attitudes, and philosophies to the realm of business, making his mark in the competitive fields of venture capital and hedge funds. Examining over 1,000 companies, participating in over 40 deals, and contributing to opportunities worth over $1 billion dollars, Joel is a true master of his craft. And, he is generous in sharing his wealth of knowledge, captivating audiences with cage-rattling keynote speeches and media appearances.
Randy Gardner, Western Maryland Safety Consultants
Randal Randy Gardner has been in the safety field most of his professional life since graduating from college. He began his safety career working in the poultry industry. After only two years, he was recruited by a headhunter to go to work in the steel industry in Eastern Pennsylvania. Yes, he went from working with Chickens to Turkeys. And did he have his hands full. Working with a number of unions in one location, he was able to implement various programs that decreased lost time work and recordable injuries and workers compensation costs by over 50%. This was achieved by aggressive claims management, modified duty programs, and implementing a safety program entitled, We have a steak /stake in Safety. However, due to the impact of cheap steel from overseas, his division was closing and he had the opportunity to move to the corporate headquarters in Ohio and graciously declined.
Randy then tried his hand in entrepreneurship and purchased an Auntie Anne’s pretzel franchise. After 3 years, he sold his store and was hired by the HR/Payroll Company that provided him those services. As the MidAtlantic Risk Manager, his responsibilities involved working with over 200 small to mid-sized companies throughout the East Coast. From laundry facilities to general contractors and everything in between, he ensured that the companies were providing a Safe Work Environment. This was accomplished through training and education and a lot of traveling.
During his time there, he had numerous clients that provided services for the mining industry that were receiving fines while working on mine property. After acquiring the required experience and training, he became an MSHA instructor. In March of 2010, he decided to go on his own, and Western Maryland Consulting was in business. Currently, he consults with small to midsize companies providing safety services. In addition, he is contracted by Dominion Energy to oversee safety responsibilities on various projects. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and his passion for safety to his clients and anyone who will listen. Randy and his wife Tamra live in McHenry, Maryland and have two children who are both graduates of Penn State college.
Will Garrett, Radiator Supply House
President
Born and raised in the radiator industry, Will Garrett worked at his father’s industrial radiator shop. Will learned all aspects and became a natural at sales and service. Today as co-owner of Radiator Supply House with his brother Ryan they work great as a team, discussing their ideas and visions together to bring a better product and service to the industry and meet the needs of their customers. You can find Will anywhere in the office working on marketing strategies, trade shows, outside sales, or going right to the jobsite to help with ideas and cooling concerns. Will enjoys discussing better ways to improve cooling for unique situations. Will loves a challenge and has the knowledge to solve those specialty cooling concerns.
Lisa Schaffer, Director of Career Services at North American Trade
Schools
As Director of Career Services at North American Trade Schools in Woodlawn, Maryland, Lisa Schaffer assists students obtain and maintain employment by providing employment readiness strategies through an ongoing career search. She uses the school’s resources, industry contacts, and networking opportunities to place students in blue collar trades.
She is the wife and mother of blue collar workers and believes in the value and relevance of today’s blue collar workers. She is personally involved with the placement of students and realizes the importance of training, hiring and continuing to train today’s and tomorrow’s blue collar workforce. Lisa will give our attendees to the Spring Conference some insight to today’s workforce hiring environment and how to navigate hiring for the future. Every business’s success depends on the ability to acquire top talent and keep that talent. Find out what the job market is really like from a professional who is living it every day.
Sponsors
We also have sponsorship opportunities available! You can view the 2023 Spring Conference sponsorship levels here or email marymargaret@narsa.org if your company is interested in sponsoring.
Gold Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Our theme is Fabricate to Generate Profits. Add-on services are niches inside of an already niche business produce extra profits. Learn how Empire Radiator has invested in equipment to be able to fabricate parts to expand services and business. Representatives of Karcher Pressure Washers, Haun Welding Supply, Scotchman cold saws & Iron Workers, and Weiler Abrasives will also be in attendance to showcase the benefits of their products.
About our host Empire Radiator:
Empire Radiator is owned and operated by the Schelkun family. Services include custom build and repair for copper/brass and aluminum units. In addition to providing truck and industrial radiators and heat exchangers, Empire Radiator is also a Tubes N’ Hoses dealer.
In October 2021, they moved into a 30,000-square foot building which houses separate areas for radiator recoring, a CNC plasma table, welding, DPF cleaning, and inventory storage. Since joining NARSA members in 1997, the Schekluns have been very active in the association. They were recently featured in the Cooling Journal as our member spotlight and interviewed for our Solder & Soot podcast.
Empire Radiator
606 Hague St
Rochester, New York 14606
585-254-7140 | EMPIRERADIATOR@GMAIL.COM
Local Hotels
The Strathallan Hotel & Spa
550 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14607
585.461.5010 • Strathallan@mcmrochester.com
A limited number of rooms are first come, first served for NARSA/IDEA members. Members will receive a hotel link following registration and payment.
Nearby Attractions & Events
Rochester Museum & Science Center
657 East Ave
Rochester, NY 14607
Discover three floors filled with over 200 interactive science and history themed exhibits and science demonstrations. The Rochester Museum & Science Center ignites a passion for lifelong learning and equips our community with the foundational skills, knowledge, and understanding of the technologies needed to help solve society’s most pressing challenges.
National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House
17 Madison Street
Rochester NY 14608
The National Susan B. Anthony Museum & House shares the story of Susan B. Anthony’s lifelong struggle to gain voting rights for women and equal rights for all. We keep her vision alive and relevant by preserving and sharing Anthony’s National Historic Landmark home; collecting artifacts and research materials directly related to her life and work; and making these resources available to the public through tours, publications, the internet, and interpretive programs.
The Strong National Museum of Play
1 Manhattan Square Dr
Rochester, NY 14607
The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. It is one of the largest history museums in the United States and one of the leading museums serving families. The Strong houses the world’s largest and most comprehensive collection of historical materials related to play and is home to the International Center for the History of Electronic Games, the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, the Brian Sutton-Smith Library and Archives of Play, the Woodbury School, and the American Journal of Play. Together, these enable a multifaceted array of research, exhibition, and other interpretive and educational activities that serve a diverse audience of adults, families, children, students, teachers, scholars, collectors, and others around the globe.