Electric West 2009: Positively Charged by the Quality of Those in Attendance
Many participants pleased despite challenging economy

Stamford, CT (March 25, 2009) — The 21st annual Electric West event, co-located with Power Quality and Reliability, (www.electricshow.com), held March 16-20, 2009 at the Las Vegas  Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, brought close to 2100 participants, including 460 exhibitors personnel. This year’s event, targeted to master electricians, journeymen, and apprentices showcased the latest information and the newest, most innovative products in the Electrical and Power Quality industries. Heavy emphasis was placed on alternative/renewable energy; the largest attended topic of the two programs.

The conference program at Electric West featured 35+ sessions in focus areas including the National Electrical Code®, general electrical business, and renewable energy. The Power Quality & Reliability conference program featured 20+ sessions covering topics such as power quality and safety, and technology integration. Many sessions in both programs were accredited for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Professional Development Hours (PDHs); required for electrician license renewals.

While this year’s attendance was affected by the downturn in the economy, many vendors proclaimed to have seen the quality of decision makers crucial to the success of their business. Attendees and speakers were also very pleased with the quality of the conference content, many of which requested information regarding speaking or attending next year’s event.

The exhibit hall at Electric West and Power Quality & Reliability 2009 occupied 19,800 square feet and featured close to 150 exhibiting companies, featuring products from business equipment & services to lighting, to testing equipment, and more. Exhibit pavilions included Power Quality and Renewable Energy marketplaces.
Event highlights included a keynote presentation by Ed Begley, Jr., actor and environmental activist on small changes people can make right now for a more sustainable living environment, followed by a book signing; a power quality ‘question and answer’ panel session; and a display of the 2009 EC&M Product of the Year Competition nominees, highlighting the inventive products to assist electrical professionals with doing their jobs efficiently and effectively.

The show’s overall positive response proved that, despite a challenging economy, the need for the latest information and solutions in the electrical and power quality industries remains constant.

When asked about the importance of face-to-face events in the current economic climate, Rita Ugianskis, Show Director of Electric West states, "In today's economy, companies often make the mistake of closing their wallets to career education and networking, yet research shows that it's more important than ever to continue these actions to thrive in the current climate, and to get the edge during the upswing. All located under one roof; a tradeshow brings industry professionals together for education, networking, and to match a company’s products with an end-user’s specific needs. The value of tradeshows cannot be underestimated."

Electric West and Power Quality & Reliability are presented by EC&M, Electrical Wholesaling and PQNewsBeat – products within Penton’s Electrical Systems, Energy, and Construction industry group. Penton Media, Inc. the largest independent business-to-business media company in the U.S., serving more than six million business professionals every month. The company's market-leading brands are focused on 30 industries and include 113 trade magazines, 145 Web sites, 150 industry trade shows and conferences, and more than 500 information data products. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com