Page 6 - Jan-Feb 2020

TCAPWA/SWANA CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS By Lisa Hood Skinner & Klair Kimmey
2019 Conference Overview

Three solid days of networking, professional
development and charitable giving were
balanced by an evening filled with bluegrass
music and freshwater fish when the Public
Works professionals visited Chattanooga for
the joint meeting of the Tennessee Chapter
of the American Public Works Association
(TCAPWA) and Solid Waste Association of
North America (SWANA). The Chattanooga
Marriott Downtown Hotel served as the
host city’s site November 5-7 for the annual
conference and exhibition hall activities while
near-by First Tennessee Pavilion was the site of
the Annual Equipment Rodeo.

Tuesday: Golf and Tours

Weather was picture-perfect and warm as the
Brown Acres golf outing kicked off the Tuesday
activities. After enjoying a sack lunch, 10 teams
sped off in a lively shotgun start. Team photos
are on page 14.

Afterwards, a group of nearly two-dozen
conference-goers spent the afternoon on an
impressive walking tour at Roadtec’s Asphalt
Paving Equipment Facility. An industry
leader in road building and asphalt paving
equipment, Roadtec took the group through its
manufacturing facility, where they make milling
machines, asphalt grinders, cold-in-place
recycling machines, soil stabilizers and more.
Following the tour, our hosts provided a buffet
of snacks and a variety of door prizes and goody
bags.

Wednesday: Rodeo and Exhibit Hall Opening,
YP Activities

Competition was hot at Wednesday’s Annual
Equipment Rodeo at First Tennessee Pavilion,
where chilly breezes greeted the participants
who took on the machines and demonstrated
their skills. The field of 120 Public Works
operators was the largest ever in the history
of this event and included a number of female
operators. The Orange Grove Center’s choral
group provided music during the barbecue
lunch sponsored by CMI Equipment. Cornhole
was available for the spectators and operators
during their waiting time. After the lunch
competition moved at a brisk pace in order to
give everyone the chance to compete before the
4 p.m. cutoff time.

Later Wednesday afternoon, scores of
exhibitors and vendors kicked off the Exhibit

6 TPW January/February 2020