Why In-Person Events Work!

A message from Heather Schuler, Membership & Marketing Director

Terri and Heather Waste Expo 2024 We all cherish the unique experience of face-to-face connections, be it in our professional or personal lives. One aspect we particularly value and often discuss with our members is the power of networking. This was vividly demonstrated during our recent participation in WasteExpo and ISRI, where Terri Ward and I connected with industry peers, members, and potential members.

Our journey to ISRI in Las Vegas in mid-April was not just about business; it was about community. As representatives of the CDRA, we were walking this show for the first time and had limited expectations. But, we quickly realized the value, first in terms of supporting our members. Seeing so many member companies exhibiting and individuals attending this show was exciting. Secondly, the prospecting was a testament to the strength of our community, as we met and acquired new members by having conversations at booths and in the aisles. We learned firsthand how CDRA fills a niche not otherwise served by larger, broader associations. A special thanks to Michael Bros.’ Will Hancock, who also attended and made introductions for us. Will’s energy and expertise are unmatched!

Members together Our next stop was exhibiting at WasteExpo in Vegas. The energy at this show was terrific, and once again, it was an optimum opportunity to have face-to-face conversations with members attending and exhibiting. We also had numerous members presenting at the conference, representing the incredible knowledge and expertise within CDRA, which also drove traffic to our booth. Several members joined us to help share the value of being a CDRA member. This is the first show I've worked on where multiple prospects reached out before returning home. We’ve already confirmed multiple members from both conferences and are confident we will convert more in the coming weeks!