BY David White, CAE
While January is typically the season of renewal and resolutions, it is also an opportunity to reflect on the past year. I am particularly grateful to have this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those who made TCI EXPO such an amazing success in 2023!
Thank you to the 4,424 registered attendees who joined us in St. Louis, Missouri. Your presence alone was outstanding, but the commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the tree care industry you exhibited throughout the week was exceptional. You helped us not only set our second-highest attendance, but also made our first-ever TCI EXPO west of the Mississippi River a major success!
An extra shoutout to all the attendees who are continuing their education, even though the “in-person” conference is over. Attendees who purchased the All-Access Pass are able to watch prerecorded, digital education sessions through the end of January 2024 – a dynamic opportunity to really make the most of the TCI EXPO experience.
As of early December, 586 users enrolled in TCI EXPO Digital Access. The online learning content was already accessed 3,299 times, and 1,167 CEU awards were issued. These days, the scope of TCI EXPO education extends beyond the three days, so congratulations to those attendees committed to advancing their own tree care businesses.
Remember the exhibitors
Thank you to the 283 companies that chose to exhibit in 2023. You helped us fill 425,000 square feet of booth space, a new record for TCI EXPO. In addition, there were 1,745 exhibit staff on hand to help attendees find everything they were looking for, from carabiners to knuckle booms and everything in between.
You also helped us launch the Demo Dome, a feature we look forward to returning to in 2025, when TCI EXPO returns to St. Louis. Your dedication to this event and to this industry is unprecedented, and we are truly grateful to have you as partners in all things TCIA.
Thank you to The Academy and to NJ Crane Expert. Without your assistance, EXPO Climb and the TCIA Crane Crew Training Hub would not have become realities. Your teams were outstanding to work with, and exhibited a level of professionalism that helps to raise the bar for the entire industry. We appreciate you partnering with TCIA to make 2023’s TCI EXPO truly exceptional.
Finally, thank you to the tremendous TCIA staff for pulling this whole thing together. Planning and executing an event on the scale of TCI EXPO is no small undertaking. And inevitably, even the best-laid plans can go awry. The TCIA team continues to come together in ways large and small to continuously improve your experience at TCI EXPO. We can all be grateful for that!
Looking ahead
As we turn our attention to 2024, I am excited to build on the success of 2023. We look forward to seeing you all at TCI EXPO in Baltimore, Maryland, this fall, and continuing to help you advance your tree care company throughout the year. Let us know how we can help!
David White, CAE, is president & CEO of the Tree Care Industry Association and an ex-officio member of TCIA’s Board of Directors.
