Kansas City, MO. – After the extreme winter weather events of the past year, public works professionals, consultants, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and Pacific Northwest snowfighters and ice experts will gather for a unique educational opportunity to acquire the latest insights in winter operations at the joint American Public Works Association (APWA) North American Snow and Pacific Northwest Snowfighters’ (PNS) Conference in Spokane, Washington, April 10-13, 2011. APWA is the public works community’s number one resource for information and expertise on winter operations, and PNS is renowned for their technical expertise in snow and ice.
The APWA/PNS conference partnership will bring together winter operations and snowfighter experts and professionals from across North America for four days of educational programs on snow equipment and technology, new ways of interpreting weather forecasts, exploring agencies’ best practices for ensuring the public’s safety and an opportunity to meet with and learn from top snow and ice experts.
“APWA is pleased to work together with PNS to present this joint conference. When winter weather strikes, it’s the local, state, and provincial public works agencies and snowfighters who are at the forefront. Citizens rely on public works and other first responders for their safety during snowfall, ice storms, power outages and other basic weather events; businesses rely on public works to assure continued economic activity in their local community. The Snow Conference is a place for sharing expertise, lessons learned, and planning for next winter,” said APWA Executive Director Peter B. King.
Educational sessions include a wide variety of specific winter maintenance topics, such as advantages and disadvantages of using a private weather service, GIS Integrated Snowplow, pros and cons of fixed anti-icing spray technology (FAST) systems, impact of climate change on highways and airport maintenance, situational readiness, sustainability, and privatization and use of contractors, as well as strategic plan for winter maintenance research.
“In addition to the Excellence in Snow and Ice Control Award presentation, APWA will launch the new Winter Maintenance Supervisor Certificate Program at this year’s Snow Conference,” said R. Mark DeVries, Superintendent of the McHenry County Division of Transportation in Woodstock, IL, and Chair of the APWA Winter Maintenance Subcommittee. “The General session speakers include motivational humorist Al Walker, who shares small characteristics that make a BIG difference to excellence, and Grant Goodeve, host of the Seattle-based outdoor/travel show “Northwest Backroads.” Also featured will be the General Session “Talk Show,” featuring an interactive panel discussion on Sustainability and Winter Maintenance Practices with APWA and PNS experts who share challenges and solutions in the battle to keep streets safe in winter,” said DeVries. “Attendees of this conference will go home with the latest information and current best practices in snow and ice management, and will be better prepared to keep the public safe.”
A major feature of the conference are the APWA/PNS Exhibits, which will showcase over 120 companies highlighting their innovative equipment and technology, and ground-breaking new products and services that are focused on snow and ice removal and winter operations.
For more information on the 2011 APWA North American Snow & Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Conference that will be held in Spokane, Washington, please visit the APWA website at: www.apwa.net/snow. For APWA media queries, contact APWA Media Relations and Communications Manager Laura Bynum at lbynum@apwa.net.
About APWA
The American Public Works Association (www.apwa.net) is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 29,000 members involved in the field of public works. APWA serves its members by promoting professional excellence and public awareness through education, advocacy and the exchange of knowledge. APWA is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with an office in Washington, D.C. and 63 chapters in the U.S. and Canada.
About PNS
The mission of the Pacific Northwest Snowfighters Association is to provide specifications for the highest quality products balancing quality of environment with providingthe safest possible transportation system and maximum mobility for the public during snow and ice events, within reasonable budgetary, product performance and environmental constraints. PNS is privileged to work with the foremost pioneers in deicing technology, and their Qualified Product List has become an industry standard.