“We came up with a lot more sessions and tweaked our schedule so we can include more sessions like [professional, business and leadership development],” Dugas says.
“In 2022, most of our sessions were standing-room only, and we expect the same thing in 2024. We don’t just rehash the same things over and over again. It’s a big priority to make sure we’re always looking ahead and being innovative and thoughtful in our educational content.”
NSSGA Annual Convention
Also taking place in Nashville is NSSGA’s Annual Convention, running from March 23-26 at the Omni Nashville Hotel across the street from the Music City Center.
According to NSSGA, its 2024 convention will include the association’s committee meeting, a 2024 political analysis and breakouts on topics critical to the aggregate industry.
Convention attendees can also sit in on a pair of keynote speeches. Delivering one keynote will be Rich Thau, president of Engagious, a message-testing and message refinement company for major trade associations, advocacy groups, think tanks and corporations. The other keynote is Joe Theismann, the quarterback of the Washington Redskins team that won Super Bowl XVII.
Dugas says Thau appealed to NSSGA because of his work with the Swing Voter Project. Theismann was selected due to the way retired athletes resonated with NSSGA members in the past.
“Thau is one of those guys our members are always very interested to hear from, [as far as] what the political landscape looks like,” Dugas says. “We thought he’d be a great addition in this election year.
“Theismann’s leadership story will resonate with our attendees,” she adds. “I don’t think there are many people who haven’t heard about what happened to him in that storied game.”
With AGG1 and the NSSGA Annual Convention just weeks away, Dugas says NSSGA looks forward to welcoming the industry back to Nashville.
“To me, there’s nothing better than being part of connecting members to each other,” she says. “And while we’re doing that, we’re helping to watch the aggregates industry grow. It’s an honor to serve our members, and we’re excited to convene together in Nashville.”
