A pleasant surprise

Walking the streets of downtown Cincinnati last week for the second AGG1 Aggregates Forum & Expo, we thought we were in the wrong city. The Queen City could have easily been mistaken for Cleveland, where our offices are located, 250 miles to the northeast. How else to explain the bitter temperatures, gusty winds and deep snowfall? Cincinnati's winters are often mild, and rarely does it battle the same wintry conditions as other Midwest cities. So the timing couldn't have been worse. On Monday, when education sessions kicked off NSSGA's all-in-one event, more than 8 in. of snow fell in parts of the city. With exhibits opening on Tuesday and continuing into Thursday, we couldn't help but wonder how much attendance would suffer. What a pleasant surprise to see the show floor over the next couple of days as attendees filled the aisles and visited company booths. The foot traffic was impressive. While conditions were sloppy and undesirable outside, business was heating up inside – definitely positive signs for the industry as it continues to recover from the recession. Show organizers reported afterward that AGG1 and the co-located World of Asphalt & Conference posted record numbers for registrants (more than 6,200); amount of exhibit space (more than 87,000 net sq. ft.); and number of education session tickets purchased (6,600). And they will try to build momentum in the coming years. Future AGG1 dates and locations were announced, with Charlotte hosting in 2012 and San Antonio in 2013. The show is idle next year as ConExpo-Con/Agg takes center stage in Las Vegas. -- Brian Richesson