Portable sanitation is a dynamic and fast-growing industry providing a critical service for a booming construction trade, thousands of special events and — maybe most importantly — during natural disasters. As the demand builds for your services, so does the competition you face in a crowded marketplace of restroom businesses trying to make their mark.
It’s like the wild west out there — at times you’re being stretched beyond your capacity to deliver services. And as you cope with these growing pains, newcomers are emerging from all directions to compete for your customers. In times like these, there is one good way to get an edge on the competition: continuing education.
And thankfully, one of the best opportunities for you to learn more about the wastewater business is right around the corner. The 2023 WWETT Show runs Feb. 20-23 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. It’s there that hundreds of exhibitors show their latest products — including restrooms, restroom trailers, hand-wash stations, vacuum service trucks and accessories.
The WWETT Show is also a learning lab through seminars on a variety of important topics for the small business owner, including systems and processes of restroom service, human resources issues, technician training and marketing your business.
There are more than 100 education seminars on the schedule, and a number of them will focus specifically on PROs and the challenges they face. A few are being coordinated by the Portable Sanitation Association International, while others come from other industry groups and leaders in manufacturing.
In my nearly 20 years of WWETT Show experience, one of the biggest challenges has been narrowing down the seminar list to a manageable number. It can be a challenge to balance the excellent education programming with your time on the exhibit floor checking out new products and visiting your vendors. It seems like there’s not enough hours in the day when you’re at the biggest show in wastewater.
So I’ve gone through the WWETT Show program and assembled some of the highlights for busy PROs. If you can get to most of these, you’ll take away a lot of valuable information for your business:
Right People, Right Seats – Leadership Methods to Improve your Team and PRO Business
You want to align your crew to jobs at your company that fit their skills and interests, and that’s what the Right People, Right Seats leadership method is all about, according to presenter Ty Rogers. The director of business development at Nevada-based PRO company Quick Space will share tips to change the outlook of PROs about business management with a goal of sustaining the team and boosting worker performance. Topics covered will include evaluating job duties to match worker strengths and sustainable management practices.
Portable Sanitation: Preparing for Extremes
PROs sometimes work in extreme conditions. Bitter cold, intense heat, high winds. But do you prepare for handling these extremes to provide the best possible service? Presenter Joe Payne, a Portable Sanitation Association International trainer and operations manager for Terry’s Pumpin’ and Potties in Nevada, will share key considerations in planning for restroom service in a variety of difficult situations. He will also address best practices for disaster relief work.
Portable Sanitation and Special Events
The PSAI has organized comprehensive best practice standards for serving special events and presenter Tony Watson, a PSAI trainer from United Site Services will cover the processes from bidding on a new event all the way to post-event meetings. Topics to be covered include determining the optimal number and type of equipment used, effective placement of units, service procedures for technicians and evaluating and troubleshooting common issues.
PSAI Basic Service Technician Training Series and Certification Exam
Many PROs bring members of their crew to the WWETT Show, so it’s convenient that the PSAI offers its Basic Service Technician Training and Certification program in Indianapolis. The day-long course will be conducted by PSAI trainers Joe Payne and Tony Watson, and covers these five topics: transportation and logistics, servicing portable sanitation equipment, safety and hazard management, recordkeeping and professional demeanor and conduct. New PROs can be tested and certified at the WWETT Show.
Why You’re Losing Your Best People - How to Avoid the Great Resignation
It’s a huge and timely question in this challenging work environment: How do I retain employees? In 2021, companies experienced an employee turnover rate ranging from 30% to 100%, and presenter Lauren Schieffer of 365Leadership aims to help you avoid a continuation of these unprecedented numbers. Learning objectives include analyzing the cause of worker turnover, the four key things employees seek from their work environment, how good communication practices can help retain workers and building a plan to meet needs of a post-pandemic workforce.
The Employment Audit: Ensuring Your Organization is 2023 Compliant from A to Z
We hear it all the time: Regulations are becoming burdensome for small businesses. PROs may be out of compliance with some of the wide array of government rules and regulations. Melanie Griffin, an attorney and founder of Spread Your Sunshine, aims to help your company follow rules concerning employment law to avoid any issues in the future. Topics covered will be creating a self-audit of your organization in common areas of noncompliance, identifying and addressing areas of concern, and highlighting recent changes in employment law.
Leading Through the Rain - Protecting Your Company from Internal and External Attacks
Susan Frew built a company into a multi-million dollar success story, only to almost lose everything due to a bad hire. Learn of Frew, director of business growth at Raincatcher, successfully rescued the company from $1 million in debts in 18 months. Frew will share how portable sanitation companies can safeguard against employee theft, turn around a debt-ridden organization, build profits and create a plan that will overcome future business challenges.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
Many PROs have learned the importance of a diverse workplace. Speaker Christopher Salem, CEO and business adviser at RS Group Holdings, will help your company create an inclusive work environment where all employees feel their voices are welcomed, heard and respected. Among the topics he will cover are explaining active listening techniques to communicate with a diverse workforce, ways to build, modify and enhance a diverse, multi-generational team, and proactive conflict resolution.
Understanding the First Page of Google and How to Use the Search Engines to Grow Your Business
Is it a mystery to you how your competitors’ names top the list of every Google search for portable restrooms? If you want to bring your company name higher on the list, and want to effectively utilize digital marketing opportunities, take a listen to presenter Mick Credere, director of Advanced Wastewater Promotions. He will analyze three areas of Google’s front page and help PROs make the most out of this search engine juggernaut. Topics include exploring the pros and cons of using Google to grow your business and what to look for in a digital marketing vendor.
ROAD TRIP?
Are you making the trip to Indy for the WWETT Show? If you are already planning to attend, I hope you gain knowledge to build and modernize your business through these seminars and viewing all the new equipment manufacturers have to offer. Being part of an event like the WWETT Show can give you an edge over competitors who stay home and stand pat with their businesses. Portable sanitation is ever-evolving, and networking opportunities at the show help you evolve with it. Good luck and safe travels!
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