The rallying cry was, “Back to the beach,” as the 52nd Annual South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee took place July 28-30 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. While the location certainly was the same, the show proceedings sported a new, updated look.
The opening night’s trade-show preview was sponsored by Drillers Service Inc., Berkeley Pumps, CertainTeed, Mincon and PermaTank. Concurrent with the exhibit hall preview were special “Product Preview” sessions, in which representatives from Franklin Electric, Schneider Electric/Square D, Atlas Copco, Industrial Test Systems, In-Situ Inc., Berry Systems and S.G. Bowman presented their respective offerings in an intimate classroom-type setting.
The trade-show floor was open to all the next day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing the two-day total of exhibit hours to 11. There were well more than 200 exhibitors that filled more than 300 booth spaces, including bulk spaces (primarily rigs) – 40 indoors and 5 outdoors.
The Sunday night show preview (no kids) garnered positive feedback from the contractors in attendance, and the exhibit hall marketers agreed that this new feature of the Jubilee was, indeed, productive. Look for some tweaking of the second day’s schedule; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the trade- show floor made for a long day.
While the overall attendance figure of 3,200 was down from recent years, the number of contracting firms in attendance remained solid, according to Jubilee manager Jane Cain. The drop was attributed primarily to smaller contingents being brought along, she explains. “We’re going to look at diversifying our audience a bit in the future – by considering other things related to wells and drilling,” says Cain.
Educational opportunities abounded, with dozens of informative sessions spread throughout the duration of the show. Some of the more popular sessions were presented more than once, giving attendees a lot of flexibility in choosing the programs best suited for their situation. “We put some 400 people through the seminars,” notes Cain. “The feedback on the programs offered was positive. People especially liked that they could come and get all of their continuing education in one place.”
On the final day of the show, individual state association members got together at their meetings, and Water Quality Association and National Ground Water Association exams were given. While a lot of trade associations are not that generous with their support of other organizations, Jubilee is both gracious and big-picture thinking.
Special thanks go to the 2007 Jubilee sponsors, whose dedication helps make the show one of the industry’s premier events. Those companies are Atlas Copco, Berkeley, CertainTeed, Mincon and PermaTank.
Do your best to make it to Jubilee next year. The dates are July 26-28, 2008. You know the place – back to the beach.
ND
The opening night’s trade-show preview was sponsored by Drillers Service Inc., Berkeley Pumps, CertainTeed, Mincon and PermaTank. Concurrent with the exhibit hall preview were special “Product Preview” sessions, in which representatives from Franklin Electric, Schneider Electric/Square D, Atlas Copco, Industrial Test Systems, In-Situ Inc., Berry Systems and S.G. Bowman presented their respective offerings in an intimate classroom-type setting.
The trade-show floor was open to all the next day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., bringing the two-day total of exhibit hours to 11. There were well more than 200 exhibitors that filled more than 300 booth spaces, including bulk spaces (primarily rigs) – 40 indoors and 5 outdoors.
The Sunday night show preview (no kids) garnered positive feedback from the contractors in attendance, and the exhibit hall marketers agreed that this new feature of the Jubilee was, indeed, productive. Look for some tweaking of the second day’s schedule; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the trade- show floor made for a long day.
While the overall attendance figure of 3,200 was down from recent years, the number of contracting firms in attendance remained solid, according to Jubilee manager Jane Cain. The drop was attributed primarily to smaller contingents being brought along, she explains. “We’re going to look at diversifying our audience a bit in the future – by considering other things related to wells and drilling,” says Cain.
Educational opportunities abounded, with dozens of informative sessions spread throughout the duration of the show. Some of the more popular sessions were presented more than once, giving attendees a lot of flexibility in choosing the programs best suited for their situation. “We put some 400 people through the seminars,” notes Cain. “The feedback on the programs offered was positive. People especially liked that they could come and get all of their continuing education in one place.”
On the final day of the show, individual state association members got together at their meetings, and Water Quality Association and National Ground Water Association exams were given. While a lot of trade associations are not that generous with their support of other organizations, Jubilee is both gracious and big-picture thinking.
Special thanks go to the 2007 Jubilee sponsors, whose dedication helps make the show one of the industry’s premier events. Those companies are Atlas Copco, Berkeley, CertainTeed, Mincon and PermaTank.
Do your best to make it to Jubilee next year. The dates are July 26-28, 2008. You know the place – back to the beach.
ND
Special Jubilee Awards
Two special individuals were honored at this year’s Jubilee. J.P. Anderson and Calvin Lawhorn were presented with the McCall Award and the Vendor Appreciation Award, respectively.The McCall Award was created to honor individuals who have demonstrated long-term commitment and service to the water well industry, through activities related directly to the South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee or extended service to a state water well or ground water association affiliated with the Jubilee. J.P. “Andy” Anderson is a second-generation well driller who began with his father before taking over Anderson Well Drilling in 1986. Anderson served as president of the South Carolina Ground Water Association for three years, as vice president for two years, and he continues to be active in the association by serving as a director. At the state level, Anderson served on numerous joint regulatory committees with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control when the state’s well drilling regulations were revised. He is a vigilant advocate for the individual homeowner’s right to decide whether to use a well or public water.
This year’s Vendor Appreciation Award went to an individual, not a company. Calvin Lawhorn spent 42 years in the ground water industry – 27 years with Jacuzzi Pump, and 15 years with Grundfos. Throughout his career, Lawhorn was an enthusiastic supporter of the South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee, the National Ground Water Association and the Water Systems Council. As a national sales manager, he encouraged his sales reps to become involved with industry organizations on both state and national levels. He encouraged his co-workers to promote the organizations that support the industry. Lawhorn now is retired and lives in North Carolina with his wife of 59 years, Phyllis.
Jubilee's 2007-2008 Board of Directors
Tim BrannonTim Brannon Well Drilling
Gerrardstown, W.V.
Ediie Broussard
Drillers Service Inc.
Hickory, N.C.
Alan Burgess
Burgess Water Well
Mayfield, Ky.
Griffin Crosby
Crosby Well Drilling Inc.
Lake Wales, Fla.
Charles Falwell
Falwell Corp.
Lynchburg, Va.
Robert Frank
Frank’s Well Drilling Inc.
LaPlata, Md.
Paul Hofe
Hofe’s Well Drilling
Martinsburg, W.V.
David Hutson
Acme Well Co.
Durham, N.C.
Frank Jacobs
Jacobs Well Drilling
Manchester, Tenn.
Daniel Kelly
Kelly Well Drilling
Clinton, Ky.
Percy McNeill
McNeill Well Drilling
Columbia, S.C.
Dottie Mixon
Mixon Drilling
Spring Hill, Fla.
Billy Peeples
Southeastern Drilling
Americus, Ga.
Pete Peterson
Breland Well Drilling
Guyton, Ga.
Worth Pickard(Emeritus)
Carolina Well & Pump
Sanford, N.C.
Mark Reeder
Franklin Electric
Bluffton, Ind.
David Robison
W.S. Gowan Well Drilling
Spartanburg, S.C.
Robert Royall
Royall Pump & Well Co.
Powhatan, Va.
James Venable
Venable Brothers Well Construction
Walnut Cove, N.C.
Loyd Watson
Watson Well Drilling
Lascassas, Tenn.
Jane Cain
Cain Associates
New Market, Va.
