Kim Rogers
Hanley Wood Exhibitions
KRogers@HanleyWood.com
972.536.6353
INTERNATIONAL POOL | SPA | PATIO EXPO SCORES A SLAM DUNK WITH BASKETBALL LEGEND BILL WALTON AS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER
DALLAS -- June 5, 2008 -- Legendary NBA player Bill Walton will deliver the Keynote Address during the 2008 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, November 18-20, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada USA.
Held immediately prior to the opening of the show, the Keynote Address, “Nothing but Net,” will take place on Tuesday, November 18, from 10:00 am to 10:50 am in the Mandalay Bay Ballroom.
During his presentation, Walton will discuss the characteristics that create success in business, including focusing on teamwork, overcoming adversity, hard work, the fundamentals and a positive attitude. “We are delighted that Bill Walton will be offering his first-hand experience,” said Donna Bellantone, Director of the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo. "As a proven leader, Walton will provide attendees with a wealth of inspiration and business advice based on a brilliant career in sports."
Walton played college basketball for John Wooden at UCLA, where he was a member of the 1972 and 1973 NCAA championship teams that accumulated an NCAA record 88-game winning streak. He also won the Player of the Year Award in 1972, 1973 and 1974, and went on to become the number one overall NBA draft selection in 1974.
Walton had an incredibly successful professional basketball career, winning two NBA championship titles and being named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1978. In 1993, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame; in 1997, he was selected as one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players of all time. Walton is also the second of only four players in the history of the NBA to lead the league in both blocked shots and rebounding in the same season.
Walton currently works as the lead analyst for ESPN/ABC’s coverage of the NBA and is a regular contributor to NBA.com, ESPN.com, ESPN Radio and ESPN The Magazine. In 2001, Walton won an Emmy Award for “Best Live Sports Television Broadcast.” He resides in his hometown of San Diego with his wife Lori. They are the proud parents of four sons: Adam, Nathan, Luke and Chris.
“Bill Walton’s Hall of Fame career provides a great story,” said Bill Weber, APSP President and CEO. "Many similarities exist between what it takes to succeed at the highest level of competitive sport and what it takes to succeed in the challenging pool, spa and backyard marketplace."
In addition to Walton, the Expo will feature the full gamut of industry product categories, including pools, spas, hot tubs, water features, casual furniture, pumps and heaters, lighting, landscape décor, hearth, grills and much more.
The educational conference will feature an array of 83 seminars addressing a myriad of up-to-date industry issues and trends with tracks designed especially for retail owners and managers, landscape architects and designers, service managers and technicians, as well as residential and commercial builders and contractors.
Special education programs include the new Executive Academy, the APSP Advanced Pool Builder Program, the APSP Advanced Retailer Program, the APSP Advanced Service Program, in addition to the Genesis 3 Design School and Drawing School.
The Keynote is included free of charge in all registration packages. Registration is required and can be made at www.PoolSpaPatio.com beginning in late June. For more information about the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo, please call 972.536.6350 or 888.869.8522.
About International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
The International Pool | Spa | Patio unites the former Int’l Pool & Spa Expo, Backyard Living Expo and AQUA Show under one roof to create unique opportunities for networking and interaction that won’t exist at any other event. Attendees include pool/spa builders/installers, retailers, service technicians, landscape architects/designers, custom home builders and home design center professionals. The accredited conference program will feature 83 seminars addressing a myriad of industry issues. The Expo ranks #101 in the 2007 Tradeshow Week 200. The official show sponsors include the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP), Pool & Spa News and Custom Home Outdoors. The show is endorsed by the Genesis 3 Design Group.
About Hanley Wood
Hanley Wood, LLC, is the premier media company serving housing and construction. Through four operating divisions, the company produces award-winning magazines and Web sites, marquee trade shows and events, rich data and custom marketing solutions. The company also is North America’s leading publisher of home plans. Hanley Wood Exhibitions [Dallas] conducts 17 trade shows, including World of Concrete, one of the top 20 trade show events in the country.
Founded in 1976, Hanley Wood is a $250 million company owned by affiliates of JPMorgan Partners, LLC. CCMP Capital Advisors manages the Hanley Wood investment for JPMorgan Partners.
# # #