Editor's Letter--The Learning Season

Business owners and managers can list many reasons why it is worthwhile to attend an industry conference or trade show. Some of these reasons may seem like an excuse to get away from the office for a few days, but many others stand up to scrutiny quite well.

For those in the information destruction business, the ability to learn about new developments in the industry tops the list of legitimate reasons to disrupt the office routine to attend a conference.

Civil and legal liabilities, as well as legal mandates, help determine the future course of business. Thus, a conference or seminar with updated information on laws and regulations of concern to confidential shredders can offer a rare opportunity to get caught up on such policies at one time, in one place.

Although they are part of a relatively young industry, document and information destruction companies are fortunate to have an established trade show to attend each year: the Annual Conference of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID, at www.naidonline.org).

This year’s NAID Conference will take place in San Antonio April 6-8. As it has in the past, the NAID Conference will include information sessions and workshops, an exhibit area featuring the products and services of industry suppliers and numerous networking and social opportunities.

For those in the document destruction industry, the NAID Conference offers the most important opportunity to learn about new developments affecting the industry, to comparison shop for shredding equipment and to trade tips and stories with fellow shredding company managers from around the country.

Those hungrier for information will have additional opportunities in the spring and summer to attend other events, some with more information on electronic data destruction and others with more on paper recycling markets.

Destruction professionals who also handle electronics might wish to consider the Electronics Recycling Summit, which is in New Orleans May 16-19.

Those seeking information about the state of paper recycling markets have several events to choose from, including the Southeast Recycling Conference (Pensacola Beach, Fla., March 6-9); WasteExpo, (May 2-5, Las Vegas); and the Paper Recycling Conference & Trade Show (June 26-28, Atlanta).

GIE Media Inc., publisher of SDB, manages the Paper Recycling Conference & Trade Show. Those looking for information on the show’s programming (which includes a session specifically on document destruction), exhibitors and an updated schedule can visit www.PaperRecyclingConference.com.