For the second consecutive time, AGG1 Aggregates Academy & Expo is headed to Nashville. 2024 also marks the third time since 2016 that AGG1 has taken place in the Music City.
The attractions that draw tourists to Nashville – the food, live music and the night life – are part of why the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) selected Nashville years ago for its 2024 show.
AGG1 will take place March 25-27 at the Music City Center downtown, alongside the co-located World of Asphalt.
Jen Dugas of the NSSGA, which puts on AGG1, says people are excited to be back in Nashville.
“I’m hearing nothing but excitement and energy about returning to Nashville,” says Dugas, who serves NSSGA as vice president of membership and events. “Nashville is a great draw and a great place for everyone to convene. It lends itself as a great host to a co-located show. It also allows for a lot of drive-in attendance, which is terrific. A lot of folks can get there in four or five hours. Nashville is a great place for us to be again in 2024.”
Planning for 2024
With 2023 being a ConExpo-Con/Agg year, NSSGA had an extra year between AGG1s coming into 2024.
This gap year was beneficial for the association for many reasons, but especially when it comes to analyzing and implementing feedback from 2022. Hearing from attendees and exhibitors after every AGG1 is part of what ultimately shapes the next iteration of the trade show.
“When you have a year off in a show cycle, it allows you a lot of time to take a look at the feedback from attendees from the prior year and make adjustments,” Dugas says. “When you have [a show] in back-to-back years, it’s not impossible to do so; it’s just not as easy. I think what we’ve done well this year is take feedback from the 2022 show to bring out the best in 2024.”
Attendees will have to wait until they are on-site to see what is new to AGG1 in 2024. The association is keeping under wraps much of what its adding or changing for this year’s show.
What Dugas did divulge, however, is how NSSGA focused on maximizing floor space and incorporating additional Music City Center food options when planning AGG1 2024.
“It’s a smaller footprint than many other convention centers that we go to, so [we want to make sure] we utilize the space so it makes the most sense for folks to feel comfortable, have a place to hang out, get something to eat and more,” Dugas says. “Our primary goal is to get people on the show floor, talking to exhibitors, making sales and making connections.”
Attendance anticipations
In the months leading up to AGG1, attendance was already trending above 2022’s mark. Two years ago, the show drew more than 10,000 attendees and 200-plus exhibitors to the Music City Center.
“I’m very bullish in terms of what our attendance is going to look like,” she says. “Registration trends have changed in the years post-pandemic, but right now, I’m feeling very good about where we’re at in 2024. I think we’re going to have another great year.”
Education sessions will once again play a pivotal role in AGG1, providing attendees an opportunity to hear from subject matter experts on relevant topics. More than 100 sessions are on tap for 2024, with topics including business and people management, the environment and sustainability, paving, safety and health, and more.
“NSSGA prides itself on delivering the freshest, most innovative content to attendees,” Dugas says. “We work really closely with a team of industry professionals who are volunteers for the association and work tirelessly to select sessions that are not only innovative, but also informative.”
Just as feedback is crucial to how NSSGA plans the show experience, it is equally important to what types of education sessions are offered. Following 2022’s show, Dugas found attendees were hungry for more education on professional development.
The association made a concerted effort to incorporate those types of sessions alongside building block topics – crushing, washing, operations, production and others.
“We came up with a lot more sessions and tweaked our schedule so we can include more sessions like [professional, business and leadership development],” Dugas says. “In 2022, most of our sessions were standing-room only, and we expect the same thing in 2024. We don’t just rehash the same things over and over again. It’s a big priority to make sure we’re always looking ahead and being innovative and thoughtful in our educational content.”
NSSGA Annual Convention
AGG1 isn’t the only event NSSGA is hosting in Nashville this month. The association’s Annual Convention will be held March 23-26 at the Omni Nashville Hotel across the street from the Music City Center.
This year’s convention will include NSSGA committee meetings, a 2024 political analysis and breakouts on topics critical to the aggregate industry, according to the association.
Two keynote speeches are also on tap for the convention, with Rich Thau delivering one and Joe Theismann giving the other. Thau is president of Engagious, a message-testing and message refinement company for major trade associations, advocacy groups, think tanks and corporation. Theismann was quarterback of the Washington Redskins from 1974 to 1985, and won Super Bowl XVII in 1982.
Dugas says both speakers appealed to NSSGA for different reasons. Thau’s work with the Swing Voter Project – especially in an election year – provides a timely and relevant message. Theismann was chosen, in part, due to the reception retired athletes have received at past conventions.
Former Baltimore Orioles shortstop and MLB Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. spoke at 2023’s convention.
“Thau is one of those guys our members are always very interested to hear from, [as far as] what the political landscape looks like,” Dugas says. “We thought he’d be a great addition in this election year.
“Theismann’s leadership story will resonate with our attendees,” she adds. “I don’t think there are many people who haven’t heard about what happened to him in that storied game.”
With AGG1 and the NSSGA Annual Convention just weeks away, NSSGA looks forward to welcoming the industry back to Nashville.
“To me, there’s nothing better than being part of connecting members to each other,” she says. “And while we’re doing that, we’re helping to watch the aggregates industry grow. It’s an honor to serve our members, and we’re excited to convene together in Nashville.”