Hot Mix

Sweeper Summit Adds Equipment Expo

The Sweeper Summit, known since its inception in 2012 as an executive workshop for 1-800-SWEEPER partners, manufacturers and invited guests, is evolving into an all-inclusive event for the power sweeping industry, according to Carolyn Bell, marketing and communications director for the Sweeper Summit.

“The last-minute introduction of an equipment exposition at last year’s Summit proved to add a dimension to the conference that was extremely successful and highly valued by all who attended,” Bell said. 

This year's Sweeper Summit will be held November 7-9 at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas in Henderson, NV.

To continue its growth and development, Sweeper Summit has formed a Sweeper Summit Advisory Board. Mark Carter, owner of Peloton Sweeping and long-standing NAPSA Board member, is advisory board chairman. Other board members include Amy Schwandt, publisher of Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction and former manager of National Pavement Expo; Roger Bostdorff, president of B2B Sales Boost, former NPE speaker and Sweeper Summit moderator; Derek Rayburn, owner and creative director for Scenic City Studios; and Sara Bowen, owner of Cobalt Consulting Marketing Group.

"The Sweeper Summit Advisory Board will make a great event even better," said Mike Lucht, president of 1-800-SWEEPER. "Our goal is to transform the Sweeper Summit into a must-see event exclusively focused on the power sweeping industry.”

In other 1-800-SWEEPER news, Ben Steyer has been named executive director. Steyer will focus on creating a strategic growth path to increase the servicing footprint of the 1-800-SWEEPER organization, market share for the partner companies and vendors while advancing the sweeping industry in general.

"I was immediately impressed with Ben’s passion for business growth and his ability to establish measurable goals that boost efficiencies," Lucht said. "Ben’s experience and success gives me great confidence in his ability to lead our group and serve as a resource to the partners and our customers well.”

For additional information go to; www.sweepersummit.com.

Vance Brothers Celebrates 95^th Year

Vance Brothers, headquartered in Kansas City, MO, is celebrating its 95th anniversary this year.

Founded in 1923 by the original Vance brothers, Len and Mert, the company continues to be a family-owned business. The two brothers began selling coal and feed near where their corporate office is now located. The brothers had the idea to build a homemade oil distributor to “oil the roads” and continued operating as a road contracting company until the 1960s when they entered the manufacturing industry.

Today, Vance Brothers has eight locations and is a leading manufacturer of pavement sealers and asphalt-based products as well as performs contracting services in the pavement preservation industry. The company continues to expand its capacity in both manufacturing and contracting and is excited to mark this historic anniversary.

Neyra Expands Manufacturing to Graham, NC

Neyra Industries Inc., Cincinnati, OH, recently expanded its service network with the opening of a new manufacturing plant in Graham, NC.

The expansion is accompanied by a shift in Neyra personnel to serve the new territory. Jeff Cayton, Neyra regional vice president, will be the main contact for customers in North Carolina and surrounding areas.

George Woehler, new North Carolina plant manager, has led operations for five Neyra plant locations, including Cincinnati, St. Louis, Richmond, Trenton and now Graham.

For more information about Neyra’s Graham plant contact Jeff Cayton at 513-479-2901 or [email protected].

Talbert Celebrates 80 Years in Trailer Industry

Talbert Manufacturing, a North American manufacturer of specialized heavy-haul solutions, is celebrating its 80^th anniversary in 2018.

Based in Rensselaer, IN, the company was started in Lyons, IL, by Austin Talbert in 1938 as a heavy haul, crane rental and construction equipment business. According to Andrew Tanner, Talbert Manufacturing president, Talbert was a pioneer in heavy-haul trailer safety, inventing the industry’s first gooseneck model with removable rear suspension.

He said 92 percent of Talbert’s standard and custom trailers built since 1985 are still on the road today.

“We’ve been in this business for a long time,” Tanner said. “But we’ve always stayed true to that same mission Austin Talbert had in 1938 when he set out to change the heavy-haul industry: to design and build safety, quality and durability into every last detail of our trailers.”