We're looking forward to bringing the utility industry back together in 2023 at The Utility Expo. Held September 26-28 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, show attendees will be able to:
- See, touch, and experience the latest equipment and technology
- Network with thousands of industry peers from all utility sectors
- Test-drive and compare equipment and products
As the show approaches, we're bringing you the latest news about what exhibitors have in store. We sat down with Kevin Smith, GM of Ditch Witch, to discuss the company’s long history as an exhibitor, the importance of customer connections and more.
The Utility Expo: The Utility Expo is approaching. From a long-time exhibitor’s perspective, why do you feel it’s important for Ditch Witch to have a presence at this show?
Smith: We have such great relationships thanks to The Utility Expo, and it’s such a tight-knit group. And, as you consider those long-term relationships, it’s going to be great to get together face-to-face at the show, because so many key players are going to be in attendance. The show really serves as the perfect opportunity to examine and discuss future needs, as well as consider how we’ll have to work together as an industry.
At the end of the day, if you really think about it, what we do in this industry matters. We’re improving people’s lives with the work we do building the world’s infrastructure. To me, that’s why I think it’s going to be exciting to be at The Utility Expo, because it highlights so many of those solutions that truly improve people’s lives.
To receive the latest updates and relevant information related to The Utility Expo, visit show alerts.
The Utility Expo: What can attendees expect from Ditch Witch, and what are you most looking forward to in Louisville?
Smith: For us, it’s going to be all about our strong focus on the jobsite and what we have to offer to help customers be more productive. Workforce continues to be a major constraint for everyone, so finding mechanized solutions to help contractors be more productive is very important to Ditch Witch.
We’re also really excited to be able to showcase to all our customers what’s available through this broader Ditch Witch division that we have with our worldwide dealer organization. We’re really looking forward to talking about that, along with how we can deliver more solutions to our customers. In addition, we’ll have some really exciting new products that we’ll be able to showcase along the way.
Ultimately, though, we can’t wait to get back to Louisville and talk about how we can do things together as an industry.
The Utility Expo: Organizations of all types and sizes experienced so much due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We saw organizations pivot and expectations change for events. In what ways will your organization grow and evolve in order to make the most of The Utility Expo and other customer connection opportunities?
Smith: If you think back through the history of trade shows, it used to be the premier way to truly go and learn about new technical solutions, and then you take that information back and you begin to make decisions for the future. And in today’s environment, we’ve seen a lot of ways to be able to learn more about solutions that are out there, in terms of using the internet and a lot of other avenues. But to me, The Utility Expo – or as it was previously known, ICUEE – stands alone as the premier event for the utility industry. Dating back all the way to the 1960s, when those events were held out in the cornfields of Illinois, the show has grown into an extremely valuable gathering for the industry. That’s because it provides not only a unique perspective, but more importantly, it’s hands-on. Attendees can really get ahold of equipment and get a strong sense of its capabilities and understand how these solutions can make them more productive.
So, to me, that’s our focus. We’re going to look at The Utility Expo as an opportunity to help our customers understand these solutions, as well as being able to see them and engage with them in a way that they can take back to their organizations and help position them for the future.
About The Utility Expo
Formerly known as ICUEE, The Utility Expo is the largest event for utility professionals and construction contractors seeking comprehensive insights into the latest industry technologies, innovations and trends. The biennial trade show, known for equipment test drives and interactive product demonstrations, takes place in Louisville, Kentucky. The next edition will be Sept. 26-28, 2023. For more information, visit The Utility Expo.
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