The deadline is nearing to register for the seventh EDiS Institute on April 19 from 7:15 a.m. until noon at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington. The event in sponsored by regional contractor and developer EdiS Company.
Three speakers will address economic and business issues as well as environmental stewardship in advance of Earth Day on April 22nd.
Proceeds from the event help to underwrite Delaware’s vocational education student attendees and provide financial support to the three vocational education school districts in Delaware.
Past EDiS Institutes have contributed $150,000 to vocational education. Funds were used to help students purchase tools and for materials, supplies and equipment for student construction projects at the schools.
Keynote speaker Andrés Duany is an internationally recognized architect and pioneer of New Urbanism, a global movement to end suburban sprawl. His firm’s planning practices are found in cities and towns throughout the world. His latest book, The Smart Growth Manual, advances sustainable techniques.
Duany will give an update on what the next phase of community planning looks like and how it positively impacts the environment. The only repeat speaker since the Institute’s inception in 1998, Duany’s first appearance helped motivate New Castle
County to adopt a form based code, the Smart Code, as an option for developers. EDiS and its partners have used this code to create a plan for a 2,000-acre community, The Town of Whitehall, near Middletown, Del.
The second speaker is a best-selling co-author and business consultant who has been featured on ABC andFox Business. John R. Patterson is a customer loyalty and leadership authority who will deliver a presentation based on his latest book: Wired & Dangerous – How Your Customers Have Changed And What To Do About It.
John E. Stapleford is currently Director of the Caesar Rodney Institute’s Center for Economic Policy and Analysis. He is also a past Senior Economist for Moody’s Analytics and Director of the University of Delaware’s Bureau of Economic Research. Stapleford also founded the Delaware Small Business Development Center.
EDiS established the EDiS Institute in 1998 in honor of the company’s 90 years in the construction industry.
The event was designed as a biennial half-day forum to examine important industry topics, increase communication between the industry and vocational education institutions and encourage high school students to choose a construction-related career. Several opportunities for networking have been built into the schedule.
EDiS Chairman E. Andrew DiSabatino Jr. said, “EDiS is proud to provide this opportunity for business and industry to come together for the benefit of vocational education and, this year, to celebrate Earth Day with a special focus on the environment.” He added, “Past EDiS Institutes have been extremely well received and we have great support and interest again this year.”
To recognize Earth Day 2012 and EDiS Company’s ongoing commitment to the environment, EDiS President Brian DiSabatino will present EDiS Company’s GreenSense Awards for Business Investment in “green” and Personal Investment in “green” to honor current best practices.
Winners are selected from nominations of EDiS’ extended “family” of clients, owner’s representatives, school board members and subcontractors. Winners are recognized with a seat on EDiS’ Generation III GreenSense Scholarship selection committee and the GreenSense Scholarship will be given in their name.
The 2012 EDiS Institute Presenting Sponsor is R.C. Fabricators, Inc. with additional support from PNC Bank; Richards, Layton & Finger; Tri-State Carpet, Inc.; WSFS Bank and a host of industry and business contributions.
Organizations that have worked with EDiS Company to help promote the EDiS Institute include the Associated Builders and Contractors of Delaware and Eastern Pennsylvania Chapters, Chester County Bar Association, Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, Commercial-Industrial Realty Council, Delaware Contractors Association, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Women in Construction and The Committee of 100-Delaware.
.The registration deadline is April 9, 2012. For registration information please visit ediscompany.com/institute or call Cyndi at 302-421-2882.
