Education + Demos
Looking for top notch education in the hardscape industry? Look no more. HNA has it all!
Check out the collection of education opportunities available at HNA!
Education Sessions: $69 Members / $99 Non-Members
All Education Sessions will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Wednesday and Thursday. Start your Company Membership with CMHA today and Save Big on Education opportunities at HNA and throughout the year! Sessions can be purchased a la carte, or as part of the VIP Pass. Save $30 per session (per employee) by becoming a member today! Take advantage of membership savings for your entire company for a full year!
PRO TIP: Register for the VIP Pass and gain access to the trade show, along with 24 educational opportunities for $249 or $209 for CMHA/BIA/NSI Members.
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8:00 - 9:00 AM
Session 1: Contractor Roundtable (Bryan Horr)9:00 - 10:00 AM
Session 2: A.I. Powered Sales: Boost Your Process and Close More Deals with A.I. (Frank Bourque)10:00 - 11:00 AM
Session 3: Servicing pavers for a lifetime (Andrew Vear)
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Session 4: Integrating Utilities into Hardscapes (Jeremy Martin)
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Session 5: Building Your Online Presence in the Hardscape Industry (Brian Basik)
2:30 - 3:30 PM
Session 6: Case Studies: Outdoor Living Spaces Using Natural Stone4:00 - 5:00 PM
Session 7: Design Solutions and Problem Solving using Custom Fabrication of Hardscape Materials (David C. Huber) -
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Session 8: Pricing Jobs Profitably - In YOUR Business (Weston Zimmerman)9:00 - 10:00 AM
Hardscape Lighting Session: Profit with Lighting: Expert Panel on Growing Your Business. (Justin Belz & Zach Evensen)10:00 - 11:00 AM
Session 9: 5 Easy Ways to Get Your Digital Marketing On Track Today (Vanessa McQuade)11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Session 10: Building Retention: Stop Competing on Price: Win More Jobs by Selling Value (Andrew Letersky)12:00 - 1:00 PM
Session 11: What’s Trending in Natural Stone? How to Increase Project Profitability.1:00 - 2:00 PM
Session 12: Building Retention: Strategies to Engage and Retain Hardscape Talent (Lisa Ryan)2:00 - 3:00 PM
Session 13: Stewarding Faith in Business: Honoring God Without Offending Clients & Employees! (Sam Gembel)3:00 - 4:00 PM
Session 14: CDL Driver Information Session Presented by Kentucky Transportation4:00 - 5:00 PM
Session 15: Paver Fundamentals, do you know them? Times have changed. (Renee Redding)
Education Sessions
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Session 1: Contractor Roundtable
Speaker: Bryan Horr, P.E.
Wednesday, October 22: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
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Session 2: A.I.-Powered Sales: Boost Your Process and Close More Deals with A.I.
Speaker: Frank Bourque
Wednesday, October 22: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
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Session 3: Servicing Pavers for a Lifetime
Speaker: Andrew Vear
Wednesday, October 22: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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Session 4: Integrating Utilities into Hardscapes
Speaker: Jeremy Martin
Wednesday, October 22: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
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Session 5: Building Your Online Presence in the Hardscape Industry
Speaker: Brian Basik
Wednesday, October 22: 1:00 - 2:00 PM
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Session 6: Case Studies: Outdoor Living Spaces Using Natural Stone
Speakers: Dacia Woodworth & Greg Osterhout
Wednesday, October 22: 2:30 - 3:30 PM
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Session 7: Design Solutions and Problem Solving Using Custom Fabrication of Hardscape Materials
Speaker: David C Huber
Wednesday, October 22: 4:00 - 5:00 PM
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Session 8: Pricing Jobs Profitably - In YOUR Business
Speaker: Weston Zimmerman
Thursday, October 23: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
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Hardscape Lighting Session: Profit with Lighting: Expert Panel on Growing Your Business
Speakers: Justin Belz and Zach Evensen
Thursday, October 23: 9:00 - 10:00 AM
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Session 9: 5 Easy Ways to Get Your Digital Marketing On Track Today
Speakers: Vanessa McQuade
Thursday, October 23: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
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Session 10: Building Retention: Stop Competing On Price - Win More Jobs by Selling Value
Speaker: Andrew Letersky
Thursday, October 23: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Session 11: What's Trending in Natural Stone? How to Increase Project Profitability
Speakers: Reid Kubesh & Reid Johnston
Thursday, October 23: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
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Session 12: Building Retention: Strategies to Engage and Retain Hardscape Talent
Speaker: Lisa Ryan
Thursday, October 23: 1:00 - 2:00 PM
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Session 13: Stewarding Faith in Business: Honoring God Without Offending Clients & Employees!
Speaker: Sam Gembel
Thursday, October 23: 2:00 - 3:00 PM
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Session 14: CDL Driver Information Session Presented by Kentucky Transportation
Speakers: Karen Long
Thursday, October 23: 3:00 - 4:00 PM
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Session 15: Paver Fundamentals, do you know them? Times have changed
Speaker: Renee Redding
Thursday, October 23: 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Hardscape Demos: $99 Members / $129 Non-Members (includes all 6 demos)
The Hardscape Demos will be held in the Hardscape House at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and led by Local Roots Landscaping.
Patrick Murray and Kenneth Deemer are the Co-Owners of Local Roots Landscaping, a hardscape and landscape design, build, and maintenance firm based out of Pittsburgh, PA, with nine million dollars in annual revenue. Their passions lie in building teams, maximizing efficiencies, and empowering individuals to be the best versions of themselves in work and in their personal lives. Patrick and Kenneth are actively involved in the leadership of their own firm. The duo also speaks nationally, sharing their combined experience, and facilitating meaningful growth and change in green industry organizations.
PRO TIP: Register for the VIP Pass and gain access to the trade show, along with 24 educational opportunities for $249 or $209 for CMHA/BIA/NSI Members.
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Demo 1: Segmental Retaining Walls
Wednesday, October 22: 1:30 – 2:30 PM
Engage in interactive demonstrations where attendees participate in building segmental retaining walls. Learn essential techniques including proper excavation, base preparation, block installation, and coping firsthand through hands-on sessions.
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Demo 2: Stairs, Returns & Columns: Elevating Your Hardscapes
Wednesday, October 22: 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Dive into the crucial techniques of designing and building stairs and returns. Learn the proper techniques for grading, building strong structures, and finishing with precision—ensuring your hardscapes stand the test of time.
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Demo 3: Paver Installations
Thursday, October 23: 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Dive into the world of paver installations through immersive demonstrations where you will actively engage in prepping base, laying pavers, cutting and fitting, and joint sanding. Gain practical skills and insights while working alongside industry experts.
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Demo 4: Illuminating Hardscapes: Water, Fire, and Lighting Features
Thursday, October 23: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Discover the art of integrating lighting, water features, and fire pits into your hardscapes. You’ll get the chance to design and install these captivating features in minutes, learning best practices and maintenance tips for each.
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Demo 5: Modern Tools that Will Revolutionize Your Workflow
Thursday, October 23: 2:30 – 3:30 PM
Get hands-on experience with the latest hardscape construction tools and equipment. Attendees have the opportunity to test out modern machinery, explore innovative technology, and learn time-saving techniques under the guidance of knowledgeable professionals.
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Demo 6: Outdoor Kitchens & Beyond: Design, Build, and Profit
Friday, October 24: 9:30 – 10:30 AM
Learn how to design, bid, and construct outdoor kitchens with ease. Guided by industry professionals every step of the way, this hands-on session covers everything from layout, to bidding, to installation, all while keeping your budget and client needs in mind to ensure a profitable outcome. You might even end up with a burger or hotdog if we can build fast enough!
Hardscape Workshops: $69 Members / $99 Non-Members
The Hardscape Workshops will be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Thursday morning. Become a CMHA Contractor or Dealer Member and save more on education opportunities at HNA and throughout the year!
PRO TIP: Register for the VIP Pass and gain access to the trade show, along with 24 educational opportunities for $249 or $209 for CMHA/BIA/NSI Members.
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Hardscape Workshop 1: Proven Recruitment Strategies That Attract the Right Talent for Your Hardscape Business
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Speaker: Frank Bourque
$69 for CMHA/BIA/NSI Members
$99 for Non-Members
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Hardscape Workshop 2: The Relationship Advantage: Turning Prospects into Partners
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Speaker: Lisa Ryan
$69 for CMHA/BIA/NSI Members
$99 for Non-Members
Installer Courses - $250 Members/$300 Non-Members
For seasoned hardscape professionals or those new to the industry, CMHA Installer Courses provide pertinent information to succeed. All Courses take place at the Hyatt Regency Louisville Downtown Hotel (parking fees apply in attached garage).
Registration fees listed below are for members/non-members. Member pricing is extended to any company employee who holds an active membership with CMHA, BIA or NSI, and must be in good standing. Installer Courses are not included with the VIP Pass. Save $50 per registrant by becoming a member of CMHA!
One-Day Courses
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
This one-day course is for individuals currently employed or seeking a career in the hardscape industry, and are looking to pursue education, certification, and industry recognition. Whether you are looking to advance your career in the industry, or are just starting out, the participants of this course will gain knowledge on advances in technology and techniques, best practices, and guidelines. -
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
This revised and updated course teaches hardscape contractors and installers essential concepts related to the design, construction, and performance of SRW's, providing the knowledge you need to install quality walls that meet customer expectations and ensure your long-term success. Learn about SRW installation guidelines, materials, soils, compaction and water, planning, estimating, safety and equipment selection.
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This updated Manufactured Stone Veneer course teaches hardscape contractors building code requirements and ASTM standards applicable to MSV systems. Attendees will understand relevant ASTM standards, and learn installation best practices for MSV.
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8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The SRW Advanced Installer Program increases your value to your customers by teaching advanced SRW applications and installation techniques and is open to SRW certificate holders who are engaged in the construction of advanced SRWs. Advanced topics include wall layout and planning, water and drainage, tiered walls, corners, and curves, raised patios, steps, utilities through walls, and advanced construction techniques.
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Perfect for experienced contractors and those looking to get into the permeable pavements part of the industry, this course will help you become familiar with Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavers.
Learning Objectives:
Learners will acquire specialized and sophisticated knowledge form an experienced industry veteran.
Learn PICP design principles
Learn the differences between PICP and ICP systems
Introduction to storm water management and permeable pavement applications
All installer courses are produced and offered by the Concrete Masonry & Hardscapes Association (CMHA). Courses are taught by certified instructors with approved course materials.
