Florida’s First Coast oozes with history and tradition. The Northeast coast was the first to be colonized by Europeans, and one of the region’s most notable cities, St. Augustine, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the continental United States, settled in 1565.
Considering all that, it seemed somewhat appropriate that the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) selected this area — and, specifically, the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club in Ponte Vedra Beach — to celebrate the 71st edition of its annual meeting in late June. And there were plenty of noteworthy things for its members to celebrate during the event.
As noted by both OPEI Executive Committee Chair Mike Clancy, the CEO of Chevron North America, and OPEI President and CEO Kris Kiser, the group is on a notable winning streak both in terms of membership and its flagship event, the annual Equip Exposition in Louisville. Trade show space for the 2024 version of the international landscape, outdoor living and equipment event, set for Oct. 15-18, is sold out for the third year running, with attendance of over 27,000 expected.
(Editor’s note: For the third consecutive year, Landscape Management is partnering with Equip Expo to provide top-notch educational opportunities at the event. Click here to learn more about the sessions being offered in Louisville.)
The business sessions at the OPEI Annual Meeting included a presentation on the state of the economy by Alan Beaulieu of ITR Economics, an update on the 2024 election from CBS News correspondent Robert Costa and an exploration of the power of conversations and connections by two-time New York Times best-selling author Charles Duhig, whose latest book is called Supercommunicators.
In addition, OPEI staff provided updates on several initiatives, including market data and research, trends in the electrification of power equipment, equipment bans and restrictions and OPEI’s industry safety messaging campaign.
The 2025 edition of the OPEI Annual Meeting heads to Utah and the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, June 24-26.
