Schedule at a Glance
Schedule subject to change.
All events held at Virginia Beach Convention Center (VBCC) unless otherwise noted.
⬤ - Demonstration | ⬤ - Education | ⬤ - Competitions | ⬤ - Miscellaneous
- Tuesday September 19
- Wednesday September 20
- Thursday September 21
- Friday September 22
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
You know how to install window film … but do you know how to sell it? In this special, pre-WFCT seminar, sales expert Mike Burke and data/metric specialist Thad Norman will share sales techniques and discuss the role that technology plays in business advancement.
Speakers: Mike Burke has worked in the window film industry for 33 years. He is the founder of Sun Stoppers, which has more than 71 locations in 28 states and offers residential and commercial tint and decorative film services as well as automotive tint, paint protection and ceramic coatings. He and Thad Norman co-founded Velocity SEO to help support the growing network of Sun Stoppers locations and are now offering their services to others in the industry.
Special pre-session open to all WFCT full and partial registrants.
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
- Show Floor Halls A-D
Join us for an incredible experience at the upcoming 3k charity run to support Tinters for a Cause! Lace-up your running shoes and get ready to make a difference within the WFCT community. Feel free to run, jog or walk, Wednesday, September 20 at 7:00 a.m. as we take you through the beautiful boardwalk of Virginia Beach with incredible sights. Whether you’re an avid runner or just looking for a fun way to give back, we welcome all participants.
The presentation is designed to be both informative and actionable. It provides the audience with the knowledge they need to create and execute a successful digital marketing strategy. The presentation provides a flyover of the basics of digital marketing, such as search engine optimization (SEO), pay-per-click (Adwords/PPC) advertising, social media marketing and even will touch on some great artificial intelligence (AI) tools to help your business. That will take about 45 minutes and we will wrap up the session with an open mic question and answer session with the attendees. Show up with a notebook ready to learn. You won’t want to miss this session!
Speaker: Patric Fransko is the president of Eye Magnet Management.
Come for a preview of the fantastic WFCT ahead. You’ll learn what’s new and what not to miss. Start the day with a presentation on the state of the window film, PPF and ceramic coatings market in the U.S., including insights on various segments and growth areas.
Speaker: Nick St. Denis is the director of research for Key Media & Research (KMR), a leading information provider to the window film and PPF industry and related markets. Nick has studied the market for much of the past decade and regularly works with industry businesses, conducting custom research projects for clients.
As the owner of Ceramic Pro Pottstown in Pottstown, Pa., Gabe Fletcher knows that success in the automotive detailing industry is about more than just offering professional services with certified products. His business did more than $1 million in sales in 2022. Fletcher and his business partner Tyler Lordi use their marketing agency, Detailing Growth, as a platform to lift fellow businesses to similar heights. Join the climb in a session applicable to all industry segments and learn how to reach new heights.
Speakers: Gabe Fletcher is the owner of Ceramic Pro Pottstown and Detailing Growth in Pottstown, Pa.; Tyler Lordi is an operating partner at Detailing Growth in Pottstown, Pa.
This is your chance to ask film suppliers about anything including the present and future state of the market. What are the latest industry trends? What is the status of the supply chain and the economy? This special supplier roundtable will be moderated by Debra Levy, Window Film magazine publisher.
Speakers: David Kratz, CEO, Autobahn, Hüper Optik and Edge; Abby Monnot, general manager, Graphics Solutions North America, Avery Dennison; Fred Zwilling, business development manager, Global Hi-Tech Films; William Davidson, manager, Johnson Window Films; Allison Parker, East Coast sales manager and director of private label accounts, Maxpro Window Films; Erin Bernhardt, general manager, Eastman Performance Films.
Your Facebook feed is full of installers sharing new printer purchases and dazzling designs. The decorative film segment is calling your name, but where do you start? Christian Huml, owner of
Harmony Window Films and Graphics in Marshfield, Wis., shares the investments he made to get started, the connections that facilitated his growth and overall tips and tricks for an entrance into all things decorative.
Speakers: Christian Huml, owner of Harmony Window Films and Graphics in Marshfield, Wis.; Katie Jasmin is the vice president, national sales, at Source One Digital.
Born with a Tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect for which he required two open-heart operations before age one, Shaun White is regarded as one of the greatest action sports athletes of all time.
A five-time Olympian, White won gold medals in the half-pipe event in 2006, 2010, and 2018. He is one of the most decorated athletes in X Games history, becoming the first athlete to compete in both the Winter and Summer games and has won 15 gold medals, an all-time X Games record. White announced his retirement from the sport of snowboarding prior to competing in the 2022 Beijing Winter games, his fifth and final Olympics.
Born in San Diego, California, Shaun turned professional at the age of 13. At 7, White signed his first sponsorship deal with Burton Snowboards.
White has been named among Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s 100 Most Powerful and Marketable Athletes, Forbes’ Most Valuable Sports Brands and 30 Under 30, among others. He has won 11 ESPY Awards throughout his career.
White has directed the Air + Style festival of music and snowboarding since 2014, when he took ownership and moved it from Austria to Los Angeles.
White is an advocate for children battling illness and is an active supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.
In January 2022, White announced the launch of his own active lifestyle brand called Whitespace. The company celebrated the launch with 50 limited edition signed snowboards, which sold out in minutes. In October 2022, a full-range line of outerwear, snowboard hard-goods, athletic equipment and streetwear apparel were released. For more, visit www.whitespacesnow.com.
The architecture and design community specifies building materials for a project, whether new construction or retrofit. Forging relationships within the segment can pay a window film dealer great dividends. Of course, like anything worthwhile, it requires a lot of work. Learn what it takes to build these business connections in this afternoon session.
Speaker: Manny Hondroulis is the vice president of Energy Products Distribution (EPD) in Baltimore, Md.
It’s crucial to pass on the fundamentals of the film industry to novice installers during their initial deep dive. But what about training the veterans who have “mastered” the art of window tinting and paint protection film? Jody Knight, director of business development at KDX Films, will share why you’re never too advanced to learn a thing or two.
Speaker: Jody Knight is the director of business development at KDX Films.
Ceremony and awards by invitation only.
Join wraps trainer extraordinaire Jeremiah Bienko as he provides instruction on the business of vehicle wraps, giving attendees an idea on how to add this to their businesses. Everything from sales to vehicle prepping will be covered. During show hours, Bienko will provide attendees with hands-on training and installation tips in the designated demo area.
* Not an official WFCT event.
Co-sponsored by:
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
- Show Floor Halls A-D
Building relationships is an essential part of growing a business. The problem is too few people ever learn how to connect with other business leaders. You’ll learn the ways to connect with more business leaders, develop lasting relationships and build stronger businesses and communities.
Speaker: Brandyn Miller of My Clear Message in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Creating authentic and engaging content to connect with your audience is more important than ever. You’ll learn how to evaluate new platforms and features, what works for the film industry, along with the importance of incorporating social media into overall marketing strategies. A Q&A session will follow if time allows.
Speaker: Scott Lee of the Amslee Agency in Myrtle Beach, SC.
The presentation will discuss retirement planning and estate planning strategies and their tax ramifications for business owners. You’ll learn about the variety of exit planning methods and how to connect with the appropriate experts to execute such strategies. The speaker will also review investment planning and how to manage investment portfolios.
Speaker: Brian Cunningham of Veritas Financial in Myrtle Beach, SC.
A brief introduction to understanding how the local market media space operates and how you can negotiate efficient media buys to grow your business.
Speaker: Frank Zumbro of Colonial Marketing in Wilmington, NC.
Get ready to revolutionize your business with a presentation that will help attendees maximize their minutes each day. In just one hour, you’ll discover the power of outsourcing and learn how to identify the tasks you should delegate, find the right experts to work with, and create a customized plan that fits your unique needs and goals.
Speaker: Lauren Apple of Systems to Scale in Columbia, SC.
Business plans are not just for startups. Business planning can help you manage expansion, apply for a loan, survive a downturn, implement a new business model or prepare for selling your business. This session will discuss tools available for business planning and what to include in a successful plan.
Speaker: Greg Tilley of SCORE in Newport News, Va.
Join wraps trainer extraordinaire Jeremiah Bienko as he provides instruction on the business of vehicle wraps, giving attendees an idea on how to add this to their businesses. Everything from sales to vehicle prepping will be covered. During show hours, Bienko will provide attendees with hands-on training and installation tips in the designated demo area.
The Silent Charity Auction helps raise proceeds for Tinters for a Cause and the Auto Glass Safety Council™. Tinters for a Cause is a charitable foundation that raises funds to help members of the window film community and their families when tragedy or hardships arise. Tinters for a Cause includes representatives from every aspect of doing business in the window film industry, from manufacturers and suppliers to retail stores and installations. Bids will be accepted from 2:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m., with final bids due by 5:15 p.m. Winners will be announced at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. You must be present on the exhibition floor at 5:30 p.m. to pay and redeem your items.
* Not an official WFCT event.
* Not an official WFCT event.
Contact Michelle Hurtado for more information at michelle@salshouseoftint.com.
- Virginia Beach Convention Center
- Show Floor Halls A-D
NGS, a nationwide commercial window film company, landed at the top of Window Film magazine’s Top Dealer rankings in 2021 and 2022. The company is a three-time 3M National Dealer of the Year, and could be a critical piece in helping you grow your business. Gather tips and tricks to implement into your own company and learn what it takes to be a Top Dealer.
Speaker: NGS CEO James Beale is an expert in glazing solutions and specializes in helping organizations evaluate and implement building envelope security, sustainability and branding technologies. His expertise comes from more than 15 years of industry experience and co-founding NGS, a nationwide window film company on the climb. His customer-first approach has helped him become the go-to consultant for multiple fortune 500 companies.
Are flat glass services a major focus of your business? If so, connections with glass companies in your local area are crucial. Increase your business by working with glass companies. See what works and what arrangements to avoid.
Speaker: Chris Ritter is the owner of Performance Film LLC in Saint Cloud, Minn.
You’ve mastered the art of your services and developed a solid base of repeat customers … now what? Learn about the power of videography and photography in this how-to session built to propel the everyday business owner forward. No marketing agency or on-camera experience? No problem! No budget? No problem. Come see why.
Speaker: Matthew Jones is the owner of Harker Heights Ceramic Coatings in Harker Heights, Texas.
Curtailing the customer’s desire for perfection and setting realistic expectations before an installation is crucial with paint protection film. In fact, Josh Poponick, owner of Blackout Tinting in Latrobe, Pa., says that goal falls second only to customer service and a quality installation. You’ll learn how to set the tone with customers in ways that increase sales, profit and loyalty.
Speaker: Josh Poponick is the owner of Blackout Tinting in Latrobe, Pa., Pittsburgh and Miami.
Join wraps trainer extraordinaire Jeremiah Bienko as he provides instruction on the business of vehicle wraps, giving attendees an idea on how to add this to their businesses. Everything from sales to vehicle prepping will be covered. During show hours, Bienko will provide attendees with hands-on training and installation tips in the designated demo area.
Sponsors must be off the exhibition floor by 6:00 p.m.