2019 GPLA Convention

CONVENTION INFORMATION

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Dates

Wed. Sept. 25 – Sun. Sept. 28, 2019

About

70th Anniversary Banquet

Education Program – Product Exhibit

Securing the Future – No Degree Required

Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Airport

10 Great Reasons To Attend The Greater Philadelphia Locksmiths Association Awards Banquet, Convention, Education, and Product Extravaganza

1. Education

10-12 top notch industry classes, many with NJ State continuing education credits (CEU) and instructed by nationally recognized professional instructors with years of experience. Our class prices are some of the best values in the industry!

Cliff Shafer with one of his students in his safe class.

John Williams & John Truempy hardware class.

gpla-Lishi automotive key generation class

Sven K. Hellwig, Sr., and Ryan in a Lishi automotive key generation class.

Paul Kline, one of GPLAs Lishi experts, instructing several students.

2. 50+ Vendor Exhibits

Over 50 Exhibitors during Saturday’s show, showcasing an A to Z of products, services, equipment and more. Thousands of items available for purchase; you can even buy a new service vehicle if that’s what you need! From a new pick set or trick tool, locks, safes and vans, you will find it here. Hundreds of door prizes given away all day long, and GPLA and ALOA will be giving away a complete 2019 ALOA Convention package!

3. Scholarships

No-cost scholarships for 2 days of classes. Members of GPLA and several other local associations (see the non-member application for a list of eligible associations) are welcome to apply for the Connelly-Singer Scholarship. Applications must be received no later than 30 days prior to the convention date. See GPLAs website (www.gpla.org) for an application.

Mr. Bruce Wallen, (center) of Wallens Professional Safe Opening wins the ALOA Door Prize of a free week of training classes at the 2017 convention. Presenting the award package is Mary May (far right) and a contingency of ALOA executives and dignitaries.

4. Friday Night Social

The Friday Night Social is becoming known throughout the industry as the best time you can have without your pick set! Always a different theme to have fun with, great humorous presentations and crowd participation. Great food, great fun, great friends guaranteed!

GPLA members having fun at the Friday Night Social Event.

5. Meet and Greet

The opportunity to meet, greet, and network with industry leaders from manufacturers and distributors, as well as outstanding world-renowned industry names in specialty fields, various association representatives and more.

Honorary Convention Chairman Mark Baldino conducted a forum before the tradeshow to discuss the war on illegal locksmiths. Over 25 concerned business owners attended the forum.

6. Free Parking

Free parking for all attendees and guests at our 5-star accommodations, at one of the most convenient locations: Philadelphia Airport Double Tree by Hilton. Up-scale, newly renovated and ready to accommodate every one of your needs. Restaurant, Pub and Café are on location. Hotel rooms are at the same low price they have been for several years: $119.00 per night using GPLA’s hotel block reservation code.

7. Refreshments

Refreshments available all day at the convention, exhibit show and during classes, compliments of our convention sponsors, to be announced.

8. Test Your Skills

Show off your professional skills and win big money at our Pick and Bump Contest. Who has the quickest draw with their pick sets?! It could be you that wins a crisp $50 or $100 bill!

GPLA lock picking contest in action!

Orvis Kline (right) congratulates the Lock Bumping Champion, Chino Rosa of Rick’s Key House, on winning in a smoking time of :07 seconds!

9. Old Friends

A chance to stop and take the time out of our busy schedules to relax a little, talk to old friends, or making it a point to say “Hello” to some new friends! Enjoy our non-rushed experience each day of the Convention.

The Row Officers and GPLA Board of Directors.

10. Awards Banquet

Our industry’s most prestigious and well-known banquet, with awards being presented to recipients from around the world, around the country and around our home town. Come and share in the once-in-a-lifetime thrill that these recipients experience when being presented with one of the awards. Sharing in their joy will be contagious. The Friday Night Social, President’s Reception and Black Tie Preferred Awards Banquet, including hors d’oeuvres and top-shelf bar, surf and turf meal, dessert and music, are all at one low price of just $85 per person!

Sven K. Hellwig Sr., opening the ceremonies of the 2018 GPLA Awards Banquet.

A Letter From One Of Your Convention Chairmans

As your Convention Chairman for the past several years, I am very proud and excited to work with Cliff L. Shafer, 2019 Convention Chairman, our entire outstanding convention committee, and their sub-committees. They are committed to bringing you the very best convention experience possible…70 years and still going strong. I thank you all.

However, without our loyal members, future members, vendors, and convention sponsors we would not be able to pull off such a mammoth task each year. I thank you all.

There is a little song lyric that goes “You don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone”; unfortunately other association members know this all too well. We at GPLA will not fail you as an association, please do not fail us as a member, future member, vendor or manufacturer. With your continuing support, we will continue to be a strong association for another 70 years and beyond.

With age comes wisdom and with youth, enthusiasm is born, let’s bring the two together and success will be ours. Here is the challenge from GPLA: bring us an eager youth who is sponsored by a member or other association member and we will educate them for FREE through our Scholarship/Trade Enhancement Program and together set them on a path to becoming a professional locksmith.

Again, thank you for your time, support and investment in the future of your association. Please set these dates aside: Sept. 25th – 28th, 2019, and plan to join us at GPLA’s 70th Anniversary Education Conference, Vendors Exhibit, and Awards Banquet. See you in September!