The Greater Philadelphia Locksmiths Association is proud to have reached another milestone in our storied history: our 75th Anniversary!
Thank you to all of the many VIP’s, students, exhibitors, instructors and sponsors for making the GPLA 75th Anniversary Convention a great success! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Congratulations to our 75th Anniversary Convention Award Recipients:
Distinguished Distributor Award – Fried Brothers
Lee Rogan Award – Edward Fitzgerald
Gerald J. Connelly Jr. Award – Yankee Security Convention
Hermann C Henssler Jr. Memorial Award – Judy Fitzgerald and Carol Williams
The Philadelphia Award – John Truempy
Please visit our Facebook page to see photos of this year’s convention and to share any of your photos and memories from the convention (or from past conventions).
GPLA wishes to thank our 75th Anniversary Convention Sponsors:
Platinum Sponsors:
Gold Sponsors:
Refreshment Sponsors:
The GPLA 2019 Convention Store is now CLOSED!
All registrations must now be made on site at the convention.
Please do not email or fax any registrations.
The secure on-line store is now closed as of 9/24/2019.
All registrations must happen on site at the convention.
Click here to download a pdf file fillable registration form.
Click here to be taken to the GPLA Group Hotel reservations site.
Click here to register for the ALOA PRP Certification test.
Click here to register for classes, the product exhibit and social events at our secure on-line store.
If you prefer to register by mail or fax, click here to download the convention booklet.
Click here to download a pdf file fillable registration form.
Meet Our 2020 Gold Level Convention Sponsors
Click here to be taken to the GPLA Group Hotel reservations site.
Click here to register for the ALOA PRP Certification test.
10 Great Reasons To Attend The Greater Philadelphia Locksmiths Association Annual Convention
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. 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 are 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 are given away all day long, and GPLA and ALOA will be giving away a complete ALOA Convention package for next year!
Check out our many exhibitors at this year’s convention.
3. Scholarships
Fifteen full scholarships in celebration of our 75th Anniversay – a $495.00 value! We encourage all interested locksmiths to apply for the Connelly-Singer Scholarship using the appropriate application (GPLA member or non-member applications) linked below. See the GPLAs scholarship page for an application. Applications must be received no later than 30 days prior to the convention date.
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 new location: Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia near the sports complex. Ready to accommodate every one of your needs, the hotel features 5-Star accomodations, 8 on-site restaurants and bars, 2000 slot machines, 140 live-action table games, entertainment and more!
7. Refreshments
Refreshments are 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 who 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.
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 hometown. 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 included with your banquet ticket!
