Underground Construction - September 2019 - 42

RehabZone Generations

Jeff Griffin | Senior Editor

Eighteen years ago, a small group of members who had been active
participants in the annual Underground Construction Technology
International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) were looking for a way
to emphasize the importance of the emerging rehabilitation industry.
UCT seemed the ideal venue. Having established itself as the
world's primary underground construction trade show, and it was
decided to set aside a portion of the UCT exhibit floor the next year
designated as the RehabZone.
"We wanted to provide information about rehabilitation that was
timely and that people wanted to know, and to make it interesting,"
said Gerry Muenchmeyer, P.E., owner of Muenchmeyer Associates,
who has participated in every UCT and RehabZone. "I believe we
did that and have continued to do so every year, and that's a key to
the RehabZone's continuing success."
Another critical decision was to make the RehabZone a "no-sell"
area - it would provide generic information about technology and
services.
While occasionally those manning the various stations in the
Zone are sales people, they agreed to set aside competitive interest
and provide generic information.

Unique to industry
"There's nothing else like it in the industry" said Muenchmeyer,
who in addition to being involved since the beginning, has served
as RehabZone chairman several times.
Time has passed quickly, and second-generation family
members of Zone pioneers have become active in the planning and
execution of the exhibit. Muenchmeyer's son, Clayton, is chairman
of the 2020 event, after working on previous Rehab Zones and
serving on its committee.
Mason Rothenberg, son of Andy Rothenberg, another past
RehabZone chairman, will be involved again in 2020. Andy
Rothenberg is president of Prime Products where Mason also works.
The three children of Dorcas Neathery, president of WBE Dorcas
Inc., another past chair person, will again be involved in the
RehabZone in 2020.

Andy Rothenberg (left), past chairman, and Clayton Muenchmeyer,
2020 chairman of the RehabZone.

SEPTEMBER 2019 | UConOnline.com

"I'm finding it requires a lot of time," said Clayton
Muenchmeyer about chairing the event, "and I'm also busy
with my job with Michels. We're making some changes for 2020,
altering the floor layout and putting the demonstration area
in the middle, rather than at the end of the route through the
stations. One thing visitors will see in 2020 is much more
about UV applications."
Andy Rothenberg believes the RehabZone promotes a better
understanding of the rehabilitation industry and offers hands-on
experience that most could not get without working in the field.
"Having the next generation becoming active helps carry on the
tradition," he said. In January, his son Mason will again help set
up/tear down exhibits and be a technical expert during the show.

Sewer rats
It's expected that Dorcas Neathery's children would be involved in
the RehabZone.
"They are third-generation 'sewer rats'," she said, "and the plan
always was that they would one day take over their grandfather's
company, Rainstopper. That time came in 2018 when David
Neathery passed." The company distributes Rainstopper manhole
insert products.
Daughter, Alexandria, helped Neathery the two years she cochaired the RehabZone and her sons, Jordan and Harry, worked
on set up and tear down at the 2019 show.
"I am glad they personally get to see what I have been so
passionate and committed to for the years I co-chaired and then
chaired," Neathery said. "I hope it inspires them to stay involved
not only in NASSCO's efforts, but to recognize the impact the
RehabZone has on our industry, and the importance of profiling
technologies for the advancement and greater good of our nation
and world's infrastructure.
"I know of no other industry organization committed to
profiling technologies as a whole with the sole intention being
to educate cities, engineers, contractors and buyers in general,"
she said. "The RehabZone's no-sell-policy mandate ensures
technology is imparted in a non-biased manner."
With the second generation taking on larger roles in the
RehabZone, Gerry Muenchmeyer said a third generation is in
the wings.
"My college-student grandson is a very talented graphic
designer, and he expressed interest in designing the 2020
RehabZone t-shirt," Muenchmeyer said. "We briefed him about
the Zone and what we thought the shirt design should include.
He has submitted his design for consideration to the RehabZone
committee and it was strongly applauded.
"Who knows where this will lead?"
The 2020 UCT Show and RehabZone is scheduled Jan. 28-30,
2020, at the Fort Worth (Texas) Convention Center. *
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
UCT/RehabZone: (713) uctonline.com, Karen.Francis@gulfenergyinfo.com
RehabZone: rehabzone.org, rehabzone@nassco.org

http://www.uctonline.com http://www.rehabzone.org http://www.UConOnline.com

Underground Construction - September 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - September 2019