This year’s edition was the 48th NeoCon. For many of us one of the best things about it is the chance it provides for renewing old friendships and acquaintances. While people change jobs and move about the industry, NeoCon remains a constant and a place to catch up with old friends as well as what’s new. Last year we thought it would be fun to start an officeinsight tradition of getting a few of our friends with significant industry tenure to share some of their thoughts about NeoCon over the years – starting with Dick Resch, who’s been to all 48 of them. Here is year 2 of that tradition.
Dick Resch
>Firm: KI
>NeoCons attended: 48
>Quote: What strikes me as I look around our wonderful showroom is how far we’ve come. That first NeoCon our showroom was only the size of this one bay, from this column to that column. Now look at us! And every product you see we’ve designed and developed within the last five years.
Dick Haworth
>Firm: Haworth, Inc., Holland Michigan
>NeoCons attended: 43
>Quote: My most Memorable NeoCon is the first year we were in the Mart (1977), because prior to that we had to show our products in hotels. We introduced the first electrified panel at the Hyatt.
Michael Vanderbyl
>Firm: Vanderbyl Design
>NeoCons attended: 33
>Quote: My most memorable NeoCon is the year 2000 at HBF, when we won Best of NeoCon for the Michael Vanderbyl Collection. It was such a shock.
Leonard Alvarado
>Firm: Contract Office Group (COG), San Jose, CA
>NeoCons attended: 35
>Quote: I still remember my first one. I came as a Designer, and I chased all the cool bags, because there are always so many great ones here at NeoCon. Now I tell all my Designers, “Don’t just chase the cool bags…”
Dave Ferrari
>Firm: One Workplace, Santa Clara, CA
>NeoCons attended: 34
>Quote: My favorite NeoCon is always the latest one, because of new innovation and ideas that move the industry forward. Seeing industry veterans, who for years have worked tirelessly for their customers and the young people with such enthusiasm to make our industry better – it’s a wonderful thing.
My least favorite NeoCon was the year the bathrooms stopped working.
Danny Davis
>Firm: Davis Furniture
>NeoCons attended: 41
>Quote: I’ve been coming to NeoCon so long I can’t remember my most memorable NeoCon.
Bill Watson
>Firm: CRI, San Francisco, CA
>NeoCons attended: 30
>Quote: My most memorable? Thirty years ago. I started CRI the same year as my first NeoCon.
Tom Direnzo
>Firm: CRI, San Francisco, CA
>NeoCons attended: 36
>Quote: My first NeoCon is my most memorable. I wasn’t in the business yet. It was a sunny beautiful day outside, and I was confused by all of these people who were inside this big, airless building looking at furniture. Fast forward to now, and I love it!
Bernard Tuohy
>Firm: Tuohy Furniture
>NeoCons attended: 41
Quote: NeoCon once ran the full week and involved very little sleep. There was an overall carnival atmosphere, helped along by copious flows of beverage starting at about noon each day. In those days the victors were those who remained standing when it was over. The event is now more mature, more professional and more polished. Design is the driver to everyone’s presentations.
Bill Crawford
>Firm: Steelcase
>NeoCons attended: 25
>Quote: NeoCon is a great opportunity to not only show what we as a company have accomplished but it gives us all a chance to take a close look at each other’s competitors. Besides it is great to catch up with old friends.
Hank Menke
>Firm: OFS Brands
>NeoCons attended: 36
>Quote: I’ve been very impressed with our growth and the increase in our NeoCon traffic the last few years. It gives me great hope for the future of the industry and pride knowing our family’s future is secure.
Jane Steel and her son, Ryan Steel
>Firm: Jane Steel + Co, San Francisco, CA
>NeoCons attended: Jane, 24 and Ryan 1
>Quote: Jane: This might be my last NeoCon. I’m giving my son, Ryan, a “secret tip” on how to get around the Mart. Nope, I won’t tell you what it is!
>Quote: Ryan: This is my first one. I like meeting in person so many of the people I’ve been emailing and communicating with. It’s great.