The seventh annual New England Condo Expo is returning to the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston on April 30th, bringing with it more than 150 exhibitors and thousands of trustees, board members, managers and residents from all over the New England region for a full day of networking, education and information. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Expo is a one-stop venue where help can be found all in one place: from the exhibitors displaying a variety of goods and services to informative seminars with advice and valuable solutions that condo and HOA trustees, board members and residents can bring home with them.

“Obviously our goal is to present attendees with information and products that will make running their buildings easier and more efficient,” says Yale Robbins, president of Yale Robbins, Publications, Inc., Expo producer and publisher of New England Condominium, “but we also put a great deal of thought into the bigger picture, anticipating trends and trying to broaden what we provide from one year to the next.”

Come One, Come All

One of the mainstays of the annual Expo are the seminars that regularly draw standing-room-only crowds to learn about the latest trends in condominium and multi-family living and ways in which they can manage their communities better. Presenters in 2015 will include Attorneys Henry Goodman, Ellen Shapiro and Frank Lombardi of the Dedham, Massachusetts-based law firm of Goodman, Shapiro & Lombardi, LLC and Attorney Richard Brooks and his colleagues at the Braintree, Massachusetts law firm of Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, among others.

Information and Free Advice

In addition to the seminar offerings, attendees can also take advantage of the free advice provided by more than a dozen experts in a variety of fields—from law to insurance and reserves—who make themselves available throughout the day. Where else can you get free help and invaluable solutions from legal experts and management specialists?

You Can Win Too

Trustees and board members have another fantastic reason to attend the Expo with a golden opportunity to be selected as the grand prize winner of the $2,500 reserve fund.

Board member Bruce Philbrick won the 2014 reserve fund drawing on behalf of 29-33 Vinton Street Condominiums in Boston. He said no decision has been made as to how to allocate the funds but it will be discussed at a future board meeting. He knows they will put the money to good use.

"There are general repairs and projects" that the money could be used for at the condominium. "Our building is about 10 years old; it's getting to the point where we have to think more about maintenance and long-term planning," he said.

The eight-unit building in South Boston, built about 10 years ago, is in a neighborhood with many other condominiums, including a number of buildings that were converted to condominiums. It's run by a three-member board. Philbrick, who has served on the board for about seven years, said that to the best of his knowledge, he is the first board member to attend the Expo. He said he will encourage the others to attend upcoming expos. "Last year was the first time I had an opportunity to be there; I stopped by on my way home," he said. "I would advise anyone who has the opportunity, to go. There were good exhibits, and I picked up a lot of information to pass along. It's well worth looking into."

Only board members and trustees are eligible for the contest, in which one lucky association will be the recipient of the award to be put towards its reserve fund.

Plan Ahead

So don’t forget to mark April 30, 2015 on your calendars. Stay tuned to these pages and the Expo website, www.ne-expo.com for updated information, important deadlines and online registration.