ATLANTA, GA. — ISH North America show organizers have announced a new multi-level structure for its popular seminar program unveiled last year at the inaugural launch of ISH North America in Toronto. Show attendees at this year’s event to be held at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s new convention center in Las Vegas, Nev., from Oct. 1-3, can sign up for educational sessions in six key industry areas.

The new six-track seminar program is an outgrowth of the demand for more in-depth and concentrated programs within selected industry segments.

“We are very excited about the new ISH North America conference structure that will allow attendees to quickly identify which topics are the most relevant for them personally,” said Roland Bleinroth, president of show producer Messe Frankfurt Inc. “Conference attendees will have the choice of selecting a single seminar track or selecting individual seminars from multiple tracks.”

The six seminar tracks include Hydronics; HVAC; Kitchen & Bath; Plumbing - Pipes, Valves & Fittings; Environmental (Green) Systems; and Business Management/ Marketing.

Recognized as industry leaders, ISH North America’s initial line-up of professionals includes John Siegenthaler, Matt Freije, Hank Darlington, Julius Ballanco, Frank Besednjak and Maurice Maio. Four of these speakers, not including Ballanco and Besednjak, are returning for their second appearance at ISH North America following their audience-packed presentations at last year’s show.

Siegenthaler, a principal of the consulting engineering firm Appropriate Designs in New York, has been involved in the design of hydronic heating systems for 25 years. His hydronics topic is the “Cures for Short-Cycling in Hydronic Heating Systems.” Siegenthaler will also lead several educational programs for the Radiant Panel Association in conjunction with his presentations at ISH North America. The classes will be open to both RPA members and non-members.

Freije, a mechanical engineer by trade and president of HC Information Resources Inc., will address the HVAC audience with a “Legionnaires Disease Update.”

Darlington is a former owner of a wholesale showroom business, author of numerous articles, one of the foremost authorities on plumbing showroom operations and is the owner of his own consulting firm. Darlington’s talks in the Kitchen & Bath segment will concentrate on “Showroom Management” and “How to Improve Profit Margin in Showroom Sales.”

Ballanco, president of JB Engineering and Code Consulting P.C., and vice president - legislative for the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, will give two presentations in the Plumbing-PVF area: “Major Code Revision on Drainage and Venting” and “Water and Backflow Plumbing Code Update.”

Besednjak’s topic in the Environmental track will focus on “Carbon Monoxide: Your Role as a Contractor.” Besednjak has consulted for and presented at training seminars and meetings throughout the U.S. to more than 10,000 individual businesses and trade organizations.

Maio is a recognized guru in turning small contracting businesses into profitable moneymakers as a result of his marketing, advertising and customer service techniques. In this Business Management track, Maurice will speak on “Making Millions in the Service Business.”

“We are excited by the fact that this year educational seminars are being scheduled so that attendees can spend the maximum amount of time on the trade show floor,” said Ike Casey, executive vice president of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors-National Association.

ISH North America is produced in partnership with Messe Frankfurt Inc., the American Supply Association, the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating, and PHCC-NA. Last year, 475 companies presented their latest products and services to an audience approaching 11,000 trade buyers and visitors. ASA and PHCC-NA will again hold their annual meetings in conjunction with ISH North America.

The show partners have also announced that ISH North America 2004 will be held in Boston. Dates and times have not been released.