Florence, SC Convention Center and Staybridge Inn and Suites

Earlybird pricing of $399 until May 15th. Register now!

RTA Spring Meeting
June 6-9, 2021
Staybridge Suites, Florence, SC

Track 1 Target Audience – Sawmills and Small Business Owners/Managers

Track 2 Target Audience – Railroads, Direct Producers of Ties, Environmental, Recycling, Research

Finalized Schedule (4/24/21)
June 6th (Sunday)
10:00 AM – 3:30 PM Golf Tournament at The Traces Golf Club
2:30 PM – 4:45 PM Exhibitors Setup
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Welcome Reception with Hors d’oeuvres
7:00 PM Dine Around

June 7th (Monday)
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast with Sponsors
9:00 AM– 10:15 AM Opening Keynote – Coffee Bean (Damon West)
10:15 AM– 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM– 12:00 PM TRACK 1 – Overcoming Adversity (Damon West)
                                   TRACK 2 – Identifying the Scope of the Problem – Facilitated Roundtable on issues with used ties. (Goodin)
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM TRACK 1 – Real American Hardwood Update (Dana Cole & Tom Inman)
                                TRACK 2 – Mini-Sessions:California Disposal, Environmental, and NHSM Update – (Butch Bernhardt)
BioChar Technologies and Advancements – (Chuck Ludwig)
2:15 PM – 2:45 PM Break
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM TRACK 1 – Health, Safety, and Environmental Forum (EHS Support Services)
                                TRACK 2 – Mississippi State University AWPRP Tie Life Study Update (Drs. Gabrielly Bobadilha and Dercilio (Joe) Lopes)
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Reception with Sponsors and Exhibitors

June 8th (Tuesday)
8:00 AM– 9:00 AM Breakfast with Sponsors
9:00 AM– 10:15 AM Keynote: Inside Chick-fil-A’s Corporate Culture – (MariBeth McNeil)
10:15 AM– 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM– 12:00 PM TRACK 1 –Attracting, Hiring, and Retaining Next Gen Employees (McNeil)
                                   TRACK 2 – Ties, Trees, Carbon, and the Future (Dr. Jeff Lloyd)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Networking Lunch and Closing Session

June 9th Wednesday
8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon – RTA Committee Meetings (Breakfast and Lunch Served)
Education Committee
Safety & Material Processing
Committee for Legislative & Environmental Affairs Response (CLEAR)
Research & Development Committee