We are happy and proud to report that the 5th Annual World of Hurricane Protection Conference & Trade Show held in May in Tampa, FL, was the most successful event yet solely for the hurricane protection industry. As the show’s producers, Hurricane Protection magazine would like to thank the more than 1,200 visitors who attended this year’s conference, the 83 exhibiting companies and the sponsors who helped make this a standout event. (Our show coverage begins on page 22.)

Although there might have been some initial concern that without a landfalling hurricane last season storm protection wouldn’t be such a hot topic, that business would be a bit slow this year, but that certainly was not in evidence. In fact, the buzz created on the exhibit hall floor, the well-attended slate of 10 seminars and the interest generated from special events and networking opportunities showed the industry in strong shape going into what is expected to be a busy 2007 season. (NOAA’s forecast—see page 20—calls for 17 named storms, three to five of which could become major hurricanes.)

The International Hurricane Protection Association (IHPA) got the activities started off again this year with its annual golf outing. A record number of more than 90 golfers joined in the scramble at Tampa’s Westchase Golf Club making it as successful as it was fun! That evening, an exhibitor reception got everyone together and ready for the show’s official opening the next day, which featured a keynote address by Kristin Beall.

You will remember Beall as our Spring 2007 cover story. As a licensed Florida contractor, Beall is building homes that are designed well, comfortable, safe and affordable. Her homes, starting at under $250,000, prove that storm safe homes (built to the Fortified . . . for safer living standards) do not have to look like bomb shelters and can be within reach of average homeowners.

This year’s seminar schedule featured several sessions that were available for Continuing Education Learning Units and covered topics from product approval to workers compensation. Two seminars, one covering product approval, the other the Florida Building Code supplement, were led by Joe Belcher, this month’s cover story (see page 16). Belcher has worked with building codes from enforcement as a building official to advocate as the IHPA’s code consultant. He spends his days staying on top of a process that never ends and is always evolving, and he brought what he knows to those who need to know it.

Without a doubt, this year’s conference had it all.

Howard Shingle

Howard Shingle EDITOR

Kerri Caldwell PUBLISHER