T.C., the mascot of the Minneapolis Twins, helps kick off the Seventh Annual Snow & Ice Symposium during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the entrance of the trade show hall.

Dale Keep (left), Ice & Snow Technologies, Walla Walla, Wash., was presented with SIMA’s first lifetime achievement award. Throughout his 26-year career as a maintenance methods specialist with the Washington State Department of Transportation, Keep has been a pioneer in promoting and assisting maintenance crews with using deicing and anti-icing chemicals. Just a few of Keep's accomplishments include:

• Serving as a lead on the development of RWIS, the Roadway Weather Information Service.

• Serving as a member of the federal government's Ice Warriors team, whose members travel to highway agencies across the country explaining anti-icing techniques and other winter maintenance strategies and technologies.

• Former chair of the Snow and Ice Cooperative Task Force (SICOP) of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

• Working with industry suppliers on deicer product analysis and equipment consulting, as well as new technology design and development.

In more recent years, through his consulting firm, Keep also has shared his extensive knowledge with the private snow management industry through SIMA regional training events.
 

Jerry Gaeta, Vander Kooi & Associates, Littleton, Colo., speaks during one of two presentations he delivered during the Symposium.

This year SIMA’s educational seminars were divided into four tracks: sales/marketing, management/leadership, operations and administration.