NATE UNITE 2022, the annual conference of NATE – The Communications Industry Contractors Association came back strong this week after a COVID-induced hiatus, breaking its record for attendance with in excess of 2,560 people. Attendees at the four-day event, held this week at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas, are being treated to a full slate of sessions with three consecutive tracks and a full-blown show floor with around 160 exhibitors.
NATE also chose the event to announce that it has established a new record of 1,100 member companies, eclipsing the organization’s previous mark of 1,087 members. “This conference is a sign of the pent-up demand in the industry and of our growth as an association,” said Todd Schlekeway, NATE CEO, “and the dynamic nature of our industry.”
Tuesday’s schedule concluded with the world premiere of the full-length documentary, “Vertical Freedom,” which NATE helped produce in partnership with Storybuilt Media. The movie follows the story arc of six technicians and how the tower industry has shaped their lives. “One of the most exciting endeavors in NATE’s 27-year history is our involvement in the production of “Vertical Freedom,” which is a world-class movie which will be a good representation of our industry,” said Schlekeway.
NATE’s plan for the movie is to market it to the prominent streaming platforms, like Netflix, Prime and Hulu, for viewing by a mainstream audience. There is also talk about the movie being featured at one of the film festivals, like South By Southwest or the Sundance Film Festival.
“This film should be seen by mainstream America so they know who makes their connectivity possible,” Schlekeway said. “We also want to use it as a workforce development tool. We are great about talking to ourselves in the industry, but we need to break through the industry bubble. This film gives us a great opportunity to get the message out. What’s unique about the film is the powerful personal stories that the technicians are telling. It’s quite emotional. We have a niche that no one else can talk about.”
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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