by Jon M. Casey
Snow removal contractors, municipal transportation workers and community road maintenance professionals gathered on August 6, 2015 for GVM Incorporated’s second annual Snow Day event at the GVM facility in East Berlin, PA. GVM Vice President of Sales for the Snow Division, Tom Bair welcomed the group as he introduced Diana Clonch, featured presenter for two, informative workshops held as part of the day’s events. Together with the on-site trade show that featured several snow industry exhibitors, visitors could shop for the latest in snow management equipment and software technologies.

Clonch, a respected former Ohio DOT manager, now offers her road maintenance and snow management consulting services in a variety of venues including recent presentations at the SIMA Snow Symposium and the APWA Snow Expo earlier this year. At Snow Day, Clonch made recommendations on how to “Do the Right Thing at the Right Time” in her morning presentation and in her afternoon offering, she provided tips on best management practices for using “Liquids in Snow and Ice Control.”

 
What was interesting about these two presentations was that much of the equipment and technology she recommended, was available from several of the vendors at the trade show outside. While that in itself isn’t surprising to those of us in the industry, what IS surprising is that while much of this technology is affordable and pays a very reasonable return on investment, there is still a majority of snow removal companies and municipalities that do not take advantage of these proven systems.

 
For example, infrared temperature sensing equipment, reliable brining systems and software for fleet management and de-icing applications, are used far less than what many would expect would be a reasonable number of users. Clonch said that technology that was first available in the late 1980s and early 1990s, is still optional equipment for many potential end users. She said that the reliability of these systems have come to the place where one would think they would be standard equipment for snow and ice removal managers. Just the same, Clonch continues to share management techniques and recommendations that give snow removal professionals as many advantages as possible for success.

 
Following a door prize giveaway that concluded the day’s events, Tom Bair thanked attendees for attending, noting the success of this second annual event was because of the attendee’s desire to learn more about snow and ice removal. For more information on GVM Snow Equipment, visit their website at www.gvminc.com or give them a call at 800-458-5123.