In this episode of Talking Textiles, Kevin Vasquez, TRD Advisory Board member and Chair of the Code and Education Committee, takes a deep dive into event safety, tent liability, and risk management. Joined by Richard Nix of ESTA and Doug Bruce of ESA, they explore why developing a comprehensive site and weather plan well before event day is essential to creating safer, successful events. The conversation also covers proper staking and ballasting, the importance of pre-event collaboration, weather preparedness, and effective evacuation planning. Kevin, Richard, and Doug discuss TRD's Safe Tenting Professional Certification program and the ongoing collaboration with Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) to promote stronger safety practices and safer events across the industry.

Jonathan Sweet, ATA, sits down with Richard Martin from Pro Em to discuss his company's tent installation for the UFC 250 at the White House. Richard shares about the unique challenges of working with government bodies in Washington, DC, such as complexities of the bidding process, and stringent security requirements. He covers what it was like being in the national spotlight, and how the project scope evolved as more stakeholders became involved. Martin also touches on safe tent installation practices, his team, and leaning on the tent industry for assistance.

In this episode of Talking Textiles, host Michael Woody speaks with Dr. Karl Aspelund of the University of Rhode Island about the growing future of the textile industry and the importance of collaboration between academia, manufacturers, and community organizations. Together, they explore the origins and impact of the Rhode Island Textile Innovation Network, efforts to close the textile skills gap, and the development of regionally focused workforce education programs designed to reconnect students with modern textile manufacturing.

Listen in as Dan Litster [Keyston Bros] sits down with featured guests Michael Yungman, [Yungman Engineering], Ethan Halpern [American Awning and Blind Co.], and Scott Neville, [Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning and Kansas City Tent and Awning Co.]. Yungman shares on how he became interested in engineering and his experiences with his clients. The conversation covers communication with your engineer and your customers. The guests touch on building relationships, the design process and problem solving, surveying your site, and identifying the scope of work.