MATRA

🌟 MATRA Board Member Spotlight: Heidi Horine

This week, we’re proud to spotlight Heidi Horine, National Sales at US Event Structures.

Heidi has been a MATRA member for about 20 years and has served on the MATRA Board for 3 years. She currently supports Scholarship and Events and also helps on the Marketing Committee, contributing to MATRA’s work in bringing members together, supporting the industry, and sharing the value of the organization.

When asked what she values most about MATRA, Heidi shared:

“The networking and connections made through MATRA are invaluable, and for us, have been a large contributor to the basis of our business.”

Thank you, Heidi, for your leadership, service, and continued dedication to the MATRA community.

🌟 MATRA Board Member Spotlight: Matt "The Hammer" Smith

This week, it is with great pride that we spotlight Matt Smith, General Manager at Special Events Virginia.

Matt officially became the MATRA Treasurer this year, bringing 24 years of invaluable industry experience to his role at the organization.

In addition to his vital role as MATRA Treasurer, Matt was instrumental in the creation of the Tent Safety Certification Program. He continues to actively contribute by sharing his extensive expertise to the next generation of tent professionals at our Safe Tenting Professional Certification Program Workshops.

Thank you, Matt, for your exemplary leadership, profound industry experience, and unwavering dedication to MATRA's mission and community.

The MATRA Second Life Project is about more than moving used tent vinyl out of storage.

It is about what that vinyl can become.

Through our partnership with Every Shelter, repurposed tent vinyl will help create durable A-frame shelters for families in Nakivale and Rwamwanja. These shelters are simple enough to be built in a single day by the families who will live in them, using materials available inside the settlement.

But this is not meant to be a temporary fix.

From the first nail, each shelter is designed to become something permanent. Something families can add onto, improve, and truly make their own.

That is what makes this project different. It is designed with the community, not just for them.

The first container is on its way, but there is more work to do. To keep this project moving, we need help funding the next steps.

A gift of $25 helps provide shelter material for one displaced family.

MATRA members know material. We know durability. We know what good shelter can mean.

Now we have the chance to help give used tent vinyl a second life, while helping families build something that lasts.

Donate today and help move the MATRA Second Life Project forward.

Donate: https://everyshelter.donorsupport.co/page/FUNZXUVHJAN?fundraiser=NSHRBEDG&member=SQLBXANT
Learn More: https://www.matramembers.org/page/Second-Life-Project

Be part of The Tent Show as a sponsor.

Sponsorship opportunities are now open for MATRA’s 2026 Tent Show, taking place November 2–5 at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City.

Sponsoring The Tent Show is a practical way to increase visibility, connect with attendees, and support the education, networking, and hands-on programming planned throughout the event.

A range of opportunities is available to fit different goals and budgets.

View sponsorship opportunities:
https://www.matramembers.org/page/Sponsor-Opportunities-The-Tent-Show

Learn more about The Tent Show:
https://www.matramembers.org/page/The-Tent-Show

🚨 REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!🚨

The ultimate MATRA Tent Show experience is coming to **Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City this November**, and this year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest, boldest and most exciting Tent Show in MATRA history!

🎪 More education
🎪 More networking
🎪 More innovation
🎪 More entertainment
🎪 More opportunities for every part of your team

The 2026 MATRA Tent Show will feature multiple education tracks for:

✅ Owners and Executives
✅ Sales and Office Teams
✅ Installers and Warehouse Teams
✅ Small, Medium and Large Companies
✅ Spanish-speaking attendees

**MATRA heard you, and Spanish-language inclusion is officially part of this year’s expanded experience!**

And that is only the beginning.

Get ready for:

🔥 Pre-Show Installation Observation Days
🔥 MATRA Safe Tent Certification Courses
🔥 Keynote Speakers
🔥 MATRA Games
🔥 Innovation Hub
🔥 Extended Exhibition Hours
🔥 Tour of the Tents
🔥 The Tenters Trot
🔥 PPE Fashion Show and a special surprise
🔥 Poker Tournament
🔥 Evening Receptions
🔥 MATRA Awards Dinner and Auction
🔥 Live Entertainment
🔥 MATRA Swag Store
🔥 Send-Off Breakfast with Raffles and Prizes
🔥 Incredible networking throughout the entire event

Whether you are a longtime attendee or joining us for the first time, this is the year to experience MATRA like never before.

📍 Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City
777 Harrah’s Boulevard
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

🎟️ Registration is officially open:
https://www.matramembers.org/page/Registration-Paths-The-Tent-Show

🏨 Reserve your room:
https://book.passkey.com/gt/221336032?gtid=bf34469bb39e8d9a2817dcb066cda2bf

Want to put your company in front of the tenting industry’s leading manufacturers, vendors and professionals? Tent Show sponsorship opportunities are also available!

🌟 Explore sponsorship opportunities:
https://www.matramembers.org/general/custom.asp?page=Sponsor-Opportunities-The-Tent-Show

The biggest MATRA event of the year is officially here. Register now, bring your team and get ready for an unforgettable week in Atlantic City!

Behind every successful certification workshop is a team of people committed to sharing their knowledge, supporting the industry, and raising the standard for safety.

MATRA extends our sincere appreciation to the speakers and certification instructors who led two days of classroom education and hands-on training in Atlantic City.

A special thank-you to our certification instructors:

⭐ Ian Sherwood
⭐ Matt Smith
⭐ Jeff Hinck

Thank you for sharing your time, experience, and expertise with our attendees. Your leadership helps ensure that tent professionals across the industry are better prepared, more knowledgeable, and equipped to work safely.

We also want to recognize MATRA Vice President Steve Campbell, ( ) for providing the trucks, tents, and equipment used throughout the hands-on certification training. Your time, resources, and behind-the-scenes support were essential to giving attendees a practical and valuable learning experience.

We are incredibly grateful to the sponsors whose support helped make the July Certification Workshop possible:

⭐ Anchor Industries
⭐ Losberger De Boer US
⭐ Fred's Tents and Canopies Inc.
⭐ 12 By Event Flooring
⭐ Shelter Structures America - Clearspan Tent Structures
⭐ PHP Distribution
⭐ Toptec Event Tents

Your investment goes far beyond a single workshop. It supports professional development, expands access to valuable education, and strengthens the culture of safety throughout the tent and event rental industry.

Thank you to every instructor, speaker, sponsor, volunteer, attendee, and industry partner who helped make the workshop such a success. We could not do this without you!

Atlantic City, you were AMAZING!

The MATRA July Certification Workshop brought together tent and event professionals for two incredible days of hands-on education, skill-building, and a shared commitment to making our industry safer and stronger.

Attendees had the opportunity to complete all three Level 1 Safe Tenting Professional Certification courses in one location, during one workshop:

🔨 Essentials of Tent Anchoring
⛺ Essentials of Pole Tent Installations
🛠️ Essentials of Frame Tent Installations

From the classroom to hands-on installation training, participants strengthened the knowledge and practical skills needed to protect crews, clients, guests, and communities. This is what it looks like when our industry comes together to invest in education, professional development, and a culture of safety.

A huge thank-you to every instructor, volunteer, attendee, and industry professional who helped make this workshop such an outstanding experience.

And an especially HUGE thank-you to our sponsors for investing in the future of safe tenting and helping make these valuable certification opportunities possible:

⭐ Anchor Industries
⭐ Losberger De Boer US
⭐ Fred's Tents and Canopies Inc.
⭐ 12 By Event Flooring
⭐ Shelter Structures America - Clearspan Tent Structures
⭐ PHP Distribution
⭐ Toptec Event Tents

Your partnership supports education, advances safety, and helps build a stronger, more knowledgeable tent and event rental industry. We are incredibly grateful to have you behind this program!

Atlantic City, we’ll see you again in November for The Tent Show, and we cannot wait!

As MATRA starts day 2 today for the July certification we think back to the start of the outside portion from day 1.
Hope today goes well!