The 2012 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo is here. The top manufacturers and countless contractors are arriving in Indianapolis to share products, ideas and experiences with their customers and peers. The four-day show provides a unique opportunity for the people of this industry to come together, share their experiences and learn from one another, in addition to getting a firsthand look at the latest and greatest industry products and technology.

The key to getting the most out of your Expo experience is doing a little planning before you arrive. This is the world’s largest trade show for the environmental services industry, so if you just walk in and start wandering aimlessly through the maze of exhibits, you could end up missing out on some pretty cool stuff.

We’ve made it easy to plan your days with our complete online guide to the Expo at www.pumpershow.com. From here, you can get an overview of everything from the trade show floor layout to the educational seminars. Log on, create an account and set up your own personal itinerary.

The website is designed to let you customize your trade show experience. You can get familiar with the exhibitors long before you set foot in Indy. Once you’ve identified the exhibitors you want to visit, you can add them to your personal show planner. The same goes for the educational sessions. Check out the line-up, decide which sessions will benefit you and your company, and add them to your planner. You can also preview the other events surrounding the Expo and add those of interest to your planner. When you’re all done, you can print out your planner, complete with a map of the show floor with locations of your chosen exhibitors highlighted. It’s an instant guide and itinerary customized to your needs and interests.

If you don’t get a chance to do this before the show starts, it’s still worth taking the time to do a little planning while you’re in your hotel room or having lunch. Check out our mobile application at m.pumpershow.com. The app will allow you to see and search a list of exhibitors to find their contact information and booth numbers, browse the educational and general schedules, view a map of the area, and see updates from the Pumper Show Facebook profile (www.facebook.com/Pumpershow).

If your approach is more relaxed, the planner and mobile app will still help you make your time at the Expo as efficient as possible so you’ll have more time to check out the other attractions in Indy.

Regardless of your objectives at the Expo, there are a few things you simply shouldn’t miss. Education Day offers more than 60 seminars addressing a wide variety of issues. The seminars, taught by top industry experts, promise a positive return on your investment and opportunities to keep improving your business well into the future.

The exhibit hall is impressive, so even if you’re in town primarily just to get away from the office and meet up with old friends, you need to spend some time walking the floor. You’re sure to find products and ideas that can help your business, and have some fun in the process.

There are also some more social events surrounding the Expo that are well worth your time. The Industry Appreciation Party on Tuesday, Feb. 28, tops that list. Country music star Rodney Atkins will provide the entertainment, and COLE Publishing will provide the refreshments in the form of 25-cent tap beers.

The roundtable discussion and breakfast on Thursday, March 1, is another event at the Expo that combines a nice social setting with the opportunity to discuss industry issues and trends. It’s a great way to kick off the final day of the Expo, or to wrap up your time in Indy.

Of course, there are plenty of dining, entertainment and shopping options in Indianapolis, so don’t forget to include the vacation in your “working vacation.” From duckpin bowling to the NCAA Hall of Champions, there’s plenty to see and do. Get out and explore a bit, and maybe you’ll be able to expand your horizons along with your business.

If you’re unable to make it to the show, all is not lost. You can still keep up with what’s going on in Indy on Facebook and Twitter. Search Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo on Facebook for photos and updates on what’s happening and what’s new, and follow us on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on the best of the Expo.

For those of you planning to be in Indy, the rest of the COLE staff and I will see you soon. Safe travels.