Chief Richard Picciotto, the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center collapse, will deliver the keynote address at the 2013 International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off™ at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel and Marina on Thursday, September 19, 2013. Picciotto is scheduled to speak Thursday mid-morning about his harrowing experience during 9/11 and what it takes to survive.

Firefighter and inspirational speaker Richard Picciotto was an FDNY Battalion Commander in Manhattan on September 11, 2001. Following the terrorist attack, Picciotto rushed inside the World Trade Center to rescue those inside, but soon found himself trapped in the smoldering rubble of the North Tower after its collapse. Buried for more than four hours, he emerged and was the highest-ranking firefighter to survive the collapse.

“Chief Picciotto’s story resonated with our International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off Committee and we are sure attendees will be inspired by his story,” says event marketing manager Holly Biller.

Picciotto is also the author of “Last Man Down,” the story of his experience and his remarkable survival of being located within the stairwell between the sixth and seventh floors of the North Tower when it collapsed.

Everyone has had to weather personal struggles; a lesson about maintaining your tenacity and surviving applies to each and every attendee. Picciotto will bring those survival tactics to light.

In addition to the keynote address, the International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off will feature educational seminars, an exhibition area with suppliers and the attendee-favorite Architectural and Automotive Tint-Off™ competitions.

The International Window Film Conference and Tint-Off is the largest international event dedicated solely to the window film industry. Registration and competition details are available online at windowfilmmag.com/iwfc.

Contact event management at 540/720-5584 for more information or visit windowfilmmag.com/iwfc.