NSG 2025 NATIONAL CONVENTION

Name: National Sharpeners Guild 2025 Convention
Start: 2025-09-04T08:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-04-19T18:55:27-05:00
Location: Hilton Kansas City Airport

REGISTRATION

Thank you for your interest in attending the National Sharpeners Guild (NSG) 2025 National Convention in Kansas City, MO, September 4 - 7, 2025.

This convention is presented by the NSG, which is a member owned 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, for the benefit of the Guild Members but it is open for non-members to attend. Join your fellow sharpeners and attend sharpening training from world class educators. There will be an extensive vendor room plus a chance to certify. Top scores from certification will see their name on the perpetual Sharpeners Guild trophy.

We have more certified sharpeners and industry experts teaching more topics than any other sharpening event.

SEATING IS LIMITED SO REGISTER EARLY.

Guild members receive a 10% discount on workshops, certification and general admission pricing. You do not need to certify to be a member. Member discounts will be in the form of a rebate sent to the member after the convention.

GENERAL ADMISSION includes Saturday & Sunday vendor room access; Saturday presentations; Saturday & Sunday catered lunches; Sunday Guild Centers; and Sunday catered awards banquet dinner.

General admission registration is required to participate in the certification exams but is not required to attend the Guild Workshops on Thursday or Friday.

The Convention is being held at the Hilton Kansas City Airport, Kansas City, MO

8801 NW 112th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, 64153

Special convention rates for a standard double room is $109 per night plus local taxes and fees. You can reserve your hotel room using this link Hotel Booking Link or call the hotel directly at (816) 891-8900 for more information. Special rate expires August 1, 2025.

**To register more than one sharpener fill in the information for the first sharpener and then select the ADD REGISTRANT button (at the bottom of the Page) to register another sharpener before submitting your order.**

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

Early Birds who register before June 15th will receive a 5% discount and also have the option to reserve their tickets by making a 25% deposit on their order. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your card on July 15th which will complete the registration.

Early Bird registrations made before the Guild Workshop schedule is published will be able to choose which workshops they want to attend once the topics and instructors have been finalized. The Convention Education Coordinator will contact registrants to lock in their workshop choices in the order they registered.

SCHEDULE

Thursday, September 4, 2025Guild Workshops / Pre-Convention Activity

Guild Workshop Registration Required for Attendance/Admission to the Workshops. Registration for the Convention is NOT required to attend the Workshops.

8AM – 11AM – Guild Workshops Morning Session A
11AM – 12PM – Lunch (Boxed Lunch available for pick up)
12PM – 3PM – Guild Workshops Afternoon Session B
3PM – 3:30PM – Break
3:30PM – 6:30PM – Guild Workshops Evening Session C
6:30PM – Dismiss for Dinner

Guild Workshops Morning Session A: 8AM – 11AM
(Thursday morning Guild Workshops include a Boxed Lunch To Go.)

● A1 - Topic: Reading a Shear for Quick Evaluations
(Covering Shear Geometry)
Instructor: Randy Levin
Salon B

● A2 - Topic: The Sharpening Process
(But Not the Actual Sharpening)
Instructor: Zach Sturm
Salon C

● A3 - Topic: Abrasives
Instructor: Hap Stanley
Salon D

● A4 - Topic: Shear Certification Preparation
(Pre-Certification Workshop)
Instructor: Dennis Brooks
Salon E

Guild Workshops Afternoon Session B: 12PM – 3PM

● B1 - Topic: TBD
Instructor: TBD
Salon B

● B2 - Topic: Clippers Blade Certification Preparation
(Pre-Certification Workshop)
Instructor: Jason Sturm
Salon C

● B3 - Topic: Intermediate Knife Sharpening using Machines
Instructor: Ryan Swanson
Salon D

● B4 - Topic: Sharpening Thinners and Chunkers
(w/Diagnosis of Toothed Blades)
Instructor: Larry Miller
Salon E

Guild Workshops Evening Session C: 3:30PM – 6:30PM

● C1 - Topic: Curved Shears & Curved Ride Lines
(Grooming Shears)
Instructor: Randy Levin
Salon B

● C2 - Topic: To Sharpen or Not to Sharpen
(When to Say No to Avoid a Larger Conflict)
Instructor: Zach Sturm
Salon C

● C3 - Topic: Knife Certification Preparation
(Pre-Certification Workshop)
Instructor: Ryan Swanson & Hap Stanley
Salon D

● C4 - Topic: Hammering - Bending - Twisting - Tweaking
Instructor: Dennis Brooks
Salon E

Friday, September 5, 2025Guild Workshops / Pre-Convention Activity

Guild Workshop Registration Required for Attendance/Admission to the Workshops. Registration for the Convention is NOT required to attend the Workshops.

8AM – 11AM – Guild Workshops Morning Session D
11AM – 12PM – Lunch (Boxed Lunch available for pick up)
12PM – 3PM – Guild Workshops Afternoon Session E
3PM – 3:30PM – Break
3:30PM – 6:30PM – Guild Workshops Evening Session F
6:30PM – Dismiss for Dinner

Guild Workshops Morning Session D: 8AM – 11AM
(Friday morning Guild Workshops include a Boxed Lunch To Go.)

● D1 - Topic: Big Wheel Sharpening on 2x72 with 20” Wheel
(Grooming Shears and Convexing)
Instructor: Randy Levin
Salon B

● D2 - Topic: Clipper Blade Sharpening A-Z
Instructor: Jason Sturm
Salon C

● D3 - Topic: Metallurgy
Instructor: Hap Stanley
Salon D

● D4 - Topic: Problem Shears
Instructor: Dennis Brooks
Salon E

Guild Workshops Afternoon Session E: 12PM – 3PM

● E1 - Topic: Introduction To Sharpening
Instructor: Jesse & Dawn Hockett
Salon B

● E2 - Topic: TBD
Instructor: Zach Sturm
Salon C

● E3 - Topic: Overall Knife Knowledge
Instructor: Ryan Swanson
Salon D

● E4 - Topic: Sharpening Thinners and Chunkers
(w/Diagnosis of Toothed Blades)
Instructor: Larry Miller
Salon E

Guild Workshops Friday Evening Session F: 3:30PM – 6:30PM

● F1 - Topic: Learning to Hammer Set Shears
Instructor: Randy Levin
Salon B

● F2 - Topic: TBD
Instructor: Jason Sturm
Salon C

● F3 - Topic: Advanced Knife Sharpening using Whetstones
Instructor: Hap Stanley
Salon D

● F4 - Topic: Shear Convexing Techniques and Improvements
Instructor: Dennis Brooks
Salon E

Saturday, September 6, 2025National Convention Day 1

Convention Officially Begins at 9AM
(Admission Registration Required for Attendance)

Registration Check-in 7AM – 9AM Foyer

Certification Exam Schedule
● Beauty Shear Certification Exam 7AM-9:30AM (Salon E)
● Pet Grooming Scissors Certification Exam 10AM-12:30PM (Salon E)
● Clipper Blade Certification Exam 1PM-2:30PM (Salon C)
● Knife Certification Exam 3PM-5:30PM (Salon D)

Welcome & Opening Remarks by Guild President 9AM (Kansa A/B)

Vendor Room/Tables Open 9AM - 5PM (Kansa C/D/E)

Silent Auction/Swap Meet 9AM - 5PM (Kansa A/B)

Vendor Spotlight 9:20AM - 12PM (Kansa A/B)

● 9:20 - 9:35
● 9:40 - 9:55
● 10:00 - 10:15
● 10:20 - 10:35
● 10:40 - 10:55
● 11:00 - 11:15
● 11:20 - 11:35
● 11:40 - 11:55

Catered Lunch, 12PM-1PM

● Speed Networking 1PM – 2:30PM (Kansa A/B)
Speed Networking is a meeting format designed to be an organized and accelerated introduction and information exchange. This is a fun and engaging event that will allow all convention attendees to get to know one another or catch up with an old sharpening colleague.

● Sharpening Rig Show 3PM-5PM (Parking Lot)
Bringing a rig? Have it ready for some friendly competition at our Sharpening Rig Show. This is a great opportunity to share your mobile rig set ups, collaborate on issues mobile sharpeners face, and to spark ideas on methods and best practices for your mobile sharpening business.

Catered Standing Reception 5PM - 6PM

National Sharpeners Guild Annual Members' Meeting 6PM-8PM (Kansa A/B)
(Guild Members and their immediate family only)
- Corporate Officer Election
- State of the Guild - President
- Financial Update - Treasurer
- 10 Year Plan - Chairman
- Member Discussions

Sunday, September 7, 2025National Convention Day 2

(Admission Registration Required for Attendance)

Worship Service (Optional) 7AM - 7:45AM (Kansa A/B)

Vendor Room/Tables Open 8AM - 4PM (Kansa C/D/E)

Kick off Meeting and Announcements 8:00AM - 8:15AM (Kansa A/B)

Group Photo 8:15AM - 8:30AM Registration Table

Guild Centers 8:30AM - 12PM (Kansa A/B)

● Session 1: 8:30 - 9:05
● Session 2: 9:15 - 9:50
● Session 3: 10:00 - 10:35
● Session 4: 10:45 - 11:20
● Session 5: 11:30- 12:05

Catered Lunch 12PM - 1PM

Guild Centers 1:10PM - 4:45PM (Kansa A/B)

● Session 6: 1:10 - 1:45
● Session 7: 1:55 - 2:30
● Session 8: 2:40 - 3:15
● Session 9: 3:25 - 4:00
● Session 10: 4:10 - 4:45

Awards Banquet Dinner 6PM - 8PM (Kansa A/B)

- Seating
- Remarks by Guild President
- Grace
- Meal Service
- President Remarks
- Remarks by Certification Judges
- Certification Results
- Pictures
- One-on-One time with the Certification Judges

PRICING

Convention General Admission (Sharpener) - $299

Convention General Admission (Spouse) - $175

Guild Workshop - $200

Certification Exam - $300

Opal VIP Package - $1,649
$525 Savings ($2,174 Value)

Includes 6 Workshops (Thurs-Fri), Convention (Sat-Sun), & Standard Double Hotel Room for 5 Nights (Wed-Sun) [No Certification Exam]

Sapphire VIP Package - $1,899
$575 Savings ($2,474 Value)

Includes 6 Workshops (Thurs-Fri), Convention (Sat-Sun), 1 Certification Exam (Sat), & Standard Double Hotel Room for 5 Nights (Wed-Sun)

Ruby VIP Package- $2,099
$675 Savings ($2,774 Value)

Includes 6 Workshops (Thurs-Fri), Convention (Sat-Sun), 2 Certification Exams (Sat), & Standard Double Hotel Room for 5 Nights (Wed-Sun)

Emerald VIP Package - $2,299
$775 Savings ($3,074 Value)

Includes 6 Workshops (Thurs-Fri), Convention (Sat-Sun), 3 Certification Exams (Sat), & Standard Double Hotel Room for 5 Nights (Wed-Sun)

Diamond VIP Package - $2,499
$875 Savings ($3,374 Value)

Includes 6 Workshops (Thurs-Fri), Convention (Sat-Sun), 4 Certification Exams (Sat), & Standard Double Hotel Room for 5 Nights (Wed-Sun)

***To Start the Registration Process.....Please Read First....!***

Current Guild Members in good standing receive a 10% discount on General Admission, Workshops, Certifications, and VIP Packages. Member discounts will be in the form of a rebate sent to the member after the convention.

Early Birds who register before June 15th will receive a 5% discount and also have the option to pay full price or reserve their tickets by making a 25% deposit on their order. The remaining balance will be automatically charged to your card on July 15th which will complete the registration.

Not sure of the status of your membership? Please contact us, we would be happy to answer your questions.

REGISTRATION

**To register more than one sharpener fill in the information for the first sharpener and then select the ADD REGISTRANT button to register another sharpener before submitting your order.**

Guild Membership Renewal

Sharpener Admission Ticket

Are you currently a Sharpener?

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Donation - Larry Brooks Memorial Scholarship Program

Make a donation to the Larry Brooks Memorial Scholarship Program. The NBTSG is proud to announce the Larry Brooks Memorial Scholarship Program. Larry Brooks, the founder of our organization, passed away in 2017. He, along with his wife Linda, his son Dennis and daughter-in-law Tonya, set up the National Beauty Tool Sharpeners Guild in 2009. The main value and basic premise of the NBTSG was the education and training of quality sharpeners. To honor Larry Brooks and continue in the spirit of the organization the board of directors has established a way that any member in good standing can be eligible to be awarded free admittance to the annual convention on Saturday & Sunday and attendance at Guild workshops of their choice during pre-convention activities on Friday.

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NSG 2025 NATIONAL CONVENTION

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