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Cool Running Software Will Be Attending The Northeastern Ice Association Convention in 2026

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CRS Will Be Attending the 2026 NIA Convention

We are proud to announce that Cool Running Software will be attending the 2026 Northeastern Ice Association Convention from October 11 to 14, 2026, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Tony Dickson will be on site all four days and Cool Running Software will be presenting during the supplier presentations. We pride ourselves on coming prepared with new features and new tools at every event we attend, and this year we have more to show than ever. Whether you are a current customer or an ice company looking to upgrade your ice delivery software, we are looking forward to seeing you at the show.

What Is The Northeastern Ice Association?

The Northeastern Ice Association (NIA) is a regional organization that represents ice manufacturers, ice distributors, and ice suppliers located from Maine through Virginia, with over 100 members stretched across the Northeastern United States.
The NIA is dedicated to helping members connect, learn, and grow their businesses through industry meetings that cover essential topics like sanitation, marketing, and government relations. Members get updates from the Marketing, Sanitation, and Government Relations committees, board meetings that are open to all members, guest speakers covering the latest issues and innovations in the ice industry, and supplier exhibits showcasing the latest technology.
For more information, visit northeasternice.com.

Who Is Cool Running Software For?

Built By Ice Pros. For Ice Pros.

Cool Running Software is a cloud based ice delivery software platform built specifically for the packaged ice industry. It was created by Tony Dickson, a retired iceman with 30 years of experience running an ice company, after he could not find a software provider who understood the unique challenges of the ice business.
Today, ice companies across the United States and internationally run their entire operation on Cool Running Software, including:
  • Packaged ice manufacturers and distributors: Plan and execute delivery routes, track every merchandiser you own, manage your full customer list, and sync daily sales directly to QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Desktop, Sage 50, and more.
  • Dry ice companies: Take pre orders for set amounts, manage recurring and route based deliveries, and use Route Optimization to build routes around promised delivery times.
  • Craft and specialty ice companies: Take pre orders for custom products, manage bar and restaurant accounts, and schedule deliveries around each account’s receiving hours from one platform.
If your business loads product on a truck and delivers it on a route, Cool Running Software was built for you. One platform to plan, manage, deliver, and scale. No disconnected tools.

What To Expect at the 2026 NIA Convention

The 2026 NIA Convention takes place over four days at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in the heart of Center City. Attendees can expect to:
  • Hear from industry suppliers during the supplier presentations on Monday and Tuesday mornings, where vendors like Cool Running Software share updates on new technology and products in the ice industry.
  • Participate in roundtable discussions and focus sessions covering the issues facing ice companies across the Northeast.
  • Get an IPIA update from Brian Washnock, IPIA Chairman.
  • Network throughout the week at the welcome reception with suppliers, breakfasts, the pub and taproom meetup, and the NIA closing reception and dinner.
  • Join the optional events, including an ice equipment workshop, a plant tour of Home City Ice in Sea Isle, New Jersey, and a downtown walking tour celebrating America’s 250th anniversary in the city where it all started.
Northeastern Ice Association - 2026

For the full agenda and registration information, visit northeasternice.com.

Cool Running Software's Participation

Tony Dickson will be attending all four days and Cool Running Software will be presenting during the supplier presentations. Find us at the supplier exhibits, the breakfasts, or any of the networking events throughout the week.
Here is what we have been working on over the past year:

CR Driver App v1.0.148

Our newest release, launched September 2026. Three new tools for your drivers: Inventory Warnings so there is no more guessing whether the truck can cover the next stop, Merged Reconciliation that closes out the day on one screen, and Truck Handoff for switching trucks mid route. More flexibility and accountability for your drivers. Read the full blog post

The Pricing Manager

Launched June 2026. Full control over customer pricing inside Cool Running Software with named price points that replace the old tier structure entirely. Read the complete guide

Mobile Merchandiser Management

Launched March 2026. Your drivers and service techs can now manage your entire merchandiser list, add new units, edit any existing record, and assign merchandisers to customer locations directly from the CR Driver app. On site. In real time. Read the full blog post

Cool Portal

Launched January 2026. A 24/7 online ordering system that gives your recurring customers a branded portal to place orders, track deliveries, and send support requests without calling your office. Orders flow directly into our route management software, ready for dispatch. Learn more about Cool Portal

Full Platform Walkthroughs

These are just the latest additions. Come see the full platform that ice companies are using to manage their customers, plan and execute delivery routes, and run their entire operation from the cloud.

We Look Forward To Seeing You in Philadelphia

If you are attending the 2026 NIA Convention, we would love the chance to connect with you in person. Whether you are a current Cool Running Software customer or just starting to explore ice delivery software for your business, come find us at the supplier exhibits or catch our presentation.

If you are attending the 2026 NIA Convention, we would love the chance to connect with you in person. Whether you are a current Cool Running Software customer or just starting to explore ice delivery software for your business, come find us at the supplier exhibits or catch our presentation.

📍 Visit us at the Supplier Exhibits
📧 Email Tony Dickson at iceguy@coolrunningsoftware.com to set up a time to chat
💻 Request a no obligation demo at coolrunningsoftware.com/request-a-demo/

We wish you a strong finish to the season and we will see you in Philadelphia.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Northeastern Ice Association (NIA) is a regional association representing ice manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from Maine through Virginia, with over 100 members across the Northeastern United States.
The 2026 NIA Convention takes place October 11 to 14, 2026, at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Yes. Tony Dickson will be attending all four days and Cool Running Software will be presenting during the supplier presentations, with demos of Cool Portal, Mobile Merchandiser Management, the Pricing Manager, and the newest CR Driver app release.
Cool Running Software is the only delivery and business management platform built exclusively for the ice industry, with route planning, a driver app, merchandiser tracking, online ordering, and accounting sync in one cloud based system.
Yes. Cool Running Software supports packaged ice, dry ice, and craft ice companies with the same route planning, delivery, and customer management tools.

To learn more about the Northeastern Ice Association visit northeasternice.com

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