Top technical experts share their expertise in IWF symposiums and educational sessions.

One of the best reasons to attend the International Woodworking Fair this year is the opportunity for education. Long known for the high-value education sessions it offers, IWF this year is offering wide-ranging sessions on an extensive array of topics. And to maximize education options, progra.m.s are organized in both multi-class symposiums and single stand-alone sessions.

All of the progra.m.s and sessions feature top experts from throughout the woodworking, furniture and cabinet industry. That gives you face-to-face contact with a level of expertise you might not be able to find easily in your home town.

Symposiums offer depth and breadth

If you want to get an in-depth view of a subject in a short time, there is no better way than to attend one of the symposium offerings at IWF. Typically each symposium offers a panel of experts teaching a full day of sessions on a number of related topics. Symposiums are available on finishing, door and window manufacturing, countertop business, and custom closets. The progra.m.s are scheduled on Tuesday, August 21.

Here’s more about selected symposiums:

From Low Tech to High Tech - The Finisher’s Guide to Perfect Results – This progra.m. is a four-session all day class covering sanding, color, VOC and NESHAP regulations and ending with a hands-on spray operator training. Sessions include Sanding/Surface Preparation with Diane Shattuck; Dealing with Color with John Howell; Complying with VOC Regulations with David Jackson; and NESHAP and Spray Operator Training by Phil Stevenson.

Door and Window Manufacturer Symposium: Getting Lean, Green and Keeping up with Market Trends – This four-session all day class covers lean manufacturing, green guidelines, a market update and marketing advice for door and window manufacturers and suppliers. Sessions include: Lean Manufacturing; Green Guidelines for manufacturing and advertising claims; Market Update forecasting for wood industry and door and window market specifically; Marketing Your Company - how to make your company stand out from the rest.

Exploring Countertop Options: Turning Opportunity into Profit -- Presented by the International Surface Fabricators Association, this one-day progra.m. is designed to provide a wealth of information to both established countertop fabricators, as well as cabinetmakers and casework providers who are exploring best practices for resourcing within the countertop market. Presenters include owners of successful countertop and architectural millwork companies who are well versed in the technology, techniques and business requirements of countertop operations. The session will cover residential and commercial operations, and encompasses information on a variety of countertop materials. It includes discussions on materials, machinery, outsourcing vs. in-house fabrication and countertop trends.

Closets - Your Niche for Growth -- Members of the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals, experts with years of background in the industry, will share their extensive knowledge with those looking to build on this niche or break into it during this all day symposium. There will be a focus on managing just-in-time delivery, short work cycles and customer expectations as they relate specifically to the closet business. You can also expect this seminar to give you specifics about space planning, giving you the knowledge to meet the customer demand for better space.

Education sessions for every interest

With everything there is to do and see at the IWF show, many attendees don’t have time for a full day of a symposium, but they shouldn’t pass up the great educational offerings in the stand-alone education sessions that occur throughout the show.

Typically, the sessions cover 1-1/2 to two hours and feature expert speakers ready to provide up to the minute information targeted at a specific area of interest. You can get detailed information about all the sessions at http://www.iwfatlanta.com/education/educationhome.

Here’s a list of topics and times on the schedule:

Regulatory Issues Affecting the Furniture Industry - What's New and What's Coming Soon (FAU1); Bill Perdue, VP of Regulatory Affairs: AHFA; 8/23/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
The ECO3-Home and How Foa.m. Fabric and Fra.m.e Components Fit Into This Home Concept (FAU2); Bill Perdue, VP of Regulatory Affairs: AHFA; 8/22/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Re-Shoring and Case Studies (FAU3); Harry Moser, Founder: Re-Shoring Initiative; Clay Walden, Director-Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension: Mississippi State University; Allen Greenwood, Professor-Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering: Mississippi State University; 8/22/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Business Survival and Growth (BMG1); Davis Woodruff, President: Management Methods, Inc.; 8/22/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

From Strategy to Results (BMG2); Davis Woodruff, President: Management Methods, Inc.; 8/22/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Business Strategies for a Changing Market (BMG3); Steve Lawser: WCMA; Sean Benetin, President: Millwork & More, LLC; Kent Glichrist, President: Freemont Interiors, Inc.; Donald O’Hora President & CEO, Northway Industries, Inc.; 8/22/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Recruiting, Retaining, and Managing an Age-Diverse Workforce (BMG4); Phil Bibeau, Executive Director, WP.M.A; Mike Finn, Executive Recruiter: Century Personnel; 8/24/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Moving From Residential to Commercial Woodwork (BMG5); Rick Thaler: President, OGB Architectural Millwork; 8/23/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

You can choose from in-depth symposiums to detailed stand-alone education sessions, but they all offer expert advice from leaders in the industry.

Working Local and Regional Markets for New Sales of Cabinets, Furniture, and Millwork (BMG6); Harry Watt, Business Improvement Specialist, NCSU; Jon Benson, Vice President: Hale Manufacturing; Charlie Griffiths, President: Vigilant, Inc.; Mark Goldman, President: Pennville Cabinet Company; Rick Lawson: Natural Capital Investment Fund; Kyle Edwards, President/Owner: The Sawmill, LTD.; 8/22/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Financial Management / Money Matters (BMG7); Greg Heuer, CSI: AWI; Scott Nelson, President: Woodwork Career Alliance of North A.m.erica; Bruce Spitz,President: Classic Millwork & Products; 8/23/2012; 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Wood Properties and Identification: What You Need to Know (BMG8); A.m.y Garrard, Assistant Professor, Franklin Furniture Institute; David Jones, Assistant Extension Professor-Department of Forest Products: Mississippi State University; 8/22/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wood Protection for the Forest Products Industry (BMG9); A.m.y Garrard, Assistant Professor: Franklin Furniture Institute; Shane Kitchens, Assistant Professor- Department of Forest Products: Mississippi State University; 8/23/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Back to Basics: How to Write a Marketing Plan (MKT1); Philip Zaleon, Owner: Z promotions & design, Inc.; 8/23/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Reaching Today's Customers at the Buying Moment (MKT2); Philip Zaleon, Owner: Z promotions & design, Inc.; 8/23/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

7 Rules for Great Web Content (MKT3); Ralph Bagnall, Senior Consultant, ConsultingWoodworker.com; 8/24/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Systems for Sales: Using Software for Sales Success (MKT4); Rick Hill, President: Woodreps.com; 8/24/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

How to Use Dyes (MFG1); Mitch Kohanek, Instructor : DC Tech College; David Smith, President: Fresh Air Finishers; 8/24/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Color Matching (MFG2); Mitch Kohanek, Instructor, DC Tech College; David Smith, President: Fresh Air Finishers; 8/24/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Lean Manufacturing and the Theory of Constraints (MFG3); Bob Buckley, President: True 32 Custom Cabinetry; 8/24/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Lean 2.0 - Workplace Organization on Steroids (MFG4); Jim Lewis, Principal : The Center for Lean Learning; 8/23/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Automating Your Shop: What Comes First? (MFG5); Kevin Ward, Owner, A Ward Design; Eric Ward, Consultant, A Ward Design; 8/23/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Mass Customization (MFG6); Urs Buehlmann, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech; Russ Kahn, Product Manager: 2020 Technologies; Charles Griffiths, President, Vigilant, Inc.; 8/22/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Increasing Lumber Yield With ROMI (MFG7); Urs Buehlmann, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech; R. Edward Thomas, Research Computer Scientist, USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station; Timo Grueneberg, Postdoctoral Research Associate: Virginia Tech; 8/24/2012; 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

How to Specify Engineered Hardwood Products (MFG8); Kip Howlett, President : HPVA; Alan Hubbard, Face Sales Manager: Veneer Technologies; Richard Poindexter, Specialty Products Manager: Columbia Forest Products; Brian Sause, HPVA Director of Standards-Certification and Testing: HPVA; 8/22/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Leapfrog from Laminate to High End Concrete (NBS1); Lane Mangum, VP Business Services: CCI; Jeffrey Girard, President: Concrete Countertop Institute; 8/24/2012; 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m.

Training, Standards, and Certifications in the Industry Today (NBS2); Karl Forth, CabinetMakerFDM; Scott Nelson, President: Woodwork Career Alliance of North A.m.erica; Dave Grulke, Executive Director: Cabinet Makers Association; Patrick Molzhan, President: WoodLINKS USA; 8/23/2012; 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.

Working With Designers & Architects (NBS3); Joe Knobbe, Board of Directors , CMA; 8/23/2012; 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.