November 2020

WMIA Board of Directors Candidates wanted

WMIA will be conducting its annual elections at the 2021 Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) in Coronado, CA, April 20-23, 2021, at the Hotel Del Coronado.

In 2021, the positions of Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, and Secretary/Treasurer will be up for election. The open position of Chairman of the Board shall be filled by an Importer member; the position of Vice-Chairman of the Board shall be filled by a Distributor member; and the position of Secretary/Treasurer shall be filled by an Importer member. Additionally, there are three Board seats—one Importer, one Distributor, and one Associate—up for election, with the possibility of another Importer seat needing to be filled as well. The three seats up for election each carry three-year terms.

Virginia Tech Housing Report – September 2020

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for September 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

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October 2020

Here’s a fun way you can support WMIA’s Scholarship Fund!

The WMIA Educational Foundation’s Annual Scholarship Fund has been adversely affected this year without the revenue from the 2020 IWF show in Atlanta.  We are asking you to consider donating an interesting, unique, and/or popular item to be sold in this auction to help raise funds for the 2021 scholarships.  We also encourage you to extend this offer to your customer base or network of contacts as well.

The WMIA Education Committee has awarded more than $480,000 in scholarships over the last 30 years to deserving students to help advance their career in the woodworking industry. This decades-long initiative continues to help reinforce the health of our industry.  Now this cause needs your help!

Virginia Tech Housing Report – August 2020

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for August 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

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September 2020

North American Road Show Open House – Responses Requested

WMIA and WMMA, in partnership with IWF, are exploring the possibility of staging a North American Road Show Open House program in the fall of 2021. An important step in this exploration involves gaining your input on how the event could work for your business. Your answers to this brief survey will help guide next steps in developing the program—currently envisioned as follows:

• During a designated week, Association members and non-members would open their facilities to customers and prospects for product demonstrations, promotions and sales. Participating members and nonmembers would be charged a fee. The week-long timing would allow for the scheduling of multiple open house events in a single community.
• Companies with the larger space capacity would have the opportunity to offer smaller, non-competing companies—or companies without facilities—a “sublet” space option.
• A national marketing campaign promoting the North American Road Show Open House would build industry exposure and drive traffic to local events. Designed and executed by IWF, the campaign would target attendees nationally and locally. Registrants would select and be directed to local events with IWF assistance.

We would appreciate your response to this brief survey. Please respond no later than October 5, 2020.

Virginia Tech Housing Report – July 2020

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for July 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

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Willy Volk, who was one of the pioneers in importing industrial European woodworking machinery to the United States, died unexpectedly on July 16. He was 87.

IWF will be holding a webinar Thursday, September 10 at 2:00 p.m. ET to provide more information on the event and the technology which will be used, hosted by Map Your Show.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (September 3, 2020) – This week, Biesse America and Biesse Canada announced the appointment of Randy Jamison and Matt Fleming to the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer.  Randy will be responsible for the development of the commercial strategy for the wood and advanced materials divisions in the United States and glass, stone and tooling divisions in the United States and Canada. Matt Fleming will develop the commercial strategy for the wood and advanced materials divisions in Canada.

August 2020

IWF announces 5-day virtual trade show

IWF has announced a new online event, IWF Connect, which will be Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30. IWF Connect is a new way for the woodworking industry to do business. This online tradeshow event will bring our industry together for 5 streamlined days of buying, selling, and experiencing new products and trends. Find exactly what you need to advance your business, and interact with exhibitors at your convenience.

For attendees, complimentary IWF Connect registration affords: Direct exhibitor access through live chat and meetings; Live product demonstrations; Webinars; Exclusive show-only pricing, and a custom show experience organized through the My IWF Connect Show Planner.

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for June 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

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The Joint Technology Committee presents Raising Your Livestream Goals. Accompanying materials can be found below.

July 2020

Breaking: IWF announces 5-day virtual trade show

IWF has announced a new online event, IWF Connect, which will be Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30. IWF Connect is the new virtual trade show for the woodworking industry. IWF Connect will bring attendees and exhibitors together in a virtual market week featuring the global woodworking industry’s newest products, technologies and innovations in one easy-to-navigate online experience.

“IWF has announced a new online event, IWF Connect, which will be exclusively online Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30

IWF Connect is the new virtual trade show for the woodworking industry.

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for May 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

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“Lockdowel Inc. has named Jason Howell, former WMIA board member, its new CEO and president. Howell has served the woodworking industry for 21 years, including his last 10 years as president of Weinig Holz-Her USA.

With an MBA in International Business and a passion for organizational leadership, Howell brings new direction and insight to position Lockdowel manufacturing methods as the industry standard in furniture and cabinet construction.

June 2020

WMIA Educational Foundation Awards Over $35,000 in Scholarships

For a number of years, the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association’s (WMIA) Educational Foundation has awarded scholarships to those who want to study, and eventually pursue a career in, wood technology, machinery, and related fields. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $480,000 to assist talented students with furthering their educational and career goals.

Honorees of the 2020 Wood Industry 40 Under 40 have been announced by Woodworking Network. This year marks the fifth annual awarding of the 40 Under 40, which celebrates the next generation of industry professionals who are making an impact on wood products manufacturing in North America.

FAIRFAX, VA – For a number of years, the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association’s (WMIA) Educational Foundation has awarded scholarships to those who want to study, and eventually pursue a career in, wood technology, machinery, and related fields. To date, the Foundation has provided more than $480,000 to assist talented students with furthering their educational and career goals.

Virginia Tech – U.S. Forest Service has published its housing market commentaries for April 2020.  These commentaries contain in-depth data and comments on the U.S. housing market.

Part 1: Main