The Cutting Edge™ - WIC 2004 in Review

WMMAŽ Honors John Zinn with Baldwin Award of Excellence

WMMAŽ honored John D. Zinn with the 2004 Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence during the WMMAŽ Business Session. This annual Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the woodworking industry, the Association, their companies and their community.

Mr. Zinn is an industry icon, who created the International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair - USAŽ (IWF), as we know it today. He was responsible for the smooth transition of IWF from Louisville, KY to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA, where it remains today.

The presentation speech given by 2003 Baldwin Award Winner Sandy Berliner, noted, "The stature of IWF under our winner has been recognized worldwide. To us, he is Mr. IWF. He has an excellent rapport with his national and international colleagues in the woodworking industry. Executives of the woodworking fairs in Nagoya, Hanover, and Milan regard our winner as the best in the business. To say he has worldwide recognition is an understatement."

Mr. Zinn is a graduate of Pittsburg State University, where he majored in Wood Technology. He has maintained ties with the University, serving first on the Wood Technology Advisory Committee, and currently on the Technology Department Advisory Committee.

He began work with the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) in 1970 as a member of the Field Staff. He moved to New Orleans, SFPA's headquarters, as Manager of the Field Staff. He worked with Keith Judkins, show manager for SFPA's Expo. When Keith left in 1978, Mr. Zinn replaced him as show manager, directing the Expo held at the Superdome in New Orleans in 1979. The next show in 1981 in Atlanta was his last with SFPA. In December of that year, Mr. Zinn began his association with the International Woodworking Fair. His first Fair was in Louisville at the Kentucky Fairgrounds and Exposition Center in 1982. The year 1984 saw the Fair come to Atlanta where it has remained. And the rest is history.

In addition to his dedication to the woodworking industry for over three decades, Mr. Zinn is an involved community and family man. He volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and New Hope Mission in Georgia. He is a loving husband to Debbie and a proud father to Courtney and Patrick.

Mr. Zinn plans to retire after this year's IWF. So WMMAŽ found it most fitting to recognize Mr. Zinn in 2004 for his many years of service to the industry, and for changing the way we do business.

The Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence is presented annually to a member of the WMMAŽ. Nominations come from the membership and are voted on by a panel consisting of WMMAŽ Officers, Past Presidents and Membership Services Committee. This year marks the 21st year that WMMAŽ has bestowed this honor.

2004 Baldwin Award Winner John Zinn (right) accepts the Baldwin Clock from 2003 Baldwin Award Winner and 2004 presenter, Sandy Berliner (center).

John Zinn of IWF delivers an emotional acceptance speech