At the 16th Annual Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) in St. Petersburg, FL, the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America® (WMMA®) honored Kenny Moffatt of Unique Machine & Tool with the Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence. This annual award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the woodworking industry, the Association, their companies and their community.

Mr. Moffatt is well known for his enthusiasm for the industry, his belief in this association and his passion for his family. He is recognized as a leader who turned his business around and infused life back into a company after he purchased it. He used his business savvy to his advantage, investing company dollars in engineering, to improve the products he contributed to his company's niche in the market. This foresight revitalized the way his company's machines were made.

The presentation speech given by the 2006 Baldwin Award Winner, Kenneth Hutton, who noted, "Many would say what our winner accomplished in the export arena, particularly in Australia, was tantamount to hitting a grand slam home run. He would say it was equivalent to a "hat trick." Because of his initiative, his company is now viewed as a pioneer in the door manufacturing market, due to their many new projects and products.

Mr. Moffatt has served WMMA as Treasurer, Vice President and President. He served the Association as chair of the Industry Marketing Committee for many years and was also active within what was then known as the Export Development Committee. He continues to serve WMMA as the past chairman and now member of the Leadership Development Committee, an important role as this group helps determine the future leaders of our organization.

In addition, Mr. Moffatt currently sits on the WMMA Board of Directors. In this capacity, he contributed to the vitally important Strategic Visioning Process that took place several years ago and is now a formalized process occurring every two years. In addition to his leadership within the Association, Mr. Moffatt was active in the Wood Industry Leadership Forum, and served as the Chair of the Woodworking Industry Conference Liaison Meeting with three associations: WMMA, WMIA and AWFS.

Mr. Moffatt is also actively involved in his community. He is currently the Head Coach of the Phoenix Firebirds Bantam AAA Division, a youth group playing in competitions and exhibitions throughout the United States and Canada. As an avid golfer, he is also a member of the Thunderbirds, a local organization that sponsors the Phoenix Open Golf Tournament.

WMMA is grateful that Mr. Moffat has made the association an integral part of his business life.

The Baldwin Award was the highlight of WMMA's Annual Business Session, held on April 27th during the 2007 WIC, at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort and Golf Club in St. Petersburg, FL. The Ralph B. Baldwin Award of Excellence is presented annually. Nominations come from the membership and are voted on by a panel consisting of WMMA Officers, Past Presidents and Membership Services Committee. This year marks the 24th year that WMMA has bestowed this honor.

2006 Baldwin Award Winner Ken Hutton & WMMA President Jim Laster present the 2007 Baldwin Award to Kenny Moffatt

At the Friday, April 27th Business Session, three new Directors were named to the WMMA Board: Brian Donahue of Safety Speed Cut, Frank Kobilsek of Black Bros. and Jamison Scott of Air Handling Systems. These three gentlemen will serve from 2007 through the 2010 WIC. Congratulations!

Outgoing Directors recognized for their service to the Board over the past three years were John Schultz of Super Thin Saws, Ed Fiantaca of Accurate Technology and Tom Onsrud of C.R. Onsrud, Inc.

Delegates and spouses alike were informed and entertained at the WIC 2007 Opening Session by Howard Putnam's presentation, "Retooling America: Business Practices to Maximize Your Success." Howard addressed the importance of quality employees, ethics and integrity in running a successful business and how he increased Southwest Airlines' success by encouraging innovation and empowerment.

Howard Putnam is the former CEO of the highly successful Southwest Airlines. Howard grew up and learned to fly on an Iowa farm and began his airline career as a baggage handler in Chicago. He has an MBA in Marketing from the University of Chicago and attended Harvard's Advanced Management Program. Howard was inducted into the Speakers Hall of Fame by the National Speakers Association in 2005. He is also accredited as a Certified Speaking Professional.

Howard Putnam - Opening General Session Speaker

The 2007 WMMA Business Session on Friday, April 27th, presented members with three hours of education and information geared toward business practices to maximize their success.

In addition to the election of Officers and the presentation of the Baldwin Award of Excellence, members heard from two dynamic presenters; John Satagaj, WMMA's Legislative Counsel and Alan Beaulieu from The Institute for Trend Research (ITR).

John Satagaj provided the members with his view on legislation affecting manufacturing that is being proposed now and in the near future. The goal of this presentation was to provide members with his views on what bills WMMA and its members can realistically expect to see passed and what action steps members need to take to help the cause.

Alan Beaulieu's presentation provided the membership with an economic forecast of the U.S. economy and U.S. manufacturing industry with highlights on the wood processing industry. Through charts, graphs and a thorough description of what these charts and graphs show, he provided the members in attendance with realistic expectations for the months (and years) ahead. For more detail on ITR's forecast data, members can access the WMMA Economic Outlook Report posted on the WMMA website at www.wmma.org/members/efreports.cfm for a great deal of this presentation. For a fee, members can submit five years of sales data to receive a customized analysis, which can help track where your company should invest, spend, and cut back over the near term.

WMMA members who are already signed up for this customized service attest to the benefits they have derived from their report already. From building a new plant, to refinancing, to hiring personnel in anticipation of a sales increase - the results are in. This is a major member benefit that all members should act on - today. See www.wmma.org/members/efreports.cfm for details to subscribe.

Alan's informative presentation was followed by Roundtable Discussions, including:

• Accurately Forecasting Your Business
• Building an Online Marketing Machine
• Real World Application of and Results from Continuous Improvement
• Investigating New Markets & Partnering Opportunities Overseas

Through the lively discussions at each of the roundtables, members learned more about many of the member benefits and programs that are provided through WMMA. Visit the Committee section of the WMMA website to learn more about what areas of the association you would like to be involved in here and read about all the benefits of WMMA membership here.

On Saturday, delegates attended concurrent workshops on a variety of pressing topics. The speakers were experts in their respective fields and gave great insight to the delegates.

101 Cost-Cutting Tips
Candy Adams, CTSM, CME, CEM, CMP, CMM - The Booth Mom®, Trade Show Consulting Exhibit and Exhibition Manager and Industry Consultant

Attendees at this session learned how to reduce exhibition expenses and spend where it counts. Candy presented 101 "big picture" cost-cutting tips and little cuts that add up to big bucks!

Building Rapport with Customers
Lynn Hauser, Training Designer and Facilitator - Training Systems, Inc.

Attendees learned how to recognize their normal way of communicating and their customer, how to use their knowledge of each customer's way of communicating to predict behavior, how to know what each customer expects from you and how to modify their way of communicating to fit customers, resulting in successful, positive communication.

Lynn Hauser

Top 10 Tips For Trade Show Success
Candy Adams, CTSM, CME, CEM, CMP, CMM - The Booth Mom®, Trade Show Consulting Exhibit and Exhibition Manager and Industry Consultant.

Candy demonstrated what sets apart a ho-hum exhibit program from one that helps you reach your goals and and showed attendees how to identify trade show goals and plan ahead to meet them!

The Evolving Manufacturer/Distributor Relationship: Tomorrow's Challenges and the Strategies for Success
Dr. William McCleave, P.E. - President of W. R. McCleave & Associates

After seventeen years of research and consulting in the Distribution Industry, Dr. William McCleave has some no nonsense answers to the big questions channel members are asking about the future. He combined his years of research and writing about the distribution industry and delivered a high impact seminar directed toward channel leaders who want to take control of their future through improving their relationships with their channel partners.

Bill McCleave

How to Build an Online Marketing Machine
Bob DeStefano, President of SVM E-Business Solutions; David Smith, Director of Business Development, SVM E-Business Solutions

This intensive workshop provided attendees with a practical roadmap for transforming their Website into an online marketing machine. SVM E-Business Solutions described in detail how to harness the power of search engine marketing, a customer-focused Website, email marketing and Web analytics into an integrated marketing system that will continually generate new business

Bob DeStefano

Upgrade Your Sales Organization
Sean Coyle - Peak Performance Management, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA

This workshop showed attendees how to evaluate hidden strengths and weaknesses and why they impact your sales and profits, and then learn how to take advantage of them. Sean detailed what to do about lost opportunities, slipping margins, rising cost of sales, complacency and the battle for market share.

The 2007 Contact Table Program offered manufacturers, distributors, importers, suppliers and educators in our industry a unique opportunity to meet face-to-face. A key component of WIC, the Contact Table Program offered delegates the chance to conduct business with more than twenty-five customers over two days. On Thursday, April 26th and Friday, April 27th, importers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers hosted tables for two afternoons of appointments and business meetings.

Declared one WMMA member, "The Contact Table Program is a unique opportunity to schedule one-on-one appointments and to focus on specific business issues and opportunities."

Participating in the two-day Contact Table Program reduces company sales costs and brings you greater return on your WIC investment. The Contact Table Program continues to be an opportunity for industry leaders to get more done for less. Make sure you attend next year!

WMMA Members Making the Most of the Contact Table Program

And let's not forget the all-important social activities, where the delegates escape the meeting rooms and get out onto the dance floor!

This year, attendees enjoyed a pool-side dinner, a casino boat cruise, pool side socializing and more! A special reception for first timers and new members made everyone feel comfortable at WIC and WMMA delegates who sat in with the Membership Services Committee were treated to an outdoor meeting.

New Members and First Time Attendees Gather For A Reception

WMMA Members Enjoy The Closing Party

Spouses had a chance to reconnect with their industry friends and delegates enjoyed the casual opportunity to network and relax. This year's spouse program, titled "Design a Dessert," included plate decorating and chocolate dipping.

Fun Learning to Design A Dessert

"If you have to attend only one industry event per year, WIC should be the event. Having the opportunity to network with various industry decision makers all at one place is priceless."

"The annual Woodworking Industry Conference is a once-a-year opportunity to network with industry associates away from the traditional trade shows we all attend. Workshops provide continuing education and the opportunity to get updated on public policy and other matters. Pleasant evening social activities continue the networking process. It is the one event each year I look forward to attending!"

"Excellent, efficient and, economically, a no-brainer. The conference allowed me to meet with more than a dozen of my dealers in just two days. It would take me weeks to do that if I was on the road using regular channels and it would cost the company and I significantly more in time and money."

"Great destination to spend quality time with industry friends!"

MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!

WIC 2008
April 23-26, 2008
La Quinta Resort - Palm Springs, CA