CabinetMakerFDM woodworking business E-vent Opens 8-9 a.m. CST
Beyond 2010: What would it take for woodworking industry to survive? 9-10 a.m. CST
Moderator: William Sampson, editor of CabinetMakerFDM magazine
Panelists: Art Raymond, Gero Sassenberg, third panelist TBD
This panel discussion features top industry experts offering insights into how woodworking businesses can effectively address the challenges ahead as the economy struggles to recover from the most serious recession in generations.
Break 10-10:30 a.m. CST
What can small and medium-size shops learn from lean? 10:30-11:30 a.m. CST
Moderator: William Sampson, editor of CabinetMakerFDM magazine
Panelists: Jim Lewis, Gero Sassenberg, Carl Spencer
Some shop owners mistakenly believe lean manufacturing is only for big factory operations. Three experts, including an active award-winning shop owner, show how even small to medium-size shops can benefit from lean principles and dramatically boost their productivity.
Break 11:30-noon CST
Social media and other marketing for the woodworking industry noon-1 p.m. CST
Presenters: Dave Grulke and Bruce Plantz
An active shop owner as well as executive director of the Cabinet Makers Association, Grulke shares success stories, tips and tricks for woodworking businesses to get the most out of their marketing campaigns. Grulke also offers specialized information and inside advice from his previous career in marketing and advertising. Bruce Plantz, publisher of CabinetMakerFDM, explains how woodworking businesses can effectively use the new social media such as Facebook and Twitter as a marketing tool.
Break 1-1:30 p.m. CST
Router or point to point – choosing the right CNC for an application 1:30-2:30 p.m. CST
Presenter: Scott Cruickshank
Experts offer insights in how to match the right CNC system to your products and production needs. This presentation is not about picking one machine brand over another. Instead, it is focused on a logical, experience-based decision tree to help any shop or factory analyze how best to use CNC machines in a given operation.
Break 2:30-3:30 p.m. CST
Getting the most from your software 3:30-4:30 p.m. CST
Presenters: Tom Burke, Ken Frye, John Liedl, Chip Martin
Software has become a crucial tool for modern woodworking enterprises, but it remains complex, and it takes education to get the most out of it. Software industry experts share practical and pragmatic tips to help you use woodworking software most efficiently and increase your productivity.
Break until end of event 4:30-5 p.m. CST
Get more information or register online for this free event.
Panelist bios
Thomas Burke helps shops improve productivity and lower costs using computer technology. He brings experience as a journeyman cabinetmaker, a shop owner and principal of a leading consulting firm to the FDM / Cabinetmaker virtual presentation. You may remember Tom as a former contributing editor to FDM (Burke on Information). Tom currently manages manufacturing solutions for small and medium businesses at industry leader 20-20 Technologies.
Ken Frye has extensive knowledge and background in the custom woodworking industry, starting in 1986 as a cabinetmaker and installer in a custom cabinet shop. From there he combined his knowledge of computers with cabinetmaking in his current position as he plays a significant role in the programming and development of KCD’s Cabinet and Closet Software. Most recently he has worked to assist cabinet and closet professionals in growing their business through the use of computer aided design technology. He conducts web based training seminars and creates comprehensive on-line video tutorials that help end-users best maximize KCD Software.
Dave Grulke, founder of Big Dave's Services, has over 20 years experience in advertising sales and management in print, direct mail and broadcast media. He has rehabbed dozens of residential properties and in 2002, he opened his own general contracting business. Having learned site-built cabinetry and finish carpentry installations early in his career, Dave developed his business to specialize in turn key custom kitchens, baths and home offices. He currently is the executive director of the Cabinet Makers Association provides seminars across the country on advertising, sales and marketing topics.
John Liedl began his career working with industrial power generators manufactured by the Austrian firm ELIN. Over time his interest turned from machinery to software, first in Electromagnetic Design (with Vector Fields) and later to optimization and automation software for manufacturing, specifically ARDIS. He began offering consulting services in 1992 and formally founded and incorporated Eurosoft, Inc. in 1996. Since then, he has pursued the company’s goal of bringing European software solutions to the American panel-processing market.
Jim Lewis has worked in the furniture and sewn products industries for more than 30 years. He is currently an independent consultant specializing in the implementation of lean manufacturing principles in a variety of industry environments. He has focused on productivity improvements through the lean manufacturing principles detailed in his book, Learn to Be Lean.
Art Raymond: After 40 years as a consultant to furniture, cabinetry, and millwork producers, Art Raymond is now Vice President – Operations at Hooker Furniture Corporation, Martinsville, Va. He has been a frequent contributor to CabinetMaker+FDM magazine.
Bruce Plantz has been involved in the woodworking media since 1982, and has been with FDM, since 1984 and was part of the team that launched CabinetMaker in 1987. He developed his first web site in 1996, and was playing with social media back in the days of dial-up BBS systems. Today he is director of content for WATT, and has been instrumental in developing social media channels in woodworking, pet food, and animal agribusiness markets.
Gero Sassenberg has been active in the woodworking industry for more than three decades on three different continents. From running his own shops to working with a major European hardware manufacturer to providing insightful consulting for maximum efficiency, Sassenberg’s wide experience offers a valuable perspective on the industry.
Carl Spencer has been an enthusiastic proponent of the Toyota Production System since the 1980s. He worked hard to institute lean production principles in a variety of larger corporations, but has experienced his most success using lean in a custom cabinet shop with fewer than 10 employees. Spencer Cabinetry LLC has won regional environmental awards as a happy byproduct of a dedicated investment in continuous improvement of production efficiency.
Scott Cruickshank is sales manager for Stiles Machinery Inc., specializing in woodworking machinery, and has offered published opinions on productivity, use of software, and panel saw issues. Stiles is the largest distributor of woodworking equipment in North America, offering all types of machinery, service and training.
This is a preliminary list as of August 20, 2010, and is subject to change and revision.
See an updated exhibitor list for the E-vent.