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The Association of Woodworking &
Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) announced the election of its 2007 – 2008
Board of Directors. The group was installed at the first board meeting
of the new year, February 13, 2007 in Washington D.C. Robert Slater,
Stiles Machinery, Inc. and a member of the AWFS® Trade Show Committee is
set to began his first term on the board. Kevin Bedell of Foamex, Inc.
and Tom Elliott of Costa & Grissom Machinery were both re-elected to a
second three-year term.
“AWFS annual elections are an opportunity for member companies to select
leaders that reflect the interests and future goals of the woodworking
and home furnishing suppliers market. We congratulate our new and
returning board members and look forward to a prosperous term,” said
Skip Hem, Royal Plywood vice president, composite panel division and
AWFS president.
Robert Slater vice president, Solid Wood Technologies for Stiles is an
active member of the AWFS 2007 Trade Show Committee and has served in a
variety of leadership positions in other industry associations. Slater
started his career with Yates American Machine Co., where he worked from
1984 through 1999, serving the last five years as Vice President of
Sales and Marketing. He joined the Weinig Group in 2000 and served six
years as Vice President of Optimizing Products before moving on to
Stiles in 2006.
Kevin Bedell was elected to the AWFS® board in 2004 and quickly assumed
a leadership position as vice chair of the Member Services committee and
chair of the Public Policy Sub-Committee. Previously he has served on a
variety of association committees and as a member of the Young Furniture
Associates’ (YFA’s) board, culminating by serving as the chapter’s
president in 1992. Kevin brings over 30 years of industry experience to
the board, working for Carpenter Co. for the first 16 years of his
career before moving on to Foamex.
Tom Elliott was elected to the AWFS board in 2006 to complete a term
vacated by Steve Byers when he moved up to assume the position of Trade
Show Chair. Tom now begins serving his first three year elected term. He
is active on the Member Services Committee. Elliott has been in the
woodworking machinery business since the mid 1990’s, representing Costa
& Grissom Machinery’s line of wide belt sanders.
Officers who continue for their second year of a two year term are:
President: Skip Hem, Royal Plywood Co.
Vice- President/President-elect: Joan Kemp, CP Adhesives, Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer: Jeff Oliverson, Koch Ltd. Machinery Systems
Immediate Past President: Barry Howerton, Leggett & Platt
Founded in 1911, AWFS is the largest national trade association in the
United States representing companies that supply the home and commercial
furnishings industry. AWFS has an international membership that includes
manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, lumber,
upholstery, materials, bedding and other supplies to furniture, cabinet
manufacturers and custom woodworkers.
The AWFS®Fair is a biennial event in which buyers and manufacturers
gather from around the world to buy and sell the latest products and
services related to the wood and home furnishings markets. AWFS®Vegas,
is a winner of the 2006 Tradeshow Week Fastest 50 award. In 2005, the
Fair was also promoted nine spots – from 51 to 42 – making it into the
top 50 of the Tradeshow Week 200. For more information about AWFS, visit
their website at www.awfs.org or
www.awfsfair.org.
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