|
After 14 years of association growth and
industry leadership, Dale Silverman, CAE, SPHR, executive vice president
of the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) has
set the date of her impending retirement as February 9, 2008. Skip Hem,
Royal Plywood vice president, composite panel division and AWFS
president, announced on behalf of the AWFS board of directors that
Angelo Gangone, AWFS vice president of trade shows has been formally
selected to replace Silverman as AWFS executive vice president. This
important announcement was made to leaders and delegates at the annual
Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) in Saint Petersburg, Florida,
April 26, 2007.
During Silverman’s tenure AWFS has experienced remarkable growth in
association membership, prestige and biennial Fair attendance. Silverman
has worked to provide the vision that has allowed AWFS to reinvent
itself, emerging from an organization that was locally driven and
regionally oriented to one that is internationally known and respected
for its dedication to strengthening the woodworking and home furnishings
supply industry.
“Dale has guided our association and industry with experience and
insight for more than a decade. As our industry has faced difficulties
and successes AWFS has provided a common direction and proactive
advocacy. We look forward to what is to come and are thankful for Dale’s
hard work that has helped us get to where we are today,” said Skip Hem.
Silverman’s professional career spans 30 years serving much of that time
directing associations and not-for-profit entities. Prior to becoming
the executive vice president of AWFS in 1994, Silverman was the
executive director of the Professional in Human Resources Association (PIHRA).
Silverman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree in
Business Administration from UCLA. She also holds several professional
accreditations that include Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
and Certified Association Professional (CAE).
Gangone is uniquely experienced and equipped to lead the association. He
has overseen the major transition of the biennial AWFS Fair from
Anaheim, Calif. to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005. Under his leadership 2007
attendee pre-registration and exhibit space sales are tracking nearly
20% ahead of the 2005 Fair which boasted a 20% increase over the
previous year. Sponsorship sales and pre-registration are tracking at
record levels. International attendance increased 134% in 2005 and
pre-registration suggests a similar triple digit increase in 2007.
Gangone has served as vice president of Tradeshows for AWFS since July
of 2003 and previously served on the AWFS Tradeshow Committee and Board
of Directors. Gangone received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing
Management from Youngstown State University in 1987 and earned an MBA
from Kent State University in 1991. Prior to his current AWFS role,
Gangone spent 11 years in the woodworking industry with SCM Group, USA.
He established the marketing division for the company in 1992 and served
as the company’s marketing and advertising manager through May of 1997.
He then became the business manager, responsible for sales of the
company’s Standard machinery line.
“Major woodworking and home furnishings supply companies continue to
look to AWFS for industry leadership and education as they are
confronted with complicated market and trade issues. Angelo will
continue to provide this important industry leadership throughout all
the facets of AWFS continuing growth. Under his creative leadership the
biennial Fair has reached a new level of industry importance. The AWFS
Fair has become an industry leader for innovation and technology. We are
excited for Angelo to continue his creativity and enthusiasm as AWFS
enters a highly anticipated era of association expansion and industry
leadership,” said Joan Kemp, AWFS vice president & West Coast Regional
Manager for CP Adhesives, Inc. |
