IWPA: 61st World of Wood Sees Third Straight Year of Record Attendance
Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) April 17, 2017 -- As President Bronson Newburger, Clarke Veneers and Plywood, passed the gavel to Incoming President JoAnn Gillebaard Keller, Holland Southwest International, the International Wood Products Association (IWPA) celebrated the end of the 61st World of Wood Annual Convention at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, California. IWPA saw yet another year of 9% growth in attendance over last year's record-setting convention in Austin and welcomed a diverse group of attendees from more than two dozen countries involved in the global wood products trade: overseas suppliers, importers, trade facilitators, service providers, non-governmental organizations, and government partners.
“I am honored to be the next President of IWPA and plan to continue our membership growth, build on our successful due diligence training program, provide resources to members as they tackle the political landscape, and reach out to organizations so that we can all ensure the sustainability and health of the forests worldwide. We have a lot ahead of us, and I am ready to get started,” Gillebaard Keller said of her upcoming presidency.
World of Wood 2017 hosted presentations including social media business strategies from Keynote Speaker Peg Fitzpatrick and global currency trends from Marc Chandler, Senior Vice President of Investor Services for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Attendees also received the latest information about: Lacey Act compliance, the Chinese plywood dumping petition, complying with rosewood CITES requirements, formaldehyde regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board, and many other topics. IWPA’s semi-annual Board Meeting and meetings of IWPA’s member-led committees were also conducted at the convention.
IWPA has posted the speakers' presentations on our convention website for attendees and for those who were unable to travel to San Francisco.
Mark your Calendars: IWPA now turns to planning World of Wood 2018, which will take place at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans, Louisiana on March 14-16, 2018.
Established in 1956, the International Wood Products Association’s (http://www.IWPAwood.org) mission is to build acceptance and demand in North America for globally sourced wood products from sustainably managed forests. IWPA is the leading international trade association for the North American imported wood products industry, representing 200 companies and trade associations engaged in the import of hardwoods and softwoods. Association members consist of three key groups involved in the import process: U.S. importers and consuming industries, offshore manufacturers and the service providers that facilitate trade.
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Mike Burita, International Wood Products Association, http://www.iwpawood.org, +1 202-420-9361, [email protected]
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