An Up-beat Convention

SHELTER

November/December 2002

MILLWORKOLE

an Up-Beat Convention

Exhibitors and Jobbers Give Positive
Feedback about NSDJA Show in San Antonio
by Samantha Carpenter

The city of San Antonio was the hot spot for this year’s 39th Annual National Sash & Door Jobbers Association (NSDJA) Convention, which was held October 12-16, 2002. The convention was well-attended with 569 jobbers, 1,391 manufacturers and manufacturers’ representatives, 489 spouses and 217 “others” in attendance—totaling 2,666 attendees.

Selected Events
BRADBERRY AND LORENZ Convention participants had a variety of events to visit over the five-day convention. Many attendees gathered on Friday, October 11, for a pre-convention activity: a round of golf. The convention officially began on Saturday, October 12, with the opening general session. During this session, attendees heard from John Bradberry, the 2002 NSDJA president, George Lorenz, the 2002 NSDJA first vice president, and Dr. Barry Asmus, the keynote speaker who gave perspectives on the past, present and future economy. Attendees were invited to the grand opening of the exhibit hall following the ceremonies.

Seminars
On Sunday through Tuesday, attendees were able to choose from a variety of seminars.
Nick Carter, president of WoodWare Systems of Memphis, Tenn., Patrick Majure of Majure Data of Roswell, Ga., and Cal German, president of DMSi of Omaha, Neb., presented the seminar “Understanding Warehouse Management Systems” on Sunday.

Representatives from these companies came together to show millwork jobbers proven ways to increase the bottom line using a real-time warehouse management system.

Alan J. Campbell, president of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA) of Des Plaines, Ill., and Rick Perry, WDMA’s director of industry standards, detailed “What’s New? – A Comprehensive Review of New Entry Door Standards,” on Monday (see related article on page 32), which proved to be the event’s most controversial seminar.

Lee Judd, product and development manager of Guardian Industries of Auburn Hills, Mich., the parent company of Cameron Ashley Building Products, spoke about “The Benefits of a Professional Purchasing Staff,” on Monday. Attendees at this seminar learned how purchasing can become a profit center for their business.

Greg Gurley, national sales manager of Therma-Tru Corp. of Maumee, Ohio, educated attendees on “Sales Planning—It’s More Than Names and Numbers” on Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, Bob Green, vice president of Crown Heritage Stair Co. of North Wilkesboro, N.C., spoke on, “How Stair Codes are Changing the Stair Business.” He shared the significant changes that are affecting the stair industry, such as changes in rake heights and the sphere rule. (See related article in the September 2002 issue of SHELTER on page 36.)

Awards Breakfast
DR. WEATHERS Dr. Beck Weathers’ speech at this year’s awards breakfast was an event not to miss. Weathers inspired all in attendance with his speech, “Miracle on Everest.” If you missed his speech, you should pick up his book, Left for Dead: My Journey Home from Everest. In a moving and enlightening speech, Weathers detailed his fateful trip up Everest in May 1996, and how his near-death experience helped him realize what was really important in life. “I’ll tell you. Lying there with frozen slabs where my arms had been, I did not think about the Mercedes I didn’t buy or the business I didn’t get. I thought about three things: my wife and two kids,” said Weathers.

This year’s exhibitor awards were also announced during the breakfast. Here’s how the exhibitors stacked up:

WHITERIVER

•Best Display of Product for a Non-Island Booth: White River Hardwoods of Fayetteville, Ark.

FERCHE

•Best Use of Theme for a Non-Island Booth: Ferche Millwork of Rice, Minn.

FITTS

    •Most Original for a Non-Island Booth: Fitts Industries of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

CENTURY

     •Best of Show for a Non-Island Booth: Century Architectural Specialties of Marietta, Ga.

    •Best Display of Product for an Island Booth: GlassCraft Door of Houston.


    •Best Use of Theme for an Island Booth: Norfield Industries of Chico, Calif.

MAI

    •Most Original for an Island Booth: Moulding Associates Inc. of Wylie, Texas.
TRINITY

    •Best of Show for an Island Booth: Trinity Glass of Tacoma, Wash.

The NSDJA 2003 executive committee also was announced. The committee includes: NSDJA president George Lorenz, president of Western Building Products of Milwaukee, Wis.; NSDJA first vice president Brian McIllwee, president and chief financial officer of J.J. McIllwee Co. of Itasca, Ill.; NSDJA second vice president Terry Bumgarner, president of King Sash & Door of Clemmons, N.C.; NSDJA treasurer Michael Walsh, president of The Radford Co. of Duluth, Minn.; NSDJA secretary Linnea Johansson, MNM, CAE, executive director of the NSDJA of New Port Richey, Fla.; and NSDJA immediate past president John Bradberry, executive vice president of Cameron Ashley Building Products of Greenville, S.C.

New members to the NSDJA board of directors are: Jack LaRock, vice president and general manager of the Intermountain Millwork Division of BMC West of Boise, Idaho.; Bill Sarbaugh, president of River City Millwork of Rockford, Ill.; Jonathan Lambert, president of Pacific Mutual Door of Kansas City, Mo.; John Kerr, vice president and general manager of Reeb Millwork of Bethlehem, Pa.; Ken Bussman, president of Cleary Millwork of Rocky Hill, Conn.; and Joe Cornett, chief executive officer and president of Texas Wholesale Building Materials of Farmers Branch, Texas. The new directors’ terms expire in 2006.

Products on Display
There were a variety of new products at this year’s convention. Here’s what some exhibitors had
on-hand.

If you were looking for new hardwood column ideas, Ferche Millwork of Rice, Minn., was the booth to visit. Ferche has created a new line of tapered hardwood columns to complement its existing line of hardwood mouldings. The columns are available in red oak, cherry, hard maple and poplar in diameters from 6 inches to 12 inches with lengths up to 9 feet.

Buffelen Woodworking Co. of Tacoma, Wash., highlighted its Mission style door. This wood door is available in fir, hemlock, oak and knotty pine.

The Endurance™ low-maintenance railing system by Railing Dynamics Inc. of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., offers all the major benefits of the industry’s acclaimed high-quality, custom vinyl railing systems coupled with the strength and ease of installation, said the company. The boxed railing kits are available in either square- or turned-style balusters for level and stair railing.

Uniarte Doors of Ocana, Spain, has a variety of doors which are available in many species, including chestnut, cedar, cherry, ash, white beech, maple, walnut, Carolina pine, Oregon pine, Spanish pine, Mahogany, oak and much more. According to the company, Uniarte is a well-established and connected company that has become one of the leaders in the European market.

SURROUND TOP DOOR
Showcasing many of its new products was GlassCraft Door Corp. of Houston. These products included new door profiles, the new rustic “Country Manor” collection, more glass designs and wrought-iron door designs, a series of segment-head transoms and the new Surround-Top 8-foot door series.

Pioneer Millwork Inc. of Cambridge, Ontario, has a unique, patented, tongue-and-groove design in its Pioneer Postcovers™ that guarantees easy alignment and adds strength. These postcovers are available in provincial knotty pine, classic red oak, Washington cherry, clear maple and paintable multi-density fiberboard .

Polincay USA Inc. of Atlanta is well-known for its high-quality clay (Jesso) coat primed mouldings. According to the company, these mouldings are produced out of ultra-light multi-density fiberboard that is covered with an environmentally friendly water-based primer and are sand-finished.

Dansu International of Tualatin, Ore., sources products from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela. Some of the products that it sources are: veneered flat jambs in red oak and lauan; solid, finger-jointed or veneered interior door jambs and mouldings in Radiata pine; and solid and finger-jointed interior jambs and stops, clear blanks and blocks in Russian pine.

Novatech Glass Inc. of Ste-Julie, Quebec, announced that it has joined forces with P.H. Tech to introduce a new, ultra-strong, all-uPVC garden door. P.H. Tech will supply all the all-uPVC door frames and Novatech will supply the all-uPVC door panels, sills and astragals. Although the door components are being supplied to two different companies, they were developed side-by-side to ensure, fast, easy and precise assembly, said Novatech.

Moulding Associates Inc. of Wylie, Texas, showcased its new Alpine Collection. This collection has numerous exterior style options in 6-foot-8-inch and 8-foot height options. Select designs feature true divided beveled glass.

Pease Entry Systems of Fairfield, Ohio, showed jobbers its Carbon® door system. According to Pease, carbon offers the strength of steel with the potential for a beautiful stained-wood appearance. The material is also energy-efficient, according to the company.

Lawrence Hardware of Sterling, Ill., introduced its new LH3 Lifetime Hinge. According to the company, this revolutionary heavy-duty residential hinge, that should not squeak or need to be replaced, certainly gained the attention of convention-goers, as did its Lifetime Adjustable patio door hinge.

Next year’s 40th Annual NSDJA Convention will be held October 12-16, 2003, at the Marriott World Center Hotel in Orlando, Fla. For more information, call the NSDJA at 800/786-7274.

Jobber and Exhibitor Feedback

Both jobbers and exhibitors spoke positively about this year’s convention.

“This year’s NSDJA convention was one of the best conventions I have attended. The program committee did an excellent job from the seminars to the speakers … The keynote speakers were both good. Dr. Beck Weathers had most people on the edge of their seats during his ‘Miracle on Everest’ story,” said Jack Huse, president of Huse Milwaukee Millwork of Milwaukee.

“My overall opinion of the convention this year was very good. San Antonio is a great venue for a convention … I thought the exhibits were very good this year with several new exhibitors. The new exhibitors had some very interesting new products to offer,” said Bill Anders, president of Pacific Millwork of Marysville, Calif.

“The 2002 NSDJA show was our best ever. Our new account leads were up more than 100 percent from last year’s show … Everyone at the show was upbeat, the housing market is good and the show became the millwork destination to introduce new products and create business partnerships,” said Art Ramey, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Marley Mouldings of Marion, Va.

“I thought the show was well-attended and there was more enthusiasm than last year. I think it was worth the time and money to exhibit,” said Robert Mitvalsky, chief executive officer of Builders Automation Machinery Co. of Largo, Fla.

“During the show, Saturday’s opening night was very busy for us in the booth. While Sunday’s attendance seemed to fall off a bit, we were very pleased Monday and Tuesday with excellent booth attendance and interest,” said Bob Ormond, director of marketing and sales for Trinity Glass International of Tacoma, Wash.

“The convention in San Antonio was better attended by exhibitors and jobbers than recent years … The NSDJA did a good job organizing events and managing the show,” said Alan Bridges, vice president and general manager of A&H Windows of Wilkesboro, N.C.

“As last year, we feel the NSDJA convention provided us with what we were looking for—a formal, yet intimate, platform that allows us to meet with existing and potential new customers to showcase our new products and innovations,” said Alex Mohr, corporate marketing manager of Woodgrain Millwork Inc. of Fruitland, Idaho.

“I thought the convention went very well. Everyone likes San Antonio; the hotels and the convention facility are great, the exhibit hall staff did a great job for the exhibitors, the attendees were up-beat and the NSDJA staff is working hard to improve the convention for everyone,” said Jim Snodgrass, export sales manager for Contact Lumber of Portland, Ore.

“The convention was very productive for our company based on the people we saw and the leads we developed. I would vote to have it in San Antonio every year,” said Tim Ellrich, national sales manager for machined products for Middle Tennessee Lumber Co. of Burns, Tenn.

Samantha Carpenter is the editor of SHELTER.

SHELTER