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Bill Esler
ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.

Steelcase Brody lounge chair

Furniture

A Steelcase Brody Work Lounge: Like Business Class Seating

Office workers need to get cozy to focus on tasks, and because there is fequent crossover between lhome and office, a comfortable spot like the Steelcase Brody Lounge chair is welcome. In busy noisy offices, workers need a place to get away without going away. It was launched at NeoCon 2015 in Chicago.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"76885","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]
By Bill Esler, June 20, 2015 | 7:17 am CDT
OFM BLK-TG 1 BLACK TUNGSTEN.jpg

Furniture

OFM’s New Chair Can Charge Your Laptop

Integrated technology in everyday office furniture, a hot trend in the workplace, was very apparent in OFM's new Serenity Series lounge chair shown at NeoCon 2015. People want to work in different spots in the office, but "if you want to get away from your desk you have to crawl around the floor looking for an outlet or leave the cord trailing across a hallway where people can trip on it," says OFM's CEO Blake Zalcberg. This chair solves the problem.
By Bill Esler, June 17, 2015 | 3:56 pm CDT
RockPaperRobot.com

Furniture

Pull a String, and Foldable Roll-top Furniture Collapses

We last heard from Jessica Banks when she developed and expanded her line of Float tables and shelves. Her walnut veneered tables composed of a set of boxes, suspended in air by opposing super magnets, but cabled to stay in place, were a revelation.Now she has returned with another fresh take on seating: foldable metal chairs and table with collapsible wood tops.
By Bill Esler, June 16, 2015 | 11:26 pm CDT