LINCOLNSHIRE, IL -- Three representatives of WOOD 100 companies featured in the September 2011 issue of Wood & Wood Products will share ideas their wood products companies have used to not only survive, but thrive in a free webinar scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET (10:30 CT; 8:30 PT), Wednesday, Nov. 30.Karen Koenig, editor-in-chief of Wood & Wood Products will moderate the program. Featured presenters include: Larry Skow of Northern Contours, John Wiley of Elipticon Wood Products and Leonard Morreale of A Perfect Closet & Cabinets.
The program, part of Woodworking Network's Webcast series, is sponsored by Drawer Connection, Keystone Wood Specialties and Solid Wood Systems.
Scheduled topics include:
• Marketing Initiatives
• Business Strategies
• Productivity Enhancements
• Technology Integration
• Marketing Initiatives
• Business Strategies
• Productivity Enhancements
• Technology Integration
• Product Innovations
• Sustainable Operations
• Customer Service
WOOD 100 Success Strategies Speaker Biographies
Vice president of Sales & Marketing, Northern Contours Inc.
As Northern Contours' vice president of sales and marketing, Lary Skow brings with him 27 years of manufacturing, sales and product development experience. With 2010 sales of $50 million, Northern Contours is an innovation and product development leader specializing in components for the kitchen, bath and home organization markets.The company continues to excel and grow market share for its acrylic /thermofoil/veneer/hardwood components, recording an 8.6% sales growth in 2010. Headquartered in Mendota Heights, MN, Northern Contours has six manufacturing locations and employs 393 people.
President, Elipticon Wood Products Inc.
John Wiley purchased Elipticon Wood Products Inc. in 1993 and the Little Chute, WI-based company has ranked in the Wood and Wood Products WOOD 100 eight times since 2000. Early on, Elipticon was primarily a curved millwork manufacturer, but early in 2008 Elipticon transitioned from a production to a marketing firm. Financing the transition internally, Elipticon has really become lean in all phases of its business, is customer centric, and put life into the concept of team. Today, Elipticon is once again profitable and positioned for growth; in 2010, the company achieved 20.2% sales growth. A past District Governor in Rotary, John is passionate about solving worldwide malnutrition. He also enjoys his grandchildren and Wisconsin sports. John is the current chairman of the AWI Lean Education Program.
CEO, A Perfect Closet & Cabinets Inc.
Len Morreale has been involved with woodworking for more than 30 years. He began working in his father’s shop as a child and after leaving the field to work in the public safety sector, returned to woodworking out of necessity — for a closet storage system. What started as a hobby turned into a job and Len began manufacturing closets and storage systems full time. With production growth came expansion, and today A Perfect Closet & Cabinets manufactures products in a 5,000-square-foot facility and has a 1,000-square-foot showroom. Future plans call for the custom closet and cabinet company to offer a wider range of products while looking for ways to promote the quality difference to customers. For added sales, the company markets its expanded millwork capabilities to other area woodworkers. In 2010 the shop’s sales grew 30.9%.
Editor-in-Chief, Wood & Wood Products
Woodworking Network
Karen Koenig has more than 25 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As Editor-in-Chief of Wood & Wood Products, Karen’s primary responsibilities include spearheading the writing, editing and coordinating of the editorial content of the publication, along with the Red Book resource guide and the Red Book online source and supply directory (RedBookOnline.com). She is also a frequent contributor to other Woodworking Network online and print media.
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