The Architectural Woodwork Institute's (AWI) annual convention brought together an estimated 300 North American architectural woodworkers and industry suppliers. Attendees shared workplace best practices, focusing on topics like leadership/management, workforce recruitment and retention, and manufacturing technology updates. The event also included a product fair featuring more than 50 tabletop exhibits.

What follows are highlights from the meeting, held Oct. 19-21, in San Antonio, Texas, as well as a look at the projects earning the Standard of Excellence for 2025. For information on AWI and its events visit AWInet.org.

Education & networking opportunities
Monday kicked off with a keynote on Communicating Vision & Leading Change, by Skot Waldron, leadership coach, podcaster and author of Unlocked: A 52-Week Guide for the Intentional Leader. Waldron discussed the challenges of implementing change, including its overlooked costs/discomforts and how to mitigate them through preparation. He also shared with attendees the components needed to manage change well, including how to build a plan, how to build influence to inspire commitment and action by staff, and how to build bridges by integrating diverse views into "change strategies."

In the morning session's Protecting Yourself with Contracts, Sandy Sandberg explained the different types of contracts — letter of intent, notice to proceed, subcontract agreement, work order authorization, and master subcontract agreement —  as well as contract terms and definitions. Sandberg, the president of Granite Mill & Fixture Co., also included information on bid time considerations, an understanding of "pay if/pay when" clauses, and other practical tips and techniques for contract preparation and execution.

The afternoon featured a presentation on How Leaders Engage and Retain Today's High-Performing Employees, by Alyson Van Hooser. Operating with a one-size-fits-all leadership approach is ineffective and leads to lackluster employee engagement and loss of retention. In her presentation, Van Hooser instead shared "the three stories every leader should 'know and tell' to authentically improve leader/employee relationships," as well as other opportunities to improve engagement.

Workforce recruitment is a hot industry topic, and it starts with connecting and engaging students. Led by Adria Salvatore, AWI Education director, the panel discussion with Katie George (TRANSFR), Randall Hust (Lubbock ISD), and Brandon Grace (SkillsUSA in Texas), provided insight into what's working, how industry partners can get more involved and improve their relationship with local education partners. Also covered in the discussion with the CTE (Career Technical Education) experts was information on programs like SkillsUSA and education associations such as ACTE, and their role in the process.

Tuesday kicked off with a keynote by Dom Rubino, Where Are My Blind Spots? A Business Owners Reality Check. Rubino walked the audience through standard business protocols, including how to gauge your own SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), develop a priorities reference guide, and create a high gross profit shop.

Rounding out the morning was a roundtable on technology, including how shops of all sizes are utilizing automation, presented by  AWI Tech Taskforce members Brandan Koehn, VP of Finance & Administration at Victory Woodworks, Jacob Edmond, CEO of DuckWorks, Dan Murphy, regional director at Stiles Machinery, Diego Piersanti, key accounts manager at FerWood USA, David Fairbanks, president/owner of Microvellum,  and Jonah Coleman, head of product at Innergy. The group also shared insights from its latest industry survey. 

What's ahead for U.S. businesses? Taylor St. Germain, economist and senior consulting speaker with ITR Economics, provided the closing keynote, “Gearing Up for 2026,” providing a forecast based upon the domestic and global economy, tariffs, the labor market, construction and other factors. 

"We're very optimistic on the path forward, especially here in the United States," he said. "We are forecasting 4-1/2 consecutive years of economic growth. We only expect growth to improve and things to get better for you all. I know that's a much
different message from what you're hearing out there in the media right now. So I hope you'll see, we'll let the data do the talking today."

While the last 12 to 18 months have been challenging, exasperated earlier this year by the announcement of tariffs, "we're starting to see that uncertaintly subside." The U.S. market is entering the recovery phase of the cycle, with momentum building and growth starting to accelerate. "This is where we expect our economy to be, our economy here in the U.S. to be, as we move later into this year, and for most all of 2026."

On a positive note, despite the economic uncertainty, tariffs and worldwide conflicts, he said, "we're seeing the underlying economic data get better. In our forecast for both the global economy and the U .S. economy show that we are expecting this momentum to build. The key takeaway I want you to have is over the next 12 quarters…we have nothing but expansion in the U.S. industrial manufacturing economy and the global economy."

During the event, AWI formally recognized its outgoing chair/president, Whitney Pyle of Advanced Cabinet Systems, and welcomed 2026 chair, Liz Ingebrigtsen of Sprovieri's Custom Counters.

Awards were also given during the convention for company safety achievements, volunteerism, Standard of Excellence recipients.

Award-winning projects also recognized
The Architectural Woodwork Institute’s Award of Excellence distinguishes exceptional custom architectural woodwork projects each quarter and features them in its quarterly Design Solutions magazine. The projects selected as the best of the Award of Excellence winners for the year receive the Standard of Excellence award, recognizing them as leaders in superior quality.

Winners in four categories, plus one project deemed the overall winner, were recognized during AWI's annual convention. The winning projects, along with information on the woodwork manufacturers, architects, and design professionals are shown below.

Overall Winner. Project: Holy Cross Performance Arts Building Member: Millwork One. Architect/Designer: Diller Scofidio+Renfro. General Contractor: Dimeo Construciton Co. Photographer:  Bret Beyer and Iwan Baan. Featured in Design Solutions Winter 2025.

Public Facility Winner. Project: Valhalla Golf Club Renovation. Member: Leininger. Architect/Designer: Rustem Kupi Architect P.A. General Contractor: Sullivan & Cozart Inc. Photographer:  Benjamin Norton. Featured in Design Solutions Spring 2025.

Hospitality Winner. Project: Pier Sixty Six Hotel. Member: Hollywood Woodwork. Architect/Designer: HKS Architects. General Contractor: Americaribe Moriarty Joint Venture. Photographer: J.C. Gernet. Featured in Design Solutions Spring 2025.

Corporate Winner. Project: RWE Clean Energy. Member: ROOMI Group. Architect/Designer: Abel Design Group. General Contractor: Harvey Cleary Builders. Photographer:  Andy Phan. Featured in Design Solutions Winter 2025.

$107,500 raised for AWI Education Foundation
Capping off the meeting was the annual "Splash" bash to raise money for AWI Education Foundation (AWIEF). 

"It is my honor to share that last night AWI members proved through their actions and generosity that they are serious about impacting the future of the architectural woodwork industry," said Hague afterward. "Our donors gave a record-breaking amount. Everything really is bigger in Texas — $107,500!"

In the email to members, he noted, "In just seven fundraising events, we’ve gone from raising $2,700 in one night to now surpassing six figures. This incredible milestone is the result of the kindness, blessings, and belief from donors who know the AWI Education Foundation is truly making a difference."

The money, he added, will "set the stage for new beginnings."

Applications for AWIEF's grant program opened Oct. 1 and will continue through March 31, 2026.  The grant program provides up to $100,000 to eligible institutions.In addition, AWIEF also awards scholarships to eligible students specializing in academic wood programs. Annually, $50,000 is earmarked to assist students financially with their pursuit of knowledge and skills for careers in woodworking. The scholarship application process is open Nov. 1 through Jan. 31, 2026

Upcoming events
AWI's Spring Leadership Conference takes place April 12-14 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2026 annual convention will be Oct. 21-23 in Bonita Springs, Florida. Prior to those events, AWI Boot Camps will be held Jan 12-16 and May 18-22, 2026, both in Pittsburg, Kansas. More information can be found at AWInet.org.