Switch to virtual event amid virus is success for IWPA
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ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The first-ever Virtual World of Wood Convention April 1-3 was a success, the International Wood Products Association has announced.

In response to the growing threat of the coronavirus pandemic, IWPA reimagined its annual convention to allow attendees, which include importers, U.S. manufacturers, wholesalers, offshore suppliers, and service providers to the global wood products industry, to participate from their home or office.

Participants joined via web-conferencing for three days of interactive events to receive the latest responses from the federal government to the pandemic and gain insight from convention presenters on the latest market developments and trends.  IWPA recorded the Virtual World of Wood sessions and will make them available via the IWPA E-Training portal.

“Transitioning to a virtual conference was a difficult decision, but the safety and well-being of attendees and our community had to be our number one priority,” IWPA president Kenny MacMaster of Argo Fine Imports said. “The ability to give COVID updates and learn about the latest supply chains impact in real time was invaluable to our attendees. We are very pleased with what turned out to be a seamless shift to this alternative event. The feedback we received from attendees was very positive as our industry did its part to flatten the COVID curve.”

The impact of COVID-19 on the international wood products industry was a central focus of the meeting. IWPA staff led a discussion on the latest updates from Washington related to government response, stimulus and other developments.

Speaker Don Cooper led a keynote address on Selling in the Time of COVID. Sessions on the global woods market, forestry trends, trade policy developments, port operations, and industry compliance also took place over the three-day event. IWPA plans an in-person next year in San Diego. See http://www.iwpawood.org


 

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Karl Forth

Karl D. Forth is online editor for CCI Media. He also writes news and feature stories in FDMC Magazine, in addition to newsletters and custom publishing projects. He is also involved in event organization, and compiles the annual FDM 300 list of industry leaders. He can be reached at [email protected].