MISSISSAUGA, Ont. -- Luke Elias, president and CEO of Muskoka Cabinet Co., will present the opening keynote at the Wood Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo, rescheduled to Feb. 24-26, 2022, at the International Centre.

Elias’ presentation will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 on the WMS Live Stage. He will discuss the challenges and opportunities his company has addressed over the last two years. Muskoka Cabinet, an Industry 4.0-enabled manufacturer, added a productivity-boosting robotic work cell last year. It represents the company’s latest investments in robotics that began in 2015. Muskoka has also been a leader in the use of ERP, MES, and RFID technologies. 

In recognition of his achievements – at Muskoka Cabinet and on behalf of the industry as a whole – Elias was named a 2021 Wood Industry Market Leader.

Elias’ keynote will complement a wide range of topics to be presented on the WMS Live stage during the three-day event. WMS Live is the main education feature of the event. The complimentary keynotes and sessions are presented by industry leaders and exhibitors on the show floor of the International Centre.

The Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario has committed to several sessions for WMS Live.  WMCO sessions include:                                

• Cyber Security: Latest issues, trends, and must-dos for your company presented by Erez Zevulunov,  Boris Zlatogorov, MIT Consulting.  Despite ongoing preventative efforts, many companies continue to get hacked and business and personal information are at risk. Many companies have been temporarily shut down dealing with cyber incursions. This presentation will discuss the main pillars of defense, response planning, and recovery, which include firewalls, email, point protection, and business continuity planning.
• Developing leaders in your organization presented by Barry Reid, LMI Canada. All companies struggle with developing leadership qualities in their staff.  Employees may be great on their job, but can they support and lead others to success? This session will focus on the behaviors and skills to develop in your shop to grow future leaders in your organization; lead hands, supervisors, and managers.
• WMCO COVID legal updates with a return to work implications presented by Edward W. Snetsinger, Sherrard Kuzz, employment and labor lawyers, and Randy Dignard, Industrial Safety Trainers. The post-COVID workplace has many legal compliance implications as wood manufacturers consider employee COVID vaccinations, leave and accommodations, work reintegration, and health and safety protocols. Join us for timely updates and useful takeaways that can help your company stay ahead of the game as we enter the post-COVID economy.
• Lean Manufacturing Strategies: How to start, and how to sustain and keep engaging your people presented by Sepp Gmeiner, Lignum Consulting, and Brad Cairns, Quantum Lean. Many companies don’t know how or where to start their lean journey. Many companies have already started but have hit a roadblock or the momentum is lost. This session will address both companies who are new to lean, and also help those who have already started and need a boost of fresh ideas to keep it moving forward.
• WMCO/WSIB Health & Safety Excellence Rebate Program presented by James Ebidia, health and safety consultant. The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) Health & Safety Excellence Program is designed to reward companies for their due diligence and pro-active efforts in managing their health & safety programs. James will describe how the program works, and how it can be a good fit for your company to receive rebates for the safety compliance you are already responsible for.
• Pandemic supply chain challenge panel discussion: Building dialogue with suppliers and manufacturers moderated by Peter Degelder, Wood Supply Chain Group Inc., and Mike Baker, CEO, WMCO. Join a panel of current main suppliers to the wood manufacturing industry to address your questions and concerns and build dialogue on the following topics: Pricing and supply trends; market outlook; networking and supplier updates. Suppliers and manufacturers should really be partners in mutual success. Dialogue is the first step to bringing our supply chain back to normalcy post-pandemic.
• Digital marketing essentials for wood manufacturers in today’s digital world presented by Darrell Keezer, CEO,  Candybox Marketing. Today’s marketplace demands that wood product manufacturers leverage all digital tools available to promote their businesses. But where do you start, and how do you prioritize what to do, and how do you manage it all? This session will review the use of digital branding, video, website, social media, and effective digital advertising to help you promote your company in the digital world.

View the full WMS education agenda.

WMS also partners with the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association, the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers of Canada,  the Wood Manufacturing Council, and the Canadian Woodworking Machinery Distributors Association.   For more information and to register for WMS go to wmscanada.ca.

About the Wood Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo (WMS)
WMS is world-renowned as Canada’s preeminent industrial woodworking event. For more than four decades, WMS has connected Canada’s woodworking professionals with the world’s most prominent machinery manufacturers and suppliers. WMS 2019 attracted attendees from nine Canadian provinces and two territories.

The 2019 edition featured 75,000 square feet of exhibit space and more than 175 exhibitors.  According to show management, a new floorplan will be available soon.

For information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, contact Rich Widick, [email protected]; 630-929-7918.

View the interactive prospectus.

More upcoming Woodworking Network events
Closets Conference & Expo co-located with Wood Pro Expo California, April 27-29, 2022, San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA.

Executive Briefing Conference, September 15-17, 2022, The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO.

Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, October 13-14, 2022, Spooky Nook Sports Center, Manheim, PA.

Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO), October 27-29, 2022, Centrexpo Cogeco, Drummondville, Quebec.