AUSTIN, TX -- The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA), supported by Custom Woodworking Business, has pulled out all the stops to create a dynamic two-day education program geared to help custom woodworkers and cabinet makers generate new business, push into new markets and reduce costs.

The 3^rd Custom Cabinet Conference is being held in conjunction with the 8^th Annual Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo, Feb. 15-17, 2012 at the Austin Convention Center. The conference will include an opening general session, including a special presentation “Business Strategies in Changing Markets.”

The CMA is offering CEU credits toward its new Professional Certification Program in the four breakout sessions that will be presented both Thursday and Friday. Repeating these programs allows attendees coming to the full conference to participate in all four sessions or for those only attending either day to attend one or two of them.

Each of the sessions is being presented by an owner or executive of a custom woodworking company.

Register by Feb. 2 and save $70 ($225 vs. $295) to attend the entire two-day Custom Cabinet Conference. Individual session registration is available for $70 each through Feb. 2 and $90 each after Feb. 2.

Learn more about dicsounted Custom Cabinet Conference packages and ala carte options.

View Custom Cabinet Conference speaker biographies.

Click here to register.

Following is the agenda for the 3^rd Custom Cabinet Conference.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

OPENING GENERAL SESSION (8:00am-10:45am)

8:00am-9:15am
Business Strategies in Changing Markets
Is your custom woodworking business model relevant to your customers? Do you know where your next sales opportunity may come from? This fast-paced session will help you reengineer old, ineffective ways of doing business and spark your creative muscle to advance in new directions.
Presenters: Joe Knobbe, President, Cabinet Makers Association; Dave Grulke, Executive Director, Cabinet Makers Association

9:30am-10:45am
High Stakes Gambling: Estimating Architectural Woodwork
The thrills and chills of estimating larger architectural woodworking projects - what to look for, what to expect, how to win jobs that you can make money on, and dodge the ones that might put you out of business.
Presenter: Rick Thaler, President and Owner, OGB Architectural Millwork

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

2:45pm-4:00pm
From Concept to Drawing To Sold! (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
Increase your sales and close the deal! Fabricating what you have proposed will become an easier process once you have the essential tools to show your customers what they are purchasing. Two-dimensional drawings and 3-D renderings lead the way to customers saying, "I've got to have it."
Presenter: Keith Kreppein, Owner, Olde Saratoga Millwork

Planning for Installation Success (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
A smooth, efficient installation can make or break the profitability of a job.  In this seminar the presenter will discuss ways to ensure that your installers are properly trained and prepared to get the job done right the first time.  Take control of what can be one of the more challenging aspects of any cabinet or closet project.
Presenter: David Buchsbaum, President and Owner, Beacon Custom Woodwork Inc.

4:15pm-5:30pm
Working with Designers & Architects (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
Finding the right members in the design community to do business with can be a daunting task. This seminar will delve into seeking out those individuals or firms, how to work with them once you find them and how to keep them coming back for more custom woodworking business with your company.
Presenter: Joe Knobbe, Senior Project Manager for Exclusive Woodworking

Filling Your Funnel: Get More New Sales Prospects Now! (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
New customers are the life blood of any business.   Dave will walk you through time tested advertising, marketing and sales techniques and systems you can immediately install in your business that will consistently deliver new sales prospects.  Through practical, easy to administer methods, you can build and easily maintain your personal, reliable source of fresh, motivated buyers that will continue flowing into your business and onto your radar screen as you need them.
Presenter: Dave Grulke, President Big Dave's Services & Executive Director of the Cabinet Makers Association

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 (Encore of Thursday afternoon’s breakout sessions)

8:00am-9:15am
From Concept to Drawing To Sold! (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
Planning for Installation Success (1.0 CMA CEU credits)

9:30am-10:45am
Working with Designers & Architects (1.0 CMA CEU credits)
Filling Your Funnel: Get More New Sales Prospects Now! (1.0 CMA CEU credits)