AWFS welcomes new Board Members

 Monday, April 11, 2022

The Association of Woodworking and Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) recently welcomed five new board members for the 2022-2023 board term, beginning their first of two, three-year terms. The new members include:

• Phyllis Crystal, President of Uneeda Enterprizes
• Cassey Gibson, Engagement Specialist at INNERGY
• John Benjamin Henderson, President of John Henderson and Company, LLC
• Phil Polston, National Sales Manager at Cabinet Vision Production Software
• Christina Relyea, Director of Sales and Marketing at JB Cutting, Inc.

The new board members will be joining the returning board, starting with the AWFS Executive Committee, led by Rob Howell, President of WSI Machinery Inc., and AWFS President, for the 2022 – 2023 executive term. In addition, two current board members joining the Executive Committee, with Bob Brown, Executive Vice President at Royal Plywood, serving as Chair for the 2023 AWFS fair, and Mark Alster, National Sales Manager for Leitz Tooling System, moving to Secretary/Treasurer for AWFS.

According to Mr. Howell, “I look forward to my term as president knowing that I will be supported by such an experienced and dedicated team on both, the board, and staff level. I also want to welcome our new board members, knowing they will make a great addition to our team. I look forward to their contribution and hearing their ideas and insights in helping us continue to support our members, exhibitors, and the industry at large. On behalf of our board and staff, I also would like to thank Dan Hershberger, on our Immediate Past President, for successfully leading AWFS® through such an unprecedented and challenging time.”

The remainder of the Executive Committee includes:

• Michael Cassell, Senior Product Specialist for Automation Systems and Shoda Machinery; AWFS Vice President
• Dan Hershberger, Holz-Her Product Manager for Michael Weinig, Inc.: AWFS Immediate Past President
• Philip Martin, President of 3C-IRM; AWFS® Past President

The following board members will be serving their second term:

• Karl Frey, Western Division Manager for Colonial Saw Co.
• Brian Hansen, Director of Technical and Industrial Business Development for Gemini Coatings
• Randy Jamison, Chief Commercial Officer for Biesse America, Inc.
• Hannah Khalaf, Marketing Manager for Surfprep Sanding
• Jonathan Thompson, Sales Manager for E.B Bradley Co. & West Coast Laminating

The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS), founded in 1911, is a non-profit organization that wholly owns and produces the biennial AWFS Fair. The largest trade association serving the entire home and commercial furnishings industry, AWFS has more than 400 members, including manufacturers and distributors of machinery, hardware, software, tooling, lumber, components, plastics, wood products and supplies for the woodworking industry including cabinet, furniture, millwork and custom woodworking products.

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