Sepp Gmeiner during his presentation at the recent Bluewater Wood Alliance meeting.
The Bluewater Wood Alliance has appointed Mike Baker as its new manager.
After a couple of years of setting up and organizing the alliance, co-managers and consultants Sepp Gmeiner and Blair Tullis have taken a step back from their respective roles and handed over the reigns to Mike Baker. They will continue to assist in an advisory capacity for specific projects.
The Bluewater Wood Alliance was formed about two years ago. The new cluster of like-minded companies and individuals is designed to work together for their common good and provide a new approach to promote economic growth and sustainability in the local wood-manufacturing sector. The Bluewater Wood Alliance area in Midwestern Ontario, is home to more than 60 companies in the advanced wood products manufacturing industries, which includes home, office and institutional furniture, solid wood flooring, veneer production, kitchen and bath cabinets and millwork. The sector currently employs about 700 with total sales of more than $72 million.
Tullis told members at the Alliance’s most recent meeting that the time had come to move from the start-up mode to a more program and project-oriented approach in order to further develop the organization. He said having a manager on the ground is very important and will provide them with many more opportunities to grow the alliance and continue to expand its operations.
He talked briefly about the groups' many achievements, including the introduction of the WoodLinks programs at area schools, development meetings for members, the website and its special member-only section that provides an opportunity to consult with others as well as the representation at numerous important industry shows.
Sepp Gmeiner talked about his recent trip to Dubai for the Big 5 Show - International Building and Construction Show - where he represented the Alliance in the Canada Pavilion. The trip resulted in dozens of business leads and Gmeiner said the fast-growing markets in the region are very appropriate targets for the products and services offered by members of the Alliance.
It will take some effort and determination to get into that market, but Gmeiner said there is a definite opportunity there for anyone willing to build business relationships.
He said the market opportunities are immense. However the market is not waiting for the Bluewater Wood Alliance and its members. If Alliance members do not take the initiative, someone else will sell their products instead.
As part of the supplier presentations, members heard from Simon Patry of Abrisifs JJS (SIA Canada) and Stefan De Santis of Performance Abrasives (Ekamant).
New BWA Manager Mike Baker said he plans to visit each member company and collect information about their needs for and from the Alliance and he will focus on member development and look for new funding opportunities.
The next Alliance meeting will be held March 6, at the Walkerton Clean Water Centre in Walkerton, Ont.
Mike Baker
