Atlanta, GA – Four months after Patrick LaFramboise announced his retirement as president and CEO, the International Woodworking Fair, LLC has made several executive management changes. Replacing LaFramboise is Kevin Holtzclaw, who has been promoted to president and CEO. Jim Wulfekuhle has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing. Liz Hosp moves up to director of operations and J.P. Roberts has rejoined IWF as sales manager.
Despite officially stepping down earlier this month, LaFramboise will stay on to assist IWF with sales through October 2013. The biennial International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair (IWF), which ranked No. 34 on the Trade Show Executive Gold 100 in 2011, will be held August 20-23, 2014, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.
In 2012, attendance at IWF was up 13.8%, and the show floor was up 6.2% to 409,837 nsf over 2010. Earlier this month, IWF was named one of the Fastest 50 growing shows in attendance in 2012 by Trade Show Executive.
“Patrick has produced 103 trade shows – some of the largest shows in the USA,” said Wulfekuhle. “He has also made a huge impact on cities. IWF generated more than $360 million in hospitality revenue for the city of Atlanta since he joined IWF. He started at The World’s Fair in Spokane, WA, worked for Clapp & Poliak and the Graphics Arts Show Company, and ended up at the largest woodworking show in the Americas.”
Since February 2010, Holtzclaw had been serving as vice president and COO. In his previous role, he was responsible for sales, operations and the point-of-contact for Global Experience Specialists (GES) and the Georgia World Congress Center. Holtzclaw joined the IWFin 1997 after previously working in the events and meetings department for TAPPI, an association for the worldwide pulp, paper, packaging and converting industries. He has also served as sales manager and director of sales for IWF.
Wulfekuhle joined IWF in August 2004, most recently serving as director of marketing and communications. Prior to IWF, Wulfekuhle served as senior sales manager for the Hampton Convention & Visitors Bureau in Virginia from October 2003 to August 2004. He was also director of trade shows for the Printing & Imagining Association of Georgia from May 1995 to April 1997.
Previously,Hosp served as programs and marketing manager. She joined IWF in 2007. In her new position, Hosp will serve as liaison with Experient, which provides registration and housing for IWF. She also is responsible for accounting.
Most recently, Roberts was the owner/operator for own business called J.P. Roberts Designs, a designer of art furniture, lighting and home accessories. From August 2004 to September 2010, he served as sales manager for IWF.
Last August, two industry associations bought out the one-third share of IWF held by the American Home Furnishings Alliance. The Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA) assumed full ownership and management of the show, which was owned jointly by the three associations for the past 30 years.
The IWF and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) announced a partnership for the 2014 show. As part of the agreement, ISFA will work with IWF to develop a countertop educational track for the show and produce a Countertop Pavilion, which will be co-sponsored by ISFA.
Reach Jim at (404) 693-8333 or Jim@iwfatlanta.com
