"You have a talent in this state that is incredibly exportable." - Susan Susanka, during her keynote address.
On August 16-17, 2005, Blandin Foundation hosted its second major conference for growing Minnesota's vital wood products manufacturing industry. Over 100 key stakeholders in the secondary wood products industry, architects, public officials, university and organizational leaders were in attendance.
Building the Capacity of Minnesota's Wood Products Manufacturing Industry: Creating Our Edge was the theme of this year's conference. Architect and author Sarah Susanka kicked off the conference, speaking about the importance of quality design and the untapped “Cultural Creative” market. Dan Rosen, principal with the China Strategic Advisory and economics professor at Columbia University, delivered the other conference keynote entitled “Understanding China to Compete Successfully” in which he provided a foundational overview of the rapid urbanization of China that is key to understanding China’s rapidly growing economy. Links to both Susanka’s and Rosen’s presentation are available below.
The degree to which design is driving the manufactured housing industry and the increasing use of technology to create quality design were predominant themes in the panel sessions, “Unique Resources: Engineered Wood Makes a Difference” and “Designing in the Future: A Redefinition of Manufactured Homes.” During “Company Best Practices,” experts shared their experiences in working successfully in the China and other markets. The bottom line – people and relationships matter.
Throughout the conference emphasis was placed on the value of seeing how other people, cultures and countries are using wood and learning about cutting edge technologies being used worldwide in manufacturing processes. And on the benefits of coming together to learn, share ideas, resources and collaborate to form relationships – all in an effort to build Minnesota’s wood product industry’s collective capacity.
Participant Evaluation
It is clear that the participants welcomed this conference as a time and place to network, gain insights, and energize their companies. They were eager to attend because of the quality presenters, especially Sarah Susanka and Dan Rosen, and the opportunity to interact with their peers. Less known speakers, such as Robert Malczyk, Brian Chang, Vern Schumacher, and Glen Hause opened their eyes to the possibility of greater and more innovative application of wood. Besides gaining valuable business contacts, participants noted they learned important insights into the global economy, how to use design to innovate both product development and application, and the need to aggressively introduce new concepts into the market. Finally, the vast majority desire to meet again next year to continue the learning and dialogue, and, hopefully, have many more of their colleagues in attendance.
Click here to view the complete evaluation report
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Agenda
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Speaker Bios
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Abstracts
Presentation Materials
Keynote Address: Why Design matters: Creating an Edge (.pdf file)
Susan Susanka, Architect and Author, 'The Not So Big House' and 'Home by Design'
Keyonote Presentation: Understanding China to Compete Successfully
Panel: Unique Resources - Engineered Wood Makes a Difference
- Download (HTML PowerPoint)
Download (.pdf)
Robert Malczyk, Principal, Equilibrium Consulting, Inc.
- Download (HTML PowerPoint)
Download (.pdf)
Vern Schumacher, President, Structural Wood Corp.
Interview: Company Best Practices
Best Practice Panel: Designing the Future: A Redefinition of Manufactured Homes
The Vital Forests/Vital
Communities Initiative is a project of Blandin Foundation in cooperation
with the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, the Nature Conservancy,
University of Minnesota's College of Natural Resources, Minnesota
Forest Research Council, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
and Minnesota Wood Council.
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