Scott Phillips of “The American Woodshop” to Host Awards Ceremony At AWFSVegas

Furniture World News

Scott Phillips, host of “The American Woodshop,” will be emceeing this year’s AWFS®Fair Awards Dinner at the 2005 AWFS®Fair on Thursday evening, July 28, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel near the Las Vegas Convention Center. This event will bring all AWFS® awards presented at the Fair into a single exciting evening of recognition for companies, products and individuals demonstrating the highest achievements in the industry. Scott Phillips has become one of the nation’s favorite woodworkers as host of the TV show “The American Woodshop,” now in its 12th season on the PBS network. Phillips’ down-to-earth sense of humor and insight into the woodworking industry promise to make the evening entertaining, as well as professionally rewarding with networking and information on the latest people, products, and companies in the industry. Awards to be presented include the highly respected Sequoia Awards, which have been expanded to include all new product categories in nine categories: Environmental Achievement, Machinery Under $50,000, Machinery Over $50,000, Components, Tooling, Hardware, Power Tools, Software, and Other. The Student Design Contest awards will be presented to winners of the Traditional and Creative categories, as well as the “People’s Choice” award, which goes to the entry receiving the most votes from Fair attendees. The “Best of Show” winner will receive a special sculpture designed and presented by Sam Maloof, renowned master craftsman in furniture and woodworking. This year Fine Woodworking magazine will present one student with a Craftsmanship Award in honor of their 30th anniversary. Several Show Stopper Awards will be presented for the best booth displays, given to suppliers and machinery exhibitors that demonstrate good design elements in their booths together with good presentation of the company identity and product display. In addition, the Top Gun Awards go to exhibitors who achieved the most pre-registrations from their mailings to customers of VIP and Valued Customer invitations. Finally, “Wood 100” companies presented by trade magazine Wood & Wood Products, will be honored. Members of this exclusive group represent some of the fastest growing woodworking companies in North America for the years 2003 and 2004. This year, the Awards Ceremony, previously by invitation only, is being opened to everyone. Tickets are available for $100, or a company can sponsor a table of 12 for $1,000. A gourmet buffet will be served, along with an open bar. Individual tickets can be purchased at www.awfsfair.org. For companies who wish to reserve a table, please contact Rick Calvert at 800.946.2937 or rick@awfs.org. The AWFS®Fair has been held biennially since 1957. The 2005 Fair, Wednesday July 27 - Saturday July 30 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada will be the largest one in its history. Concurrent with AWFS®Vegas, the inaugural Las Vegas World Market Center will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center, creating an energized convergence for the woodworking and furniture industry. Combined attendance for both shows is expected to be around 60,000. For more information about 2005 “AWFS®Vegas”, go to www.AWFSFair.org or call (800) 946-AWFS (2937).