The KCMA in action.

Originally founded in 1955, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn. is the only national trade association that exclusively represents cabinet manufacturers, decorative laminate product fabricators and suppliers to the industry. Included in the more than 380 members are all the major cabinet manufacturers.

There are two types of members: Active membership in the association is limited to manufacturers of cabinets and fabricators of decorative laminate products, while suppliers to the industry join the association as Associate Members. Both Active and Associate Members are represented on the Board of Directors and are actively involved in association activities.

The membership of the KCMA provides a true representation of the industry as a whole. The manufacturing (Active) members account for approximately 70 percent of all cabinets sold in the United States. More than 66 percent of KCMA cabinet manufacturer members report sales under $10 million. In addition, the number of production personnel reported by these Active Members ranges from five employees to 4,500 employees. More than half of the KCMA manufacturing members report under 100 production employees and 35 percent report 50 employees or less. Member companies are located throughout the United States and Canada.

The KCMA is located at 1899 Preston White Drive, Reston, VA 20191. For information, contact the association at [phone], FAX: [phone], e-mail [e-mail], or visit the Web site at www.kcma.org.

AVAILABLE SERVICES

KCMA offers a variety of services designed to strengthen individual companies, as well as the industry as a whole. These services include:

* Annual conventions, the 52nd of which is to be held June 3-6, at The Resort at Squaw Creek (Lake Tahoe), Olympic Valley, CA.

* Annual Management Conference & plant tours; dates TBD 

* Representation in Washington

* Legislative & regulatory updates

* Management statistics reports, with up-to-date information to assist members with strategic business planning, applying for loans, personnel negotiations and day-to-day management decisions. Surveys include: Annual Income & Expense Report, Monthly Trend of Business, Biannual Wage & Labor Survey and Annual Safety Survey.

* Bi-monthly newsletters

* Testing & certification voluntary programs, including the new Environmental Stewardship Program as weft as the ANSI/KCMA Performance & Construction Standard for Kitchen and Vanity Cabinets.

* A comprehensive Web site--www.kcma.org--which includes a listing of all KCMA members and serves as a valuable resource for architects, designers, dealers, consumers and anyone interested in cabinets. Included on the site are the Trends of Business Survey, Income & Expense Report, Wage & Labor Survey and Safety Survey. The site is accessed more than 80,000 times each month, on average.

ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

The KCMA encourages members to take an active role in the association. It currently has three standing committees and two councils in which members can participate. A listing of the various groups follows:

Government & Regulatory Affairs Committee: develops and monitors legislative and regulatory issues for KCMA; develops strategy to respond to issues; and develops policy recommendations for Board approval.

Standards Committee: administers the KCMA certification programs, including the ANSI review, oversees publication of material related to the certification programs, and follows up on complaints. The committee maintains a liaison with HUD and other government agencies to promote certified cabinets to government specifiers, works with the Army and Navy in specifying cabinets for military housing, and with CPSC to encourage the use of voluntary standards as opposed to mandated standards. The committee also reviews standards for materials used by manufacturers.

Marketing Committee: promotes membership, develops/oversees association services, promotes awareness of the KCMA testing and certification programs, develops industry marketing and management surveys, oversees association publications and advertising, and assists in planning educational programs and seminars.

Associates Committee: consists of representatives among the supplier members to support the activities of the association and to increase interaction and exchange between supplier members and manufacturers.

Decorative Laminates Council: consists of representatives of decorative laminates fabricators to assist with program planning and discussion of issues pertinent to decorative laminates fabricators.

Entrepreneurs Council: formerly the Small Manufacturers Council, it consists of presidents or entrepreneurial owners of cabinet or decorative laminate manufacturing operations who meet during KCMA's two annual meetings to network and discuss issues of importance.

DIRECTORS AND STAFF

The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from both large and small, stock and custom, cabinet companies, decorative laminate products fabricators and industry suppliers. Drawing from their experience, member surveys, and an ongoing strategic planning process, the Board and committees work to respond to the needs of member companies and the industry.

This year, the KCMA elected officers are: Bill Weaver, Canyon Creek Cabinet Co., president; John Swedeen, Norcraft/StarMark Cabinetry, treasurer; James Lobley, Hagerstown Kitchens Inc., immediate past president.

Serving with them on the board are: Bob Anderson, Masco/Quality Cabinets, chairman Standards Committee; Steve Bell, Pacific Crest Cabinets, chairman Marketing Committee; Thomas Cook, Elkay Cabinet Division; Brian Earl, American Woodmark Corp.; Doug Gilliam, Akzo Nobel Coatings, chairman Associates Committee; John E. Hans, Custom Wood Products LLC;, chairman Government & Regulatory Affairs Committee; Boyd Hedin, Crystal Cabinet Works; Lance Johanson, Custom Cupboards; Stanley Krieger, AMPCO Products; Elmer Martin, Bircbcraft Kitchens Inc.; David Hoe, Rev-A-Shelf; Kevin O'Neill, Wellborn Cabinet; Paul Sova, Showplace Wood Products; Greg Stoner, MasterBrand Cabinets; and Tim Wellborn, Wellborn Forest Products.

A service-oriented, experienced staff provides supped and leadership for key industry programs and projects. They are Richard Titus, executive vice president; Terry W. Zinn, director of certification; Janet Titus, director of marketing/member services; and Karen Kazmark, director of accounting