Ten VT faculty are working to set up a Center for Innovation Based Manufacturing (CIBM). The CIBM will be the mechanism to help industry to turn ideas into commercial products. The Center is expected to be running after July 2010 under the suppor of the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences (ICTAS).
Virginia Tech organizes two Educational Sessions for Expo Richmond next May 2010
The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at VT is organizing two educational sessions to be offered during the Expo Richmond organized by the VFPA in May 2010. The morning session will be presented by Professor Brian Bond on wood drying issues. The afternoon session is co-presented by Professors Earl Kline, Robert Bush, and Henry Quesada on Business Management aspects for Wood Products Industries. Attenddes might register for one session for $75 and for the two sessions for only $115. Please contact Henry Quesada at quesada@vt.edu or Brian Bond at bbond@vt.edu for more information.
The Wood Innovation Group @ VT and Costa Rica Tech partner to organize workshop
On March 4 and 5, 2010 Costa Rica Tech and the Wood Innovation research group at Virginia Tech will be presenting a workshop on current and future trends for the Costa Rican wood products industry. The workshop will be held at the Center for Technology Transfer from Costa Rica Tech located in San Jose, Costa Rica. Professors Bob Smith, Briand Bond, and Henry Quesada and graduate student Scott Lyon from the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Tech will be traveling to Costa Rica to give participate as speakers in marketing, wood drying, and lean manfacturing issues.
Virginia Tech, Costa Rica Tech sign memorandum of understanding
Virginia Tech and the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (Costa Rica Tech) recently entered into a memorandum of understanding, with the first official activity teaching an online course titled Business Process Management for the Manufacturing Systems Program. See more here.
Department of Wood Science and Forest Products delivered two workshops in International Marketing
During October 2009, Henry Quesada, assistant professor at the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Tech in conjunction with Eva Haviarova, assistant professor at the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University organized two workshops in International Marketing for the Forest Products Industry
During October 2009, Henry Quesada, assistant professor at the Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Tech in conjunction with Eva Haviarova, assistant professor at the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University organized two workshops in International Marketing for the Forest Products Industry. The workshops were designed after field research made by Quesada during Fall 2008 and Spring 09. This research detected that wood products industry, especially from the primary sector, were strongly considering increasing their sales by exporting but they lacked the knowledge to benefit from marketing opportunities in foreign markets. Based on this need, the workshops offered a valuable agenda that covered the following subjects to capitalize on these opportunities: an update of the current situation of the wood products industry, an introduction to international marketing principles, tips on international marketing intelligence, certified forest products global opportunities, and logistics and transportation issues. At the end of each workshop, a panel was assembled to discuss the topics and gather information for future educational and research opportunities.
Professor and Associate Dean of Engagement Bob Smith during his presentation at the International Marketing Workshop held at the Vincennes University campus in Jasper, IN.
The first workshop took place on October 8 at the Vincennes University campus in Jasper, IN with an attendance of 33 people. Quesada, and Professor and Associate Dean of Engagement at Virginia Tech, Bob Smith, participated as speakers. Matt Bumgardner from the USDA Forest Service, Mike Seidl from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and Mark Cooper from the Department of Commerce participated as speakers as well. The second workshop was held in Princeton, WV in October 20 at the WERC’s facilities with an attendance of 16 people. Participating In this opportunity besides Smith and Quesada, Al Schuler from USDA Forest Service, Joel Stopha from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and Josef FellHofer from CVI collaborated as speakers.
Joel Stopha, International Marketing Specialist, from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services during his presentation at the WERC facilities in Princeton, WV.
Both workshops were highly evaluated by the attendees and interesting discussion about future direction for the wood products industry regarding how to better profit from international marketing opportunities were drawn. The workshops were sponsored by the Wood Education Research Center, The Dubois County Development Center in Southern Indiana, The Indiana Hardwood Lumber Association, The Department of Forestry and natural Resources at Purdue University, Virginia Cooperative Extension at Virginia Tech, The Sloan Industry Center at Virginia Tech, Center for Marketing and Business Management at Virginia Tech, and the Virginia Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services.
Please contact Henry Quesada at quesada@vt.edu for more details.