ISFA Awards Set for Wednesday

ATLANTA – The wait is almost over for nominees of the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) annual awards.

The list of winners will go public here on Aug. 22 during the industry group’s annual member meeting that’s being held in conjunction with the International Woodworking Fair (IWF).

The awards, chosen by association members, highlight industry members who distinguished themselves through creativity, innovative contributions to the trade, public service or other noteworthy activities.

Nominated for the top honor, the Hall of Fame Award, are industry veterans Jack Hussey of Jack’s Custom Woodworking in Woburn, Mass., and Chuck Sawyer, an industry consultant who’s worked with such companies as Formica, Fountainhead and, most recently, Basix. The Hall of Fame award is given to the individual who has in the course of his/her career, made significant contributions to the decorative surfacing industry, and has demonstrated leadership and commitment to the ideals of ISFA.

Hussey, an early adapter to solid surface, is a 40-year business veteran and a member of ISFA since its beginning. Hussey served as a past state coordinator for ISFA, and was the 2001 winner of the ISFA Fabricator of the Year Award. Sawyer’s work spans many years in the industry, pioneering work in fabrication, warranty and training. He has held many roles at ISFA throughout the years, and repeatedly volunteers his time and effort in the service of ISFA and the industry as a whole.

Nominated for the ISFA Fabricator of the Year are Ted Sherritt of Floform in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Steve Stoddard of Advanced Surfaces in Corry, Pa.; Ray St. Gelais of TWD Surfaces in Bridgewater, Mass.; and Jack Hussey. The award is given to an individual of a fabricator-member company that, in the past year, best exemplified the ISFA ideals of quality, innovation, character and service to ISFA and/or the decorative surfacing industry with overall excellence.

ISFA Associate of the Year Award nominees are Cosentino of Stafford, Texas, and U.S. Surface Warehouse of Austin, Texas. The Associate of the Year Award is given to an associate member company that in the past year has best exemplified the role of servicing the needs of fabricator member companies, and who has best supported ISFA in all activities.

Nominated for the ISFA Innovator Award are Karran in Vincennes, Ind.; EOS Surfaces in Portsmouth, Va.; and InPro Corp. in Muskego, Wis. The award honers the member firm or individual who goes outside the box to create a product or system that enhances the life, or elevates the role, of the surface fabricator.

The ISFA Envision Award nominees are Rick Wing of R.D. Wing Enterprises in Kirkland, Wash., and Harry Hollander of Moraware in Reno, Nev. The award is given to the member firm or individual that excels in creating something imaginative and special for the surfacing industry.

The annual member meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Aug. 22 at Atlanta’s World Congress Center. It’s open to all industry personnel and will be followed by a networking event; RSVP to meg@isfanow.org.

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