Henderson, NV – The International Solid Surface Fabricators Association (ISSFA) today named industry veteran, Russ Lee, executive director of the fabricator trade association. The move comes on the heels of a unanimous vote by the ISSFA Board of Directors to recommend its membership adopt a change in focus to embrace all decorative surfacing products.
“As a strictly solid surface fabricators association we saw the needs of our membership changing but were restricted by association by-laws as to how we could respond to those needs,” said ISSFA President, Todd Werstler. “By changing the focus of the association to embrace all decorative surfacing options we now can concentrate on the total needs of our fabricator members, instead of promoting a single product category. Russ Lee is the perfect person to help guide us through that all-important transition.”
A countertop fabricator for 13 years, Lee served as Editor of SolidSurface magazine for six years, Vice President, Surfacing for Fry Communications for two years and President of sitesNsolutins.com for two years.
In addition to fabricating countertops for residential and commercial applications, Lee has experience in the manufacture of solid surface materials, including color design, mold design/construction and product development. As editor of SolidSurface he traveled extensively across the United States, Europe and Asia reporting on the many aspects of countertop manufacture and fabrication. As a freelance journalist, his articles have been published in a number of industry magazines, including Surface Fabrication, Stone Business, Kitchen & Bath Design News, Cast Polymer Connection, Wood Digest and ISSFA Magazine. The past two years Lee has concentrated on developing Internet marketing opportunities for countertop fabricators through his company, sitesNsolutions.com.
“I have a passion for the countertop industry and for ISSFA that continues to grow,” said Lee. “ISSFA stands at a crossroads today that will determine the scope and vision of the association for the foreseeable future. Countertop fabricators face challenges and opportunities that are consistent with a rapidly evolving and fashion-driven industry. We must be there to offer the kinds of education, training and promotional opportunities that are relevant and significant to their businesses. The groundwork has been laid for that effort but, frankly, we can do better.”
ISSFA objectives for the immediate future include solidifying fabricator membership support for its change in focus, selection of an appropriate name for the association, restructuring of the education and training program to become more responsive to member needs, renewed emphasis on industry awareness and generating new and more profitable business opportunities for member fabricators.
The ISSFA Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to recommend to the fabricator membership that it approve a change in the association’s Articles of Incorporation. The proposed change would shift the focus from solid surface and quartz surfacing products exclusively, to embracing all decorative surfacing materials. The move was made to facilitate ISSFA’s evolution from a product-based organization to a fabricator-centered association.
“We have a full plate but the need is great,” said Werstler. “Some of the territory we expect to cover may be uncharted for a trade association in this environment of on-demand resources over the Internet and rapid change. With a new leadership and renewed focus on the fabricator we feel confident ISSFA can take a proactive role in helping our members become more profitable in their businesses.”
For more information about ISSFA please visit our website at www.issfa.org or call 877-GO-ISSFA.