Registration is open for CCAI’s Women in Finishing (WiF) FORUM which will be April 15-17 at the Drury Plaza Lake Buena Vista Orlando in Orlando, Florida. The 2024 event marks the fifth anniversary of the conference designed specifically for women in industrial finishing. The program features a plant tour, professional development sessions, industry presentations, team building activities, and networking opportunities. All women who have chosen or are pursuing a career industrial finishing, from the finishing line to executive management, are encouraged to attend.
Participation in the WiF FORUM has increased, growing by more than 120 percent since its debut in 2019.
“The success and growth of the WiF FORUM is beyond what I ever imagined,” said Sheila LaMothe, program director, Women in Finishing. “We listen closely to the feedback from past attendees which has driven the direction and development of our program, ensuring we continue to provide presentations and activities that address the needs and interests of the women in our industry.”
Three-time Emmy Award-winning writer and producer and CEO of Motive3 Ginger Zumaeta will kick off the general session with the presentation, “The Winning Formula: Performance, Image and Exposure.” This will be followed by a slate of expert presenters from a variety of backgrounds representing corporations and educational institutions including GAT Finishing Systems, IFS Coatings, Professional Plating, Raphael Industries, PPG, Steelhead Technologies, and the University of South Florida.
2024 WiF FORUM presentation topics include:
- Advancing architecture: exploring coatings in construction.
- Innovations in manufacturing and opportunities with AI.
- Creative thinking strategies to break through roadblocks.
- My Journey to Leadership (panel discussion).
- Building partnerships to create mutual success.
Additionally, applications are currently being accepted for the Elizabeth Teska Women in Finishing FORUM Scholarship. The scholarship, named in memory of one of WiF’s first members and generously supported by BASF|Chemetall, enables more women to participate in the annual FORUM by covering registration fees and accommodations costs for successful applicants each year. Recipients are selected by the CCAI Finishing Education Foundation Board of Directors. Both individual applications and nominations are accepted. Deadline to apply is February 23, 2024.
Powered by the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI), Women in Finishing (WiF) provides a platform that fosters professional and personal development for women who have chosen or are pursuing a career in the industrial finishing industry. WiF is inclusive of all levels and responsibilities within the finishing industry, from the finishing line to executive management.
The Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI) is a technical and professional organization that provides information and training on surface coating technologies. CCAI works to raise the standards of finishing operations through educational meetings and seminars, training manuals, educational videos, and outreach programs with schools, colleges and universities.
MORE INFO www.womeninfinishing.org or www.ccaiweb.com/wifforumscholarship
