The Woodworking Machinery Industry Association elected a new slate of officers, including Jim Besonen, president of Wood Machinery Systems Inc. in Minnetonka, Minn., as Chairman of the Board at the 2019 Woodworking Industry Conference in Amelia Island, Fla.

“I am proud to serve as chairman for the next two years,” Besonen said in a statement. “WMIA has had many excellent leaders preceding me which have grown our membership significantly and increased the services we offer our members. It is truly an honor to follow in their footsteps. The wood products industry is expanding, machinery and tooling sales are strong, and the IWF show continues to grow. This is a great time to be in the woodworking industry.

“My goal for the next two years is to expand the educational offerings Dave [Rakauskas, now Chairman Emeritus] started with the WTII and Pittsburg State University, and create new programs aimed at attracting young men and women into the wood products industry as well as leadership positions in WMIA.”

For more, visit www.wmia.org.