Thursday – 1/25

8 am–6 pm
Registration Open

9–11 am
Sewing Machine Workshop
Frank Henderson, Henderson Sewing Co., Inc; Sam Sloan, Sloan Machinery Inc.; Doug Glenn, Consew Consolidated Sewing Machine Corp.; Ron Russell, Groz-Beckert USA
Classes will be offered in three experience levels: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.Organized by the IFAI Equipment Division.

11–12:30 pm
Hands on Rhino Training
Darren Arthur, Nautilix Custom Canvas LLC

12:30–1:30 pm
Luncheon Speaker
Savannah: America’s Most Haunted City
TC Michaels, Genteel & Bard
Enjoy lunch as this local storyteller shares his passion for Savannah’s people, it’s history and how this popular Southern destination became America’s most haunted city.

1:30–3:30 pm
Industry Round Table Discussions
Table Leaders TBD
Don’t miss out on these small group discussions where you will learn best practices and examine burning issues among your colleagues.

Topics include:

  • Balancing Business and Social Life
  • Marketing/Social Media
  • Insurance Options for Marine Shops
  • New to Canvas Fabrication
  • CAD, plotter cutter
  • Fabric Choices and Use.
  • Maintaining a Healthy Culture
  • Retaining Employees
  • Determining Competitive Benefit Packages
  • Sales Techniques
  • Training Staff
  • Product Line Diversification
  • Subcontracting
  • Upholstery

3:30–5:30 pm
Shop Tour | Thunderbolt Marine

6:30–9:30 pm
Welcome Costume Party
Savannah is well known for it’s haunted happenings – join us as we put a ghostly spin on our Annual Welcome Party. The 2018 party theme is “haunted”. Show off your spookiest costume and bring your dancing shoes as we celebrate the kickoff to another outstanding event. Food and beverage provided.

Friday – 1/26

8 am–6 pm
Registration Open

9–10:30 am
Upholstery Techniques – Aussie Style
David Elliott, David’s Custon Trimmers; Neil Hancock, Aussie Boat Covers; Shane Beashell, SB Marine Trimming
Our special guests from Australia present upholstery techniques. Topics covered include: Foam density layering and profile cutting; Introducing webbing and pocket springs into settees and mattresses to create the ultimate comfort into a yacht interior.

10:30–11:30 am
QuickBooks Concepts and Deep Dive
Mario Nowogrodzki, Mendelson Consulting
New and current users – increase your bottom line by learning how to be more efficient with QuickBooks. For new users,learn about the QuickBooks product family, learn how to choose the right edition and discover the advantages of using it for business management. For current users, learn the ins and outs of working with estimates, including doing repeatable estimates; see how to track time in QuickBooks; get an inside look at job costing, including adding labor into projects; get insight into inventory and non-inventory tracking.

11:45 am–12:45 pm
Offsite Lunch

1–2 pm
Maximizing Job Profitability
Mario Nowogrodzki, Mendelson Consulting
Enhance your profits by tracking job activities and time efficiencies. For participants not yet using a business management software, this session will help you discover how the concepts directly impact your bottom line. For participants using QuickBooks or another business management system, learn different ways of tracking time and efficiency. Discover new ways to automate invoicing and payroll processes by using add-on tools designed for QuickBooks.

2–6 pm
Exhibit Floor Open
Visit with more than 40 exhibitors during this dedicated show floor time. Take a look at the exhibitor list and start making plans to now to take advantage of this great opportunity.

5–6 pm
Cocktail Reception on the exhibit floor

Dinner on your own

Saturday – 1/27

8 am–2 pm
Registration Open

9–10 am
Tools Tips & Tricks
MC: Charlene Clark, Signature Canvasmakers LLC; Mike Charpentier, Paul’s Custom Canvas
This interactive discussion explores the newest tools and clever tips and tricks to make your job faster and easier. Vote for your favorites onsite.

10 am–noon
Enclosures
Zack Chapman, Brake Marine Canvas
This session focuses on the how, what, when, where and why of using facing and other trimmings within the enclosure building process. You will gain a fundamental understanding of how fabrics are woven and how it affects your facing and in turn your enclosure panels. You will also learn how to baste trim onto panels effectively to avoid future problems, cut and shape facings for flat wrinkle free enclosure panels, and review tools and tips for cutting, sewing and folding facing accurately.

noon–1:30 pm
Lunch & Annual Meeting

1:30–4:30 pm
Patterning Techniques from Down Under
David Elliott, David’s Custon Trimmers; Neil Hancock, Aussie Boat Covers; Shane Beashell, SB Marine Trimming
Learn a new options for patterning during this hands-on session.  This unique method combines spun fabric, masking tape and 3D hollowing for all applications from tenders to Bimini’s.

5:30–6:30 pm
Cocktail Reception
Enjoy a cocktail and networking prior to the annual awards dinner.

6:30–9 pm
Awards Dinner
MC: Mike Johnson, Mike’s Marine Marine Custom Canvas; Dennis Bueker, Keyston Bros.
Gather with your colleagues one last time and celebrate award winning projects, industry achievements and the announcement of the welcome party theme for Marine Fabricator Conference 2019. Dinner and refreshments are provided at this commemorative closing event.

*Programming subject to change