SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – Informational and inspirational conference sessions, followed by a tour of a local showroom and manufacturing facility, set attendees up for a relaxing reception and warm welcoming of first-timers at the opening day of Closets Conference & Expo 2024.

The April 17 evening reception is open to all delegates of the Closets and Wood Pro conferences. It is co-sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals, Elektra, and Richelieu.  

Conference sessions focus on trends and best practices
The conference program will kick off with a keynote address by Daniel Eisenbarth, Results Coach and Business Results Trainer of Robbins Research International. Eisenbarth’s presentation, The Psychology of Business – The Edge of Successful Business Owners, will explore why some business owners are more successful than others.
 

Reception Sponsors

The twin-track conference includes presentations curated for closet and woodworking professionals. The break-out session format allows Closet Conference attendees to sit in on Wood Pro Conference presentations and vice versa. 
Topics of the Closet Conference, co-sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals and Hettich America, include:

• How to Launch a Design Studio Through Collaboration, presented by Jenny O'Connor, Design Director, Bespoke Closets / Burke Architectural Millwork, and Lis Ritz, Designer, Inspired Closets Chicago
• Emerging Trends: Accessories and Decorative Hardware, presented by Ariane Brabant, Business Development Manager, TAG Hardware, and Knikki Grantham, Creative Director, Keeler
• AI's Role in the Future of Design, speaker TBA

Topics of the Wood Pro Conference, co-sponsored by the Cabinet Makers Association, include: 

• Negotiating Your Contract, presented by Lois Snyder, Owner/President, Periwinklers, and Randy Niewind, Owner, Randy's Cabinets and Woodworks
• Lean Strategies to Increase Profitability, presented by Gregory Paolini, Owner/Operator of Gregory Paolini Design LLC
• Transitioning Your Business, presented by Ken Kumph, Owner of Premier Builders

Products galore and more at the Closets/Wood Pro Expos
The two-day expo, April 18-19, will feature woodworking machinery, CAD/CAM software, hardware, decorative surfaces presented by a solid cast of manufacturers and distributors. The expo allows attendees to see and experience new products that can help them grow their business first-hand.

Each day of the expos begins with a free keynote presentation.

Thomas Allott, manager of Stiles University, will discuss the National Woods Board's mission and actions in his Thursday, April 18 keynote "Transforming Wood Industry Education."

Friday's keynote will feature a panel of industry professionals addressing the topic "Crafting Your Identity, Shaping Your Success – Your Personal Brand, Your Unique Story."  Panelists include Carlissa Montoya, owner/designer, CM Closet Design LLC, EncoreGarage San Antonio; ACSP President-Elect; Domenic Marcolongo, owner/designer/contractor, Las Vegas Closet Design; Cindy Melgoza, owner/closet organizer, Glamornized; and Andrea Litsch, designer, Closet Envy Dallas

Other features planned for the expo floor include: 

• Scheduled live machinery demonstrations,
• Woodworking Network Live featuring free presentations, interviews, and podcasts,  
• Installation Clinics 2.0 and 3.0 with demonstrations,
• Advanced design clinics including sponsored booth tours by the ACSP

Reserve a room at the Renaissance
The Renaissance Schaumburg, official hotel of the 2024 Closets Conference & Expo and Wood Pro Expo Illinois, combines convenience with comfort. The 4-star hotel is conveniently located near major highways and the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The Renaissance is directly connected with the Schaumburg Convention Center.

About the Closets Conference & Expo and Wood Pro Expo Illinois
The annual Closets Conference & Expo (CCE) is the only national event for all closet and home storage professionals. The 2024 edition is co-located with Wood Pro Expo Illinois (WPE), a regional marketplace for woodworking professionals. The events are organized by Closets & Organized Storage and FDMC magazines respectively. Each is a distinct media brand of Woodworking Network. The twin-bill event is scheduled for April 17-19, 2024, at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill.

Download Prospectus Reserve a Booth

CCE and WPE each kick off with a separate full-day conference on April 17, co-sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals and Cabinet Makers Association respectively. The two-day co-located expo, April 18-19, features woodworking machinery, supplies, and components. Additional educational programming is offered on each day of the expo. Tours of local manufacturing plants and the popular Top Shelf Design Awards networking reception are also key features of the event. View current program schedule.

For information about exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities, contact Laurel Didier, exhibit sales. For all other inquiries, contact Kim Lebel, show manager. 

More Woodworking Network events
Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, Oct. 24-25, 2024, Spooky Nook Sports/Warehouse at the Nook, Manheim, Pa.

Salon Industriel du Bois Ouvré (SIBO), Oct. 24-26, 2024, Centrexpo Cogeco, Drummondville, Quebec.

Woodworking Machinery & Supply Conference & Expo (WMS), Nov. 12-14, 2025, Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto, Ontario.