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The team integrates a number of design and construction companies, including:

• PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc.
• Michael Green Architecture Inc.
• Equilibrium Consulting Inc.
• B.R. Thorson Consulting Ltd.
• RDH Building Engineering Ltd.
• MMM Group Ltd.
• Opus DaytonKnight Consultants Ltd.
• Equity Plumbing + Heating Ltd.
• Houle Electric Limited

The  Centre, of which 100 per cent of the primary structure will be wood, is expected to showcase British Columbia's expertise and global reputation as a leader in wood construction, design and engineered wood products. The preferred proponent team proposed a design that effectively uses a full complement of wood from all corners of British Columbia, including Douglas-fir, cedar, hemlock, pine and spruce. Engineered wood products used in the design, such as glulam columns and beams, cross-laminated timber and laminated veneer lumber, are all produced in B.C.

The team focused on creating a repeatable design solution that could be replicated in other building projects. The design is flexible and cost-effective and it is expected to expand the market potential for B.C. wood products, both structurally and as a finishing material.

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There is a great program out there for BC companies that want to take the next step to expand - or sell their operations. Investors who recognize British Columbia as a safe harbour for investment can now take advantage of a Province of British Columbia online tool, OpportunitiesBC.

OpportunitiesBC is a searchable database of business and project opportunities throughout British Columbia that are suitable for investment - particularly foreign investment. As an investment attraction tool, the database has three functions:

• to provide updated listings of eligible opportunities around the province to help investment seekers gain greater profile for their projects;
• to serve as a portal for foreign visitors to explore opportunities in B.C. communities; and
• to connect opportunity representatives with potential foreign investors.

Opportunities range from large-scale projects to small- and mid-sized businesses throughout British Columbia engaged in sectors that include:

• Buildings and infrastructure
• Commercial and industrial lands
• Retail
• Manufacturing
• Agricultural land and food processing
• Tourism and accommodations
• International education
• Technology
• Natural resources

A second challenge has been launched through FPInnovations' online collaborative innovation platform, FPIntell LAB. This project is 'The BioBuild Challenge', which will explore the use of novel wood-based bio-materials to produce next generation multi-functional building panels.It is open from February 21st until June 18th, 2013. The submission deadline is May 17th. There is $5,000 CDN in prizes.

For more information and to register go to www.fpintell.fpinnovations.ca, or contact Barbara Bell at  Barbara.bell@fpinnovations.ca or 604-876-1169.

DO...

1.  Set clear objectives for your trade show exhibiting opportunity.  How do you define "success"?

2. Determine how you're going to measure the ROI for your trade show event.  How will you keep score?

3. Start the show marketing early with good pre-show promotion.  Give the attendees a reason to make your trade show exhibit a destination at the show.

4. Train your booth staff.  Equip them with the tools and techniques to perform well on the trade show floor.

5. Follow up with your prospects in a timely manner and implement a trade show lead management plan.  The first one to follow up often wins the sale!

DON'T...

1. Just sign up for the trade show or marketing event out of habit.  Make the show organizer sell you on why you should go again this year.

After going almost non-stop for the past several months, the Specifiers Program took a little breather the last couple of weeks, although, we did manage a couple of lunch & learn seminars. We had to postpone a couple of sessions we had scheduled last week; one with an architect firm, and the other with the Vancouver Regional Construction Association due to lack of registrants. At first, we felt bad that the sessions didn't go ahead as planned until we were told that a major reason that both sessions received low registrants was because they were inadvertently scheduled during Spring Break and many people had taken the week off - that's what happens when your kids are out of school, you forget these things. The postponed architect session is rescheduled for the first week in April and the VRCA session will now be delayed until May. So much for timing!

What is quite exciting is the number of sessions during the past couple of months that are return visits to architectural firms. In most cases, it has been the architectural firms themselves that have requested we return with seminars on specific topics or products. Other sessions have been the result of proactive members of the Specifiers Program requesting the opportunity of speaking to specific firms to educate them on the participants' respective products. This epitomises the purpose of the Program as many in the specifying community are learning in-depth about the products we make in BC, which is really what it takes to have those products ultimately specified.

I am also pleased at the professional manner in which the presenters have both prepared and delivered their presentations. I, for one, have learned much and have had many positive comments on the quality of both the presenters and their presentations from the firms we have visited.

As previously reported, next week, I will be joined by 5 industry representatives who will be giving educational seminars on their respective products at a breakfast meeting for the Independent Contractors Business Association. I am confident that this will be one of the best and most unique sessions that the attending contractors will have had the pleasure of attending. I'll let the readers know their reactions in my next Wood Connections report.

This is my last report for this fiscal year. Our next Wood Connections will be in April, the beginning of our new year - same as the Provincial Government's who's funding has made this program possible for the past 5 years. Their funding accounts for 80% of the Specifiers Program's cost which has allowed industry, for a fraction of the cost of doing it alone, to educate the very influential specifying community - architects, designers and contractors - on the participants' respective products. I just wanted to take this opportunity to acknowledge the province's support, in particular, given how well the program has evolved.

As April is the beginning of our new fiscal year, we will begin a new year for the Specifiers Program. This is a great time to get involved so that your firm can enjoy a full 12 months of participation. For those who participated this past year, expect to hear from us shortly regarding renewing your participation. For those who have not been involved with the program before, this is a great opportunity to become involved. Stay tuned!

If you have any questions on this article of wish more information on any aspect of the Specifier Program, please contact me at rmanion@bcwood.com or call the office. I look forward to hearing from you.