The AWPL Advisory Board provides an avenue for direct corporate involvement with the Laboratory, its staff, students, and researchers. Advisory Board companies also enjoy "first-in-line" privileges and discounts for all executive education and employee training programs conducted by the AWPL. Members also have the opportunity to participate in sponsored research conducted through AWPL and the College of Architecture. Equally important, Advisory Board membership provides a fertile ground for participating companies to nurture relationships with tomorrow's technological leaders, and thus serves as a means of attracting the best and brightest to their organizations -- truly a "win-win" opportunity for all involved.

Full membership in the AWPL Advisory Board extends to corporations a full range of services, including:

• An opportunity to support and interact with a Georgia Tech faculty, staff person, or graduate student doing research and/or teaching in an area of mutual interest;

• Participation in the AWPL staff-in-residence program, which provides office space, equipment use, and access to all training and education programs for a Advisory Board company employee;

• Discounted training programs designed for specific executive and employee training needs and delivered either at the AWPL or on site;

• Participation in an annual Research Review Day conducted exclusively for Advisory Board companies, as well as in periodic open houses, presentations, demonstrations, and other opportunities to interact with faculty and students and industry collaborators;

• Information about graduate students, their interests, resumes, expected graduation dates, and availability for summer internships;

• Abstracts of relevant dissertations and theses or full copies upon request, and periodic notice of new AWPL research reports.

Specialized services can also be negotiated on a case-by-case basis, according to the needs of the Advisory Board member. In addition, full members have the right to appoint a representative to the Advisory Board, which meets annually to provide guidance and assist in long-range planning for the AWPL, including setting its research agenda.

AWPL Advisory Board Charter Members:

American Woodmark Corporation: Toccoa and Jackson, Georgia: www.americanwoodmark.com

Manufacturer of kitchen cabinets and vanities for remodeling and new home construction. 16 manufacturing facilities in the US including the automated parts plant in Toccoa and the assembly plant in Jackson.

Langdale Industries, Inc: Valdosta, Georgia: www.langdaleindustries.com

The largest fully integrated privately held forest products company east of the Mississippi River that includes land management, primary lumber manufacturing, pressure treatment and utility poles, oriented strandboard, medium density fiberboard, export company, secondary manufacturing and affiliated businesses.

Mortensen Woodworking, Inc: Union City, Georgia: www.mortensenwoodwork.com

Second generation privately held company concentrating on high-end custom millwork. The firm is highly automated with CNC machines for the cabinetry line and custom millwork. Mortensen has performed custom installations in commercial, resort and exhibition centers in Georgia and throughout the Southeastern US.

SCM Group Usa, Inc: Duluth, Georgia: www.scmgroup-usa.com

SCM Group, Spa: Rimini, Italy: www.scmgroup.com

SCM was formed in the late 1940's and has grown to become the largest woodworking machine manufacturer in the world of CNC machines. SCM provided the initial impetus and commitment of machines and resources for developing AWPL in collaboration with the College of Architecture to foster training, research and development.

Southern Staircase: Alpharetta, Georgia: www.southernstaircase.com

Southern Staircase designs and manufactures custom and straight stair systems for residential and commercial installations. Stair systems are designed through the use of CAD and manufactured with CNC and custom techniques.

South Georgia Cabinet Company, Inc: Ray City, Georgia

A family owned and operated business utilizing CNC technology for manufacture of laminated casework for commercial and residential closet and cabinetry systems with emphasis upon motel/lodging renovations and health clinics.

Georgia Forestry Commission: Macon, Georgia: www.gfc.state.ga.us

The state forestry commission is charged with promoting sound forest management practices, rural forest fire protection, and utilization of the state's forest resources. The commission is now embarking upon a major policy change through a Proposal for Forest Products Marketing Report to the Governor and State Legislature to promote utilization of the forest resources.

Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources: Athens, Georgia: www.forestry.uga.edu

UGA's School of Forestry and Natural Resources was founded in 1906 through an endowment from George Foster Peabody. It is the oldest school of forest resources in the South. The school's mission is to prepare leaders in the conservation and sustainable management of forests and other natural resources; to discover ways to restore and better use the earth's natural resources; and to put into practice forestry and natural resources knowledge.