Operating your business with sustained profitability in a recessionary market

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Once you register you will receive confirmation from CKCA’s database email (ckca@wildapricot.org) – MAKE SURE you receive this – check your spam.

Agenda 

1:00 pm – 1:10 pm – Opening Remarks, Intros 

1:10 pm – 1:45 pm – Presentation by Yohaan Thommy, MNP  

Many businesses achieve early success through entrepreneurial drive and strong product-market fit—but as they grow, profitability and productivity often plateau. The complexity of scale brings hidden costs, diluted focus, and inconsistent execution. Leaders frequently ask, “How do I manage my costs when revenue is stagnant or declining?” or “What’s preventing us from operating at full potential?” This session is designed to explore the two most common bottlenecks to sustainable scale: profitability leakage and productivity drag. We’ll examine the hidden forces that erode performance and introduce tools to strengthen management systems, improve resource utilization, and unlock profitable growth.

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – Discussion with Q&A – Next Steps

Key Learning Areas:

  1. Scaling with Profit in Mind – Why growing revenue is not the same as growing profit, and how to align your business model, cost structure, and delivery operations to scale with intention.
  2. Diagnosing Profitability Leaks – Explore common mistakes like under-tracking unit economics, overbuilding teams, and misaligned investments—and how to spot them early.
  3. Unlocking Productivity Gains – How companies unintentionally lose up to 30% of output due to role confusion, poor systems, and over-reliance on meetings and managers.
  4. The Labour & Talent Bottleneck – Understanding how talent gaps—not just workforce size—limit scale, and what forward-looking businesses are doing to bridge that gap.
  5. Process and Tech Enablers – Identifying the management processes, technologies, and business systems that create structure without red tape—and build a foundation for scale.
  6. Lessons from Scaling Organizations – Real-world examples of how mid-sized and enterprise organizations have used process, performance, and leadership alignment to improve outcomes.

 

 

National Forum (Oct 5-8)

DRAFT PROGRAM – SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Monday, Oct 5

People arrive to Quebec City – Welcome Reception in Evening (Time TBC)

Tuesday, Oct 6

7 am – Breakfast

8 am – Depart for Rimouski – arrive 11:30 am

11:30 am – 12:30 pm – Hotel check in and grab/go lunch at hotel

1:30 pm – arrive Uniboard

4:00 pm – leave Uniboard and return to Rimouski

6:00 pm – Reception and President’s dinner at hotel

Wednesday, Oct 7

7:30 am Breakfast/Presentations

9:00 am – Plant Tour Miralis

12:00 pm – Lunch (location TBC)

1:30 – 3:00 pm – Tour Armoire Distinction (afternoon)

4:00 – 5:00 pm Manufacturers Roundtable

Evg – Explore somewhere in Rimouski

Thursday, Oct 8

7:30 am – Breakfast/Presentations

9:00 am – Depart Rimouski

11:30 am – Arrive (lunch location TBC)

1:00 pm – Tour Teknion – Roy & Breton

2:30- 3:00 pm – Adjourn – buses can drive people to airport in Quebec City ETA 3:30 pm or later (estimated time)

Unlock Growth with Government Funding in 2026 (Apr 1 2026)

Members joined CKCA and our presenters on April 1 to discuss Government funding opportunities. Funding programs are changing constantly so we will post the slides and webinar to this event but only on a temporary basis.

Topic Title: Unlock Growth with Government Funding in 2026!

Agenda 

1:00 pm – 1:10 pm – Opening Remarks, Intros 

1:10 pm – 1:45 pm – Presentation by Jeff Dumart,  Grant Synergy Yohaan Thommy, MNP

Discover the top Canadian government funding programs designed to help your business scale, innovate, and compete. From grants supporting capital expansion, hiring and training, to incentives for technology adoption, exporting, and R&D – learn how to secure your share of millions in available funding. Plus, explore specialized programs for businesses impacted by U.S. and global tariffs.

Don’t miss out – your next big project could be funded!

1:45 pm – 2:00 pm – Discussion with Q&A – Next Steps

       

The CKCA’s 2026 HR Roundtable Series

Exciting News!

Click here to view full page flyer

In 2025 we piloted a series of HR Roundtables. We had great attendance and realized we needed to continue these in 2026.

We’ve onboarded an amazing facilitator and now we’ve got set up dates for the entire year.

If you’re managing HR in your organization and you’re a member of CKCA, you definitely want to sign up for these session.

What this series includes:

  • 4 facilitated HR sessions with Shannon Pearson, Principal & Mediator, Reform IQ.
  • 2 Ask Me Anything sessions with Shannon who is joined by Richard B. Johnson, HR & Human Rights lawyer, Ascent Employment Law

Dates:

Feb 23 | Apr 29 | June 24 | Aug 26 | Oct 28 | Dec 2

Register here »

  • You must be a CKCA member in good standing.
  • All membership categories eligible to attend.

Feb 23 Topic: Intergenerational Workforce: What’s shifting and why it matters.

Facilitated discussion with Shannon Pearson, Principal + Mediator, Reformiq.com

  • With up to five generations working side by side, today’s workforce is shaped by differing expectations of authority, communication, and leadership.
  • During our HR Roundtable we will examine how intergenerational dynamics drive power struggles, miscommunication, emotional volatility, and disengagement in the workplace.
  • As authority decentralizes and employee expectations continue to shift, HR plays a critical role in translating generational differences into clarity, alignment, and sustained performance.

And it’s part of your membership, so no additional cost thanks to our two amazing sponsors:

Wood Manufacturing Council

Ingenious Insurance – Celebrating 8 years as CKCA’s Medical Benefits Advisors

Trade Policy Update – Dec 11 2025 (1pm ET)

CKCA would like to extend our sincere thanks to the International Wood Products Association.

Presentation by Ashley Amidon, Executive Director, International Wood Products Association and her policy team, Ben Finnestad and Joe O’Donnell will discuss IEEPA, Section 232 and what other actions could or will have impacts on trade flows. 

A recording of this webinar is now available to CKCA members. Please contact sandra@ckca.ca to receive the link.

Thanks to our sponsor:

 

CKCA Spring Regional (May 12-14, 2026)

CKCA will be hosting our Spring Regional Event consisting of 2 days of plant tours, networking and learning opportunities.

Dates: May 12-14, 2026

Program: This program is DRAFT and subject to change.

Location: Hamilton, Ontario and surrounding areas

Sponsor Opportunities 2026 Please find a list of sponsorship opportunities to get your brand into this popular CKCA event!

Hotel and Travel: Sheraton Hamilton is the host hotel – Click here to book your hotel at the special negotiated rate. Traditional Double Queen/King – $219 per night CAD plus taxes.

There are Air Canada and West Jet Discount Codes. Click here to view all  the travel and accommodation details.

Airports: Toronto Pearson International Airport or John C. Munro International Airport Hamilton

Registration Now open – getting close to sold out – don’t wait register NOW!  Please note that IF you are a supplier or associate member limit of 1 one) rep to attend.  There is no limit for manufacturers.

Attendee List: CKCA shares the attendee list within a few days of the event and only with the attendees. If you receive an email from someone askingif you want the list, this as spam. We will send you the list with a passcode to access closer to the event. 

CKCA terms and conditions:

  • CKCA photographs, records and shares on social media images of participants attending this event. By participating in this event, you agree to these terms. 
  • Registrant list is shared with all participants. If you would like to be removed email sandra@ckca.ca

 

 

Eurocucina (April 19-25, 2026)

Where trends begin!

Hosted by our sponsor:

What’s it all about? Click here»

Join CKCA, Blum for another exclusive opportunity to attend Eurocucina, the largest international kitchen furniture exhibition event in the world.  Altogether, the exhibition covers a net display area of over 230,000 square meters at the Milan Fairgrounds in Rho. Spouses/companions are welcome to attend (please indicate single or double occupancy).

We take care of you!  CKCA in partnership with Blum has organized accommodations, organized plant tours, site seeing, hosted lunches and dinners, and accommodations (in Austria and Milan).  The draft itinerary below indicates which costs are included and which are your responsibility.  Final details will be relayed to all confirmed registrants..

PROGRAM AND REGISTRATION: Don’t wait, this event will sell out. Get details here»

HOTEL – Blum has booked your hotel in Austria and CKCA has booked your hotel in Milan:

  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Milan, Via Stamira d’Ancona 27, Milan 20217, Italy.

TRANSPORTATION – Please ensure you arrive in Zurich, Switzerland by 11:30 am on Sunday, April 19. Blum has arranged ground transportation for your trip to Austria and to take you on to Milan mid-week. You are responsible for booking your flights. We recommend you acquire both travel and health insurance.

Please provide CKCA with your travel itinerary for Zurich arrival (to confirm shuttle for BLUM).PAYMENT – *CDN taxes are not applied as event is out of country.

CKCA HR Roundtable – August 7, 2025

CKCA HR Roundtable

CKCA held it’s first HR Roundtable on May 27, 2025 with great participation – so we know you want to connect on this important topic of HR!

  • Do you or someone in your company manage the HR for your business?
  • Would you like to talk to others managing HR in the kitchen cabinet industry?
  • Curious what HR policies others have or what challenges they face?
  • Join us for the HR Roundtables.
  • These are scheduled events (every 3 mos) via Zoom.
  • A great way to get to know others in the industry who face the same challenges as you and who may also be using solutions that you want to know about.
  • Join us – free to CKCA members for a 75 minute Zoom discussion with an agenda and topics for discussion.
  • Get your hands on some valuable benchmarking data and hear from subject matter experts.
  • It’s another CKCA member benefit you don’t want to miss!

How?

Contact sandra@ckca.ca and let us know you want to attend and we’ll send you the calendar invite and the Zoom link details.

When?

Every 3 mos (typically a Wednesday at 1pm ET) – August 7 and November 5, 2025

Who?

Any CKCA member, whether you are a manufacturer, dealer, supplier or associate member.

Agenda?

Sent in advance to help you prepare.

Can’t always commit?

No problem! Attendance is always optional.