Member Resources

Continuing Education

Technical Seminars, Regulatory Updates and Professional Programs

Welcome to AHFA’s online continuing education center! We offer webcasts of technical seminars, regulatory updates and professional development programs so you and your executive team can gain the insights you need, when and where you need them.

Find information on future webinars and education events in our UPCOMING EVENTS section. Registration for AHFA events is quick and easy. Most webinars are free, although some are limited to AHFA members only.

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Educational Presentation Series

2024 Marketing/PR Conference

After a multi-year hiatus, AHFA revived its annual Marketing/PR Conference for 2024. The February 6-7 event took place at The Conference Center at Guilford Technical Community College. Topics that were covered included a panel of industry leaders discussing the impact of 3D visualization and augmented reality on furniture marketing; how to leverage online “influencers” to promote your brand; trends in marketing safer, healthier products; and tips for hiring/managing young marketing/PR professionals for your team.

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GCC and Testing Requirements for 16 CFR 1261

This webinar was presented by Matt Howsare and Shawn Skolky of Cooley, LLC and Rick Rosati of Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services. The meeting covered 16CFR1261 and General Certificates of Conformity (GCC) Testing Requirements.

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HCHO Regulation and Laminated Products

This webinar was presented by Joel Oser and Chris Battin of Benchmark International. The meeting covered HCHO Regulation and the transition of laminated products pursuant to the March 2024 deadline.

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2023 AHFA Annual Meeting & CEO Conference

Music City is known as the home of songwriting, performance and recording by legendary country artists along with a stream of other top names in recent years. The capital city also serves as a backdrop for multiple industries and is a beacon of Southern culture through a variety of arts plus culinary favorites like Hot Chicken and Goo Goo Clusters. Nashville’s first million-dollar property, The Hermitage Hotel, is a historic landmark and the site for the 2023 AHFA Annual Meeting & CEO Conference.

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PFAS Regulation in Textiles & Furniture

This webinar was presented by William Troutman, partner in the Los Angeles office of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP. This meeting covered state laws and regulations related to PFAS in furniture and textiles, as well as an overview of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new PFAS reporting rule, finalized September 28, 2023.

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2023 Summit

The 2023 Summit took place from August 9-10 at The Conference Center at Guilford Technical Community College in Colfax, North Carolina. The event provided valuable insight on topics such as compliance requirements of the new mandatory stability standard, updates on PFAS legislation, new product labeling guidance and more.

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2023 Logistics Conference

Manufacturers, retailers, furniture carriers and logistics companies gathered in Charleston, South Carolina, in June 2023 for “Turn The Tide,” a logistics conference presented by AHFA in partnership with the Specialized Furniture Carriers.

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2023 Formaldehyde Rule Workshop

The February 15 formaldehyde workshop was designed to assist member companies preparing to comply with the last milestone in Title VI of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Substances Control Act, otherwise known as the formaldehyde rule. The rule requires all companies that source or produce laminated products that include composite wood as a component to use only no-added formaldehyde (NAF) or phenol resins to adhere their wood or bamboo veneers to EPA-certified hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard or particleboard panels – or face costly third-party certification requirements.

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2022 AHFA Annual Meeting & CEO Conference

The picturesque South Georgia coast in combination with Forbes Five-Star accommodations and an information-packed, executive-level program make AHFA’s 2022 Annual Meeting & CEO Conference a must-attend event! The three-day meeting at The Cloister at Sea Island will inspire top executives and provide critical insights to help inform 2023 business planning.

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2022 Summit

The 2022 Regulatory Summit on August 17 provided insight and guidance on the top regulatory issues in the industry and featured a program of legal experts, regulatory officials and industry leaders. The 2022 Sustainability Conference on August 18 covered a wide array of topics from environmental management and social responsibility to the industry’s role in a circular economy.

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2022 Logistics Conference

Manufacturers, retailers, furniture carriers and logistics companies gathered in Wilmington, North Carolina, in June 2022 for “Seeking Calmer Waters,” a logistics conference presented by AHFA in partnership with the Specialized Furniture Carriers.

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Annual Meeting 2021

Breathtaking scenery of the majestic Rocky Mountains will serve as the backdrop for AHFA's Annual Meeting of CEOs and company presidents at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. The legendary property radiates a blend of rustic charm, abundant natural beauty, outstanding hospitality and sophisticated guest services. Top executives are invited to the three-day business meeting that includes a variety of guest speakers plus social activities.

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2021 Summit

AHFA’s 2021 Sustainability & Regulatory Summit explored the myriad ways our industry is rethinking sustainability, resetting goals and reacting to today’s regulatory challenges.

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Educational Webinar Series

Demonstration Video of the NPR Test Methods

Demonstration of proposed stability testing.

All Things Logistics AHFA Webinar Series

AHFA’s Specialized Furniture Carriers division has planned a series of logistics webinars to bring companies up-to-date on key issues impacting industry operations this fall. The members only webinars are free of charge. All 3 sessions will run from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT.
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Building a Crisis Communications Strategy

Whether or not your company has a PR firm or an in-house PR executive, there comes a time when the president or CEO must deal with the media. That is why it is crucial to have a crisis communications strategy.
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What You Need to Know About the STURDY Act of 2021

Review of STURDY's key provisions and the potential impact on our industry.
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Must-Know Cybersecurity Strategies for 2021

Legal ramifications companies face in the aftermath of a cyberattack.
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Federal Flammability Regulation Series 2021

The Safer Occupancy Furniture Flammability Act drafted by AHFA in 2017 has made its way into law in the form of the "COVID-19 Regulatory Relief and Work From Home Safety Act," part of the massive year-end omnibus spending bill signed by President Trump on December 27. This webinar series was developed by AHFA to review the technical requirements in the new law, including compliance, enforcement and labeling provisions.
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Federal COVID-19 Update: Elements of a Recovery Under the Biden Administration

As the Biden Administration works on a wide range of initiatives, Chris Andresen presents an update on COVID-19 relief plans, new appointees and nominations along with regulatory policy, trade relations and economic recovery.
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Regulatory Compliance Webinar Series

AHFA’s Regulatory Summit, originally scheduled October 7-8, has been revamped to address the health and safety concerns surrounding COVID-19. The reimagined program covers all of the essential topics planned for the October Summit, but in an extended series of 10 webinars beginning in July and extending through December. The members only webinars are free of charge. All 10 sessions will run from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesdays.
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2019 Regulatory Summit

This MEMBERS ONLY link provides access to all available speaker presentations from AHFA’s Regulatory Summit October 2-3, 2019. Titled “Compliance: Priority One,” this two-day summit covered many different aspects of product liability and included updates from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission on furniture stability testing and proposed changes to the ASTM voluntary standard, F2057-19.
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2019 Logistics Conference

From the June 2019 Logistics Conference presented by AHFA’s Specialized Furniture Carriers division, this North Carolina Ports update was provided by Hans Bean, now the chief commercial officer of North Carolina Ports.
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2018 Regulatory Summit

From the October 2018 Regulatory Summit, these presentations provide updates on the federal formaldehyde rule, product safety and recall obligations, upholstery furniture flammability and new chemical regulations potentially impacting performance fabrics.
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Proposition 65 Workshop: New Clear and Reasonable Warning Guidelines

From AHFA’s 2018 Proposition 65 Workshop, this presentation from Amy Lally and Judith Praitis, partners at Sidley Austin LLP, covers new “clear and reasonable” warning guidelines implemented in 2018.

Proposition 65 Workshop: Managing Risk - A Business Approach to Proposition 65

From AHFA’s 2018 Proposition 65 Workshop, this presentation from Michael Sullivan, managing partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, provides a business approach to managing the challenges of California Proposition 65 compliance.