Pete Fournier has become the new Chairman of the Wood Manufacturing Council (WMC). He is President/CEO of the Triangle Group of companies, with its head office and manufacturing facility in Dieppe, New Brunswick. Mr. Fournier is an experienced entrepreneur—he started his first company at the age of 19 and has held a managerial role for over 20 years. After finishing his degree in Wood Products Processing at the University of British Columbia, he joined the Triangle Group in 2000, where they currently employ approximately 100 people. Mr. Fournier is responsible for all aspects and functions of new business development, product development, facility expansion, and new markets. His past responsibilities included setting up the Triangle Group’s manufacturing plants in China.
Mr Fournier has served on various boards in various capacities, including 3 years as WMC’s Vice-Chair. He is also a board member of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association and an independent board member for a private, for profit, nanotechnology company. To further expand his network, Mr. Fournier is a member in good standing of the Young Presidents Organization, where he is currently Chapter Chair (2018-2019) for the YPO Atlantic Canada Chapter. He is also a member of the Excellence in Manufacturing Network, the Family Business Network and in the Order of the Wallace McCain Institute.
Mr. Fournier succeeds Jim Deslaurier, Director of Business Development, Deslaurier Custom Cabinets, Renfrew, ON, who served as Chair for 3 years and now becomes the Past Chair. Dennis Harlock, Professor, Wood Programs, Conestoga College, was elected as the new Vice Chair. Mr. Harlock graduated from the Woodworking Technician program at Conestoga in 1984 and worked for Ikea and Beckermann Kitchens. He joined the staff at Conestoga College in 1988 and served as the Program Coordinator for 10 years. He is also an industry consultant for machinery acquisition and for facility improvement to equipment and personnel. He joined the WMC Board in 2016.
The WMC is a national not-for-profit sectoral organization that collaborates with industry, educators, trade associations and governments to implement human resource solutions to ensure the success of the Advanced Wood Processing sector in Canada. WMC works to identify the necessary skills and knowledge required to address key issues affecting the Canadian woodworking sector in order to develop and implement strategies to meet these challenges for the future success of the industry.
