ATA - Advanced Textiles Association

08/29/2026

Don't forget: Our members-only webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 2 tells you about the Major Medical health plans you can offer employees, how level funding works and why it may be a good option for you.

All on our members-only webinar at 1 pm EST. https://f.mtr.cool/kyniumlmib

08/28/2026

We just wrapped up our Annual Leadership Summit, bringing together ATA member group leadership with the ATA Board to discuss the issues and opportunities in each market segment that ATA member groups serve.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us and to the companies that support their involvement with ATA. We appreciate the time, ideas and industry perspective you bring to the table. It’s exciting to work together to move our industry forward!

ATA Board of Directors and Officers

Craig Zola, Chairman | Herculite Products, Inc
William Morse, 1st Vice Chairman | Ohio Awning & Manufacturing Co
Marc Shellshear, 2nd Vice Chairman | Value Vinyls, Inc.
Charlene Clark, IFM, Director | Signature CanvasMakers
Tony Ehrbar, Director | American Tent
John Henderson, Director | Tensar, A Division of CMC
Bret Kelley, Director | Trivantage
Rachal McCarthy, Director | NTI Global
Brent Nussbaum, Director | Miller Weldmaster

Member Groups Advisory Board Leadership
Jeff Newkirk, Interim Chairman, ATA Canada | Precision Custom Canvas
Jasmine Cox, Chairman, Emerging Technologies Council | Textile Technology Center at Gaston College
Brian Coughlin, Chairman, Fabric Structures Association | Sioen Industries
Kathryn Grant, Vice Chairman, Geosynthetics | Solmax
Will Cromer, Chairman, Military Division | MMI Textiles
Scott Neville, Vice Chairman, Professional Awning Manufacturers Association | Welhener – H.B. Wall Awning
Brian Stumph, Vice Chairman, Tent Rental Division | Fred's Tents and Canopies
Mark Harries, Chairman, USINFI | Bally Ribbon Mills

Advanced Textiles Association Leadership Team
Steve Schiffman, President and CEO
Sheila Sumner, CFO/Vice President of Operations
Jonathan W. Sweet, Director of Member Programs & Content
Amy Collins, Vice President of Events, Sales & Marketing
Cherie Schmit, Executive Assistant to the President

Advanced Textiles Association Member Programs Team
Janelle Wells Buerkley , Member Programs Manager
Fred Chuck, P.E., Member Programs Supervisor
Jaime Duvio, Member Programs Supervisor
Christine Gerard, Member Programs Supervisor
LaTara Houston, Member Programs Supervisor
Jill Newman, Education & Events Manager
Taresa Fetsch, Member Retention Representative

08/28/2026

Today is the ⚠️ LAST DAY ⚠️ to enter your best work for the International Achievement Awards. This is another members-only perk, and the IAAs are known for decades of prestige and recognition. Don't miss this chance.

🚨🚨🚨Tomorrow's the day! Get your projects entered for the International Achievement awards by August 28. Remember: MFA Fabrication Excellence Award winners are *not* automatically entered this year! https://f.mtr.cool/ywxcjqtrrh

08/28/2026

Six days left. That's all. The early bird rate for Advanced Textiles Expo ends September 3, and after that, the price goes up. Same show floor. Same sessions. Same Textiles Challenge. Same Industry Night at Ole Red.

Lock in your spot now and save. The week in Orlando is going to be worth every penny. Make it cost fewer of them.

08/26/2026

We aren't afraid of stealing a good idea from our friends over at Marine Fabricator.

In honor of National Dog Day, drop a photo of your shop dogs, or even your four-legged family members in the comments! Pictured is ATA member Wyatt, who works at Precision Custom Canvas Inc.

08/26/2026

Mike Boatman runs a marine canvas shop and teaches patterning. At Advanced Textiles Expo, he's moderating the AI panel on Wednesday and teaching a boat cover classroom session on Thursday. Same guy. Real experience. Two very different sessions. This is the kind of practical expertise you'll find throughout the week. Register now and learn from people who actually do the work.

08/25/2026

Your most experienced sewers are retiring, but their knowledge doesn't have to walk out the door with them. Tanya Wade of the Manufacturing Solutions Center is leading a session at Advanced Textiles Expo on how to capture workforce expertise before it's gone. She'll walk through practical tools like video training, digital work instructions, and knowledge libraries that help you hold onto what your best people already know. It's a real solution for a problem every manufacturer is facing. Tuesday on the show floor. Register now to be there.

08/25/2026

Happening tomorrow, August 26: Whether you need the fundamentals for your cyber security program like risk assessments, security policies, and incident response planning, or something more advanced like pe*******on testing, threat hunting, and third-party risk management, our webinar with with Charles Killmer has something for you--and it's FREE for members!

08/24/2026

Two reasons to join ATA: Our members-only webinars and our great benefits. On Wednesday, Sept. 2 get both: Learn more about the Major Medical health plans you can offer employees, how level funding works and why it may be a good option for you.

All on our members-only webinar at 1 pm EST. https://f.mtr.cool/kyniumlmib

08/24/2026

The show floor opens at 10, but the learning starts at 8:30. Every morning at Advanced Textiles Expo, classroom sessions give you focused, deep-dive education before the exhibits begin. Tuesday: Tension Fabric Engineering with Michael Sullaway. Plan your mornings wisely. Register now.