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Our History

Introduction

The Association of Professional Model Makers is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization established in 1993. It was chartered with the mission to serve as a forum for exchanging information and ideas, as well as pool talent and resources for the benefit of the industry as a whole. The APMM was founded on the idea that model making is a vital and integral part of the design and product development process. It seeks to enhance communication between the industries that use prototypes and models and the professionals who make them, promote professional recognition and support the advancement of model making tools and technologies.

The “Napkin Sketch”

In early 1993, a group of Silicon Valley, California model makers decided it would be a great thing to hold a conference to discuss and measure the impact technology was going to have on the model making industry as the 21st century approached. These specialists felt that if the garage-based, one man shops didn't learn about the breakthroughs being made in Computer Aided Design (CAD), Computer Aided Machining (CAM), CNC and Rapid Prototyping techniques, then they would be left behind, and eventually put out of business. Kelly Hand and Robert Novack (Satellite Models), Wendy Sommers, Jeff Hoefer and Tom Jacobson, among others, began planning the first-ever model maker’s conference, with the theme "The Future of Model Making", to take place in October 1993.

The initial problem was to determine how many model makers there were around the country (and the world). Nobody really had any idea of how to do this, and with the internet in its infancy, researching meant heading to the local library to look in the Yellow Pages for various cities. After endless hours of brainstorming and searching, the effort paid off. The organizers were amazed that there were so many people who could identify with the term Model Maker. Kelly and the others, in speaking with these individuals, found that a real interest existed in having a forum where model makers could get together and share ideas with others in the same line of work.

Intense preparation was begun by a small group of people, making phone calls, reserving a conference center, and inviting presenters and speakers. This gathering was truly an extraordinary undertaking for people who were not in the business of running conferences! The head of Apple Computer’s prototyping department, along with people from IDEO and Lunar Design would speak at the event. CNN, the world-wide news channel, planned to send a journalist and camera crew to cover the proceedings.


Developing the Concept

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1993 – San Francisco, CA “The Future of Model Making”
1993 – San Francisco, CA “The Future of Model Making”
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1994 – San Francisco, CA “Model Making in Every Dimension”
1994 – San Francisco, CA “Model Making in Every Dimension”
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1995 – Milwaukee, WI “From Art to Part”
1995 – Milwaukee, WI “From Art to Part”
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1996 – Boston, MA
1996 – Boston, MA
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1997 – Redondo Beach, CA “FX: Behind the Scenes”
1997 – Redondo Beach, CA “FX: Behind the Scenes”
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1997 – Chicago, IL “Bridge Tooling: Rapid Prototyping to Rapid Tooling”
1997 – Chicago, IL “Bridge Tooling: Rapid Prototyping to Rapid Tooling”
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11998 – Austin, TX
1998 – Austin, TX
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1998 – Seattle, WA
1998 – Seattle, WA
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1999 - Grand Rapids, MI “Model Making – A Vision of the Future”
1999 - Grand Rapids, MI “Model Making – A Vision of the Future”
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2000 – Cincinnati, OH “Tradition & Technology – Model Making in the Digital Age”
2000 – Cincinnati, OH “Tradition & Technology – Model Making in the Digital Age”
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12001 – Pasadena, CA “Model Making Essentials for 2001 & Beyond”
2001 – Pasadena, CA “Model Making Essentials for 2001 & Beyond”
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2002 – Silver Spring, MD “Elements for Success”
2002 – Silver Spring, MD “Elements for Success”
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2003 – Costa Mesa, CA “Solutions for Scary Business: Model Making Tricks & Treats”
2003 – Costa Mesa, CA “Solutions for Scary Business: Model Making Tricks & Treats”
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2004 – Naperville, IL “Modeling Synergy: Concept to Object”
2004 – Naperville, IL “Modeling Synergy: Concept to Object”
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2006 – Orlando, FL “Innovate: Fabricate”
2006 – Orlando, FL “Innovate: Fabricate”
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2008 – Portland, OR “RETHINK Model Making for the Future of Our Planet”
2008 – Portland, OR “RETHINK Model Making for the Future of Our Planet”
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2010 - Boston, MA "Revolutions in Model Making"
2010 - Boston, MA "Revolutions in Model Making"
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2012 - Kansas City, MO "Growth & Opportunity"
2012 - Kansas City, MO "Growth & Opportunity"
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2014 - San Jose, CA "We Know the Way"
2014 - San Jose, CA "We Know the Way"
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2016 - Greenville, SC "Collaboration in Model Making"
2016 - Greenville, SC "Collaboration in Model Making"
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2018 - Grand Rapids, MI "Prototyping the Future"
2018 - Grand Rapids, MI "Prototyping the Future"
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2020 - Seattle, WA - Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020 - Seattle, WA - Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
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2021 - Virtual Conference
2021 - Virtual Conference
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2022 - Virtual Conference
2022 - Virtual Conference
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2023 - Dayton, OH "Ideas Take Flight"
2023 - Dayton, OH "Ideas Take Flight"
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2024 - Virtual Conference
2024 - Virtual Conference


Looking into the Future

The APMM exists for, and because of, its members. Members can ensure that the APMM stays alive and remains strong by volunteering for one of the Board positions and committee roles when they become available (two-year terms), by offering input for improving services and benefits, by renewing their membership, and by contributing questions, answers, and interesting posts to the Forum.



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Association of Professional Model Makers (APMM)
P.O. Box 3581
Olathe, KS 66063
info@modelmakers.org