05 Jun Juan Carlos Muñoz Melero, AREMA 2024 annual award in acknowledgment of his legacy and professional achievements

Juan Carlos Muñoz Melero has been unanimously awarded the AREMA 2024 annual prize, which was bestowed on Thursday, May 30th at 10:30 am during the 62nd edition of the Yecla Furniture Fair.

This year, this title holds a particular significance.

Sadly, it has been granted posthumously. Despite being informed of the award during his lifetime, Muñoz Melero passed away last February at the age of 59.  

Since 2007, the Regional Association of Wood Entrepreneurs, AREMA, has been acknowledging the work and accomplishments of people, institutions and organisations involved in the industry through this award.

Therefore, in the year 2024, the recipient must undoubtedly be Muñoz Melero, a seasoned professional from Yecla who has dedicated over 30 years of remarkable service to our industry on a national level.

This report is dedicated to his memory.

A life dedicated to furniture making and woodworking

A native of Yecla, where he was born, Juan Carlos Muñoz was currently holding several important roles in this field.   

Besides being a member of the executive of AREMA, he was the president of ANIEME, the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers and Exporters of Spain, since 2006; an institution in which he had previously held the positions of member, treasurer and vice-president.

Through this organisation, and on an individual level, Juan Carlos Muñoz was a true ambassador for Yecla and its industry.

An industry he knew well, since he belonged to the second generation of the local company Tecni Nova S.L., to which he was closely associated since its creation in 1985, and where he applied his approach to this sector: dynamism, optimism and a great international outlook.

Honorary Member of CETEM after 20 years as president

Throughout his career, Juan Carlos Muñoz was also deeply involved with CETEM, the Technological Centre for Furniture and Wood Technology of the Region of Murcia.

Muñoz was the founder of this organisation, actively taking part in all of its executive boards, and was its president for two decades.      

As president, he stood out for his dedication and involvement in any associative activity related to this field, as well as for his innovative approach.

The latter was key to his recognition by CETEM as Honorary Member at the meeting held on February 23rd, during which Pedro Arcas was chosen to succeed him in his position.

A heartfelt homage

This time, the AREMA award took place in an exceptional location, as it was hosted outside the FMY fairgrounds, in the Plaza del Industrial del Mueble (Furniture Industrialist’s Square).  

This is where the foundation, so closely linked to the figure of Muñoz Melero, paid a heartfelt homage on February 20th, a few days after his passing, by planting a tree as a symbol of the entire wood sector. 

During the ceremony, which was already mentioned, a monolith was also unveiled to commemorate the figure of the industrialist from Yecla.

It was an emotive day attended by the widow and relatives of Juan Carlos Muñoz, as well as the general secretary of AREMA, Patricia Cuadrillero; its president, José Antonio Ortega; the president of our Executive Committee and mayoress of Yecla, Remedios Lajara; our director, Juan Miguel Zornoza;  CETEM’s director and president, José Francisco Puche and Pedro Arcas; Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia Chairman Joaquín Gómez; the president of the Federation of Habitat Spain, José Ramón Revert; and a large group of representatives of companies, associations and institutions within this industry.

Here we share some photos of the ceremony. 

WINNERS OF THE AREMA ANNUAL AWARD SINCE ITS FIRST EDITION:

Through this distinction, the figure of Juan Carlos Muñoz now forms part of a family, that of the AREMA Annual Award, which has not ceased to grow since 2007, when this award was bestowed for the first time.

Below, you can check a list of all those people, companies or institutions that have been awarded since then:

2007 – Carmen Ortín. Journalist

2008 – María Dolores Martínez. Head of training at CETEM.

2009 – María Jesús Sierra. 40 years working in the furniture sector.

2010 – Magdalena Ibáñez. Entrepreneur of Muebles Framan. Award for her retirement.

2011 – Marian Román. Sales representative in the furniture sector.

2012 – María Santa Ibáñez. Businesswoman supplier of the furniture sector (Navarro Azorín).

2013 – José Miguel Borrachero. General Secretary of AREMA for 36 years.

2014 – Tapicerías Navarro. Award for its 50 years of career.

2015 – Muebles Lino. Award for its 75 years of career.

2016 – Javier Celdrán. Award for his commitment to the industry from different roles.

2017 – General Council of Associations of Commercial Agents of Spain. Tribute award.

2018 – Verdú Ferretería Industrial. Award for its 125 years of business.      

2019 – CETEM Technological Centre of Furniture and Wood of the Region of Murcia

2020 – Workers who made masks and PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2021 – José María Albarracín. President of CROEM Business Confederation of the Region of Murcia.

2022 – INFO Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia.

2023 – CODID-RM Official College of Interior Designers and Decorators of the Region of Murcia.

2024 – Juan Carlos Muñoz Melero. Award for his memory and career in the field.