President’s Message – Virtual Reality Demos, Silent Auction, WCA 4.0, ASE Training on WCA’s Busy AWFS Fair Agenda

This edition of Pathways is laden with news and features previewing the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s plans for the 2019 AWFS Fair taking place next week at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

For starters, we still have a limited number of slots open for our WCA Accredited Skill Evaluator (ACE) Trainings at the show. The three-hour trainings will take place at our Booth #10268 during the following dates and times:

Wednesday, July 17
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 18
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, July 19
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 20
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

You may register by contacting me at snelsonwca@gmail.com. WCA and AWFS are partnering to offer a SHOW SPECIAL PRICE of $150 per evaluator, which is a savings of $100. Remember this also includes a one-year subscription to WCA for your school or company.

WCA is also involved with three free workshops during the show. Patrick Molzahn, director of Cabinetmaking at Madison College and author of Modern Cabinetmaking, will present: “WCA – What’s in It for Me?” 1:30pm-3:00pm Wednesday, July 17 and “Finding, Training & Retaining Workers,” 11:30am–1:00pm Thursday, July 18. Patrick and I will co-present “Building a Training Program for Your Workers,” 3:30pm-5:00pm Friday, July 19. Check out the conference schedule on awfsfair.org to learn more details and to register.

Please stop by our booth and try your hand at the Mimbus virtual reality simulators. The Wood-Ed Table is a four-in-one system that can be used to teach students and novices how to operate basic woodworking machinery in a safe, dust-free environment. Visitors to WCA’s booth will have an opportunity to don a VR headset and try out one of the Wood-Ed Table’s four woodworking machinery simulation modules: bandsaw, ripsaw, jointer or shaper. 

Simspray is a virtual reality apparatus that replicates a spray booth allowing trainees to learn the fundamentals of applying a wood coating using a hand-held spray gun. Simspray not only eliminates the cost of finishing materials, it removes VOC emissions from spray operator training programs. Attendees will be able to test their spray skills virtually finishing wood parts.  Virtual reality is a tremendous tool for instructing students and new employees on the safe operation of equipment used in our industry.

WCA will be introducing our new pilot program WCA 4.0, focused on training and accrediting machine operators who work in cell-based manufacturing environments.  The WCA invites owners and managers of wood manufacturing companies to engage in face-to-face discussion about how WCA 4.0 can help them develop a skilled and stable workforce.

Thanks a bunch, to AWFS and Expo Auctions for organizing a special silent auction to benefit the WCA. Net proceeds of this fun event will allow WCA to further its workforce development and industry outreach programs. More than 80 sports and entertainment collectables, excursions and mother items are available now for online bidding. Even if you are not attending the show, you can still join the auction online and support the WCA!

Lastly, I am very happy to share that the WCA credentialed over 280 candidates this spring and our membership continues to grow on all fronts: Education™, Manufacturing™ and Industry supporters. If you’re going to the show, be sure to visit us at booth #10268. Let’s discuss how we can work together to develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce.

Scott Nelson
President
Woodwork Career Alliance of North America
snelsonwca@gmail.com