President’s Message – Passport Credentialing Program Going Gangbusters

WCA is truly experiencing a breakout year for new candidates entering our Passport credentialing program!

As of early May, we have issued Passports to over 750 new candidates. In addition, we have already awarded 336 credentials to students and professional woodworkers.

I believe the video we produced with AWFS and AWI last year has really helped our industry attract young people into the woodworking profession and made parents aware of all the viable careers in the secondary wood processing industry.

Speaking of young woodworkers, the SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking competition is just around the corner. It will be held June 20-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. The AWI and WCA are among the proud partners of this annual event. If you have a chance to attend, so so. I guarantee that you will be totally amazed by the skills demonstrated by students of all levels.

Speaking of the Georgia World Congress Center, IWF 2022 is just around the corner. WCA Board Member Bruce Spitz and I will present a three-hour nuts-and-bolts workshop focused on helping woodworking companies develop in-house training programs.

The session, “Building a Training Program for Your Workers,” will be led by Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, and Bruce Spitz, former owner of Classic Millwork & Products and a member of the WCA Board of Directors. It is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Aug. 25 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

We’ll also be on hand at the WCA’s booth #10946. Stop by and learn more about our nationally-recognized Passport credentialing system, Woodworking Skill Standards, and opportunities to help us develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce.

I hope to see you there!

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