IWF Auction Supports Developing the Next Generation of Woodworkers

Dozens of items including sligned collectables, get-away packages and much more will be displayed at IWF booth C2123.

Net proceeds from the special event will help fund woodworking skills development programs offered by the Woodwork Career Alliance to students and professionals.

ATLANTA – Early bidding is open for an online silent auction benefiting the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA). The auction will culminate with a live showing and final bidding of the lot items at the International Woodworking Fair (IWF). Net proceeds of each winning bid will help support WCA programs geared to develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce in the United States and Canada.

A helmet signed by Patrick Maholmes is among the bid items that will support the Woodwork Career Alliance.

The digital auction will feature dozens of bid items spanning autographed collectibles, framed sports and entertainment memorabilia, fun-filled travel packages, jewelry, and much more. Among the auction items that will be displayed at booth C2123 include:

• Tom Brady signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet;
• Patrick Mahomes signed Kansas City Chiefs helmet;
• More full-size helmets signed by Dan Marino, Alvin Kamara, Tyreeq Hill, Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Davis, and many more;
• John Smoltz and Tom Glavine signed baseball;
• Bo Jackson signed baseball bat;
•  Mick Jagger signed guitar;
• Framed collectables including University of Georgia National Championship collage, Atlanta Braves World Series Champtionship collage, William Shatner signed Star Trek, and many more;
• Tuscany (Italy) Luxury 7-Night Stay for 2;
• Mykonos (Greece) Escape 5-Night Villa Stay for 4;
• Plus, necklaces, pendants, bracelets, rings and more jewelry.

Join the Auction

The special fund-raising event to support the not-for-profit WCA is being presented through the collaboration of Expo Auctions of Sugar Hill, Ga., and IWF, North America’s largest industrial woodworking event. The show is owned by the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America (WMMA) and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA).

The WCA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing and growing a skilled woodworking workforce in the United States and Canada. The WCA works with high school and postsecondary woodworking programs, as well as the woodworking industry. The backbone of WCA programming is its Skill Standards and Passport credentialing program.

“It’s the generous support of tradeshows like IWF and our industry sponsors that have helped WCA continue to develop new programs to better serve educational institutions and the industry to train the next generation of skilled woodworkers,” said WCA President Scott Nelson. “Our ultimate goal is to highlight the industry’s advances and best practices to get people interested in woodworking, while also offering them a professional career path.”

Separate silent auctions will take place on each of the first three days of IWF, Tuesday, Aug. 23 through Thursday, Aug. 25. Show attendees and exhibitors will be able to view most of the auction items displayed on tables located at booth C2123 of Building C of the Georgia World Congress Center. In addition, auction items are now available for preview and early bidding online.

Expo Auctions’ mobile bidding platform allows bidders to participate from anywhere in the world using their smartphones. Individuals who are unable to attend this year’s show can still bid on items to support a good cause.

As Easy as 1, 2, 3
To participate in the silent auction and review all auction items:

1. Visit the official auction website expobid.co.
2. Register your mobile phone number, email, and name.
3. Submit your bid on the item or items of your choice.

A five-night stay for four at a villa in Mykonos, Greece, is on the auction block.

Note: Five selected bid items will close each day at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, and Wednesday, Aug. 24. All remaining items will close at 4 p.m. EST on Thursday, Aug. 25. Text notifications will be sent to bid winners at the close of each day’s auction communicating payment options. All winning bids include free shipping within the continental U.S. Bid winners may also choose to pick up their items during designated hours at booth C2123.

Learn more about the WCA, its skill standards and credentialing programs at booth A10809 of Building A or visit woodworkcareer.org.

Join the Auction

About IWF
The International Woodworking Fair^® is North America’s largest woodworking technology and design trade show and conference and a top destination for the global woodworking sector. IWF delivers the latest solutions in architectural woodwork, cabinetry, flooring, furniture manufacturing, engineered products, doors, windows, machinery, tools, metals, plastics and more. IWF is where the woodworking business does business. For more information, visit iwfatlanta.com.

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors. The WCA’s mission is to develop and administer a unified set of Skill Standards for the wood products industry. Since 2011, WCA has developed observable and measurable performance standards and assessments for more than 300 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued over 4,000 Passport credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 150 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members and a growing number of woodworking companies have joined the WCA as MANufacturing™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.