President’s Message: 2022 Was One for the Books!

2022 has been a record-breaking year for WCA!

We have entered over 1,400 candidates into the Passport credentialing program during this calendar year and have issued 955 credentials. We also have more than 60 candidates currently in the testing process.

While it has taken a while for the program to start having a meaningful effect on producing qualified candidates for our industry, the future is definitely showing promise. Not only are we issuing more Passports and credentials, we have also added more schools as EDUcation members and are pleased to see more high schools add woodworking programs to their curricula. As a great example, check out the story about West Henderson High School’s woodworking program in this issue of Pathways.

Duane Griffith

I am very saddened that WCA will be losing one of our founding board members to retirement at the end of this year. Duane Griffith has been with us since the beginning and was a strong supporter and contributor to the development of the WCA Woodwork Manufacturing Skill Standards. Duane will become our newest Board of Director Emeritus and he will always be “Mr. Education” to me! The entire WCA Board wishes Duane nothing but the best.

IWF was a great success for WCA! With the support or the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association and Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers of America, IWF’s organizers, the Silent Auction raised over $2,900 and the volunteer registration donation raised more than $3,600. All of this money will be put in our Greg Heuer EDUcation Scholarship Fund to support woodworking students in the credentialing process, as well as provide funds to help qualifing woodworking instructors cover the cost of attending IWF or the AWFS Fair as part of their continuing education.

Finally, I would like to thank all of our industry supporters, including our Gold and Silver sponsors, whose financial contibutions help make it possible to continue developing new programs for schools and industry.

I hope everyone has a Wonderful Holiday Season.

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