High School students of woodworking programs in Illinois and Nebraska took top honors in Castle USA’s 2022-23 “What’s Your Angle” student contest. Students of Reed-Custer High School of Braidwood, Ill., won the Class Entry category for a custom kitchen cabinet build. DJ Shaw, a student at Lincoln East High School of Lincoln, Neb., won the […]
According to a 2021 study conducted by Woodworking Network and the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, nearly three-quarters (73.8%) of participating woodworking representatives indicated it is “very challenging” to hire qualified workers for their manufacturing operations. What’s more, most (57.9%) said the challenge to find and hire good help is “much more challenging” than […]
The iconic Hotel Coronado was the scene of some spirited bidding during the 2023 Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC). A ukulele hand crafted by Jim Laster of Newman Machine Company fetched $3,010 to benefit WCA during the silent auction organized by the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America and the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association. Jim has not […]
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome the following new members and renewing sponsors. Thank you for your membership and support! New EDUcation™ Members Elkhorn Area High School – Elkhorn, WI Inclusive Pathways to Success – Vienna, VA Kelly Walsh High School – Casper, WY Kirtland Community College – Grayling, MI […]
After building Madison College’s Cabinetmaking & Millwork program into one of the most prestigious in the nation over the past two decades, Patrick Molzahn has stepped down and handed over the reins to one of his former “star” students. Lizzy Conley, who graduated with a technical diploma from Madison College in 2018, officially became program […]
LINCOLN, Neb. – Representatives of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) will tackle the woodworking industry’s skilled worker shortage from two different vantage points in conference sessions at the AWFS Fair, July 25-28 in Las Vegas. Bruce Spitz, member of the WCA Board of Directors, and Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, will […]
Woodworking instructors affiliated with Woodwork Career Alliance of North America institutions will share their knowledge and expertise in five of the seven education sessions slated for the Teacher Track at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas. The Teacher Track’s sessions cover a variety of topics including woodworking techniques, safety, and curriculum development. Here’s a quick […]
I hope 2023 is continuing to be a prosperous year for all. For WCA, 2023 is starting out with much of the same enthusiasm that we experienced last year when we enrolled a record 1,400 potential future employees in the WCA Passport Credentialing Program. We are once again on a record pace through the first […]
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome the following new members and renewing sponsors. Thank you for your membership and support! New EDUcation™ Members Gilbratar Secondary School – Fish Creek, WI Potosi High School – Potosi, WI Rochester High School – Rochester Hills, MI Southern Door County High School – Brussels, […]
The Wood Manufacturing Technology program at Fox Valley Technical Center (FVTC) in Oshkosh, Wis., has a rich 41-year tradition of graduating students ready to embark on successful careers. The nationally-recognized program also has a long affiliation with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America. Jerry Finch, who established FVTC’s woodworking program in 1982, was a […]