Scott Nelson president woodwork career alliance

President’s Message: WCA’s Online Training Courses Now Available

I am pleased to report that the WCA recently launched a series of online training courses designed to provide a foundational understanding of woodworking for new employees. This new initiative aims to help wood manufacturing companies overcome the challenges of in-house training and accelerate their new hires’ productivity. The courses might also be of benefit to current employees.

The currently available modules include:

  • WCA Overview: Introduces the WCA’s mission, skill standards, and credentialing process.
  • Math, Measuring and Layout: Covers workshop-related math, including fractional math, and fundamental measuring and layout techniques.
  • Wood Theory: Takes a deep dive into the properties of wood, wood movement, and lumber measurement.
  • Milling and Machining: Teaches basic milling and machining operations, including how to mill a board “4 Square” using standard equipment.
  • Woodworking Fundamentals: Explores panel products, adhesives, fasteners, joinery, and cabinet construction.

The courses are available free of charge to employees of companies with a current WCA MANufacturing™ Membership and to students at schools with an EDUcation™ Membership.

*****

Ten woodworking teachers attended the AWFS Fair, July 22-25 in Las Vegas with the support of scholarship money from the WCA.

Each of the teachers told us that the education they received from the classes they attended, and the time spent visiting with exhibitors on the show floor was an invaluable experience. They all appreciated the ability to gain continued education through seeing what is new and exciting in our secondary processing industry.

Thanks to the continued support of our GOLD and SILVER Sponsors, WCA is able to continue to offer our EDUcation members the opportunities to participate in our industry’s most important tradeshows.

*****

WCA’s overhaul of the Passport Program Registry is approximately 50% complete and is right on schedule. We will be preparing new training material for educators so they will be able to understand how it operates and start using it during the Spring 2026 semester. Look for an update in the next Pathways newsletter.

*****

Last but not least, a big shout out to Jon Cerio, ACE Academy Instructor at Gov. John R. Rogers High School in Puyallup, Washington. Jon was just honored with the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (HFTS) Prize for Teaching Excellence. He is the third WCA EDUcation teacher to win this prestigious award in the last four years.

Congratulations, Jon!

Sincerely,

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

Welcome New Members & Sponsors!

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™ Member
Coe-Brown Northwood Academy – Northwood, NH

New MANufacturing™ Members:
The Scobis Company – Chesterfield, MO
UDI – Rogers, AR

INDustry™ Gold Sponsor Renewals

Grizzly Industrial — Bellingham, WA
KCD Software – Catamunet, MA
Kreg Tool
– Ankeny, IA

New INDustry™ Silver Sponsors
C.R. Osnrud — Troutman, NC
Crows Nest Software – Olympia, WA
Dodds, Wyoming, MI
Safety Speed Manufacturing – Ham Lake, MN

INDustry™ Silver Sponsor Renewal
GDP-GUHDO
— Marietta, GA

View all WCA INDustry™ Sponsors & Supporters.

 

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a WCA sponsor.

WCA EDUcation Instructor Jon Cerio Wins Harbor Freight Teacher Excellence Prize

Richard Lasso, Superintendent, left; Maija Delaquin Executive Director Innovation and College/Career Readiness; Jon Cerio ACE Academy Instructor; and Jason Smith, Rogers High School Principal celebrate Cerio’s Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teacher Excellence award.

Cerio is the third Woodwork Career Alliance Educator in four years to be honored in Harbor Freight Tools for Schools annual awards program.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Jon Cerio, ACE Academy Instructor at Gov. John R. Rogers High School in Puyallup, Washington, was honored with the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (HFTS) Prize for Teaching Excellence.

Cerio, a long-time EDUcation member and accredited skill evaluator of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), was among 25 high school skilled trades educators to be recognized in Harbor Freight Tools for Schools’ annual awards program. As a result, the RHS Trades program earned a $35,000 prize and an additional $15,000 went to Cerio.

Cerio is the third instructor from a WCA EDUcation school to win the prestigious award in the past four years, joining Staci Sievert of Seymour High School, Seymour, Wisconsin, and John Stearns of Amity High School, Amity, Oregon, who won the award in 2021 and 2024 respectively.

In announcing this year’s winners, HFTS emphasized Cerio’s focus on teaching “real-world application of hands-on trades skills. Whether students are college-bound, non-traditional, AP kids seeking diversification, or struggling with core classes, Cerio aims to build their confidence, problem-solving abilities, and work ethic.”

In addition, HFTS recognized Cerio in several “notes of excellence,” including:

  • Maintaining a database of his former students since 2014 in which he keeps track of their employers, job titles, and contact info so he can connect current students with alumni for mentorship, advice, and real-world opportunities.
  • Students who complete all three years of Cerio’s program can earn up to 22.5 college credits through articulation agreements, giving them a major advantage after graduation.
  • Female enrollment in Cerio’s program increased from 1 percent to 10 percent after he piloted an “All Girls Shop” course to introduce the trades to young women in a comfortable, empowering space.

“Winning the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize shines a spotlight on shop class, reminding our students and community that it’s not only still here, but thriving,” Cerio said. “This recognition helps make shop visible again, highlighting its relevance and the value of industry-recognized skills as we build toward an even bigger future.”

“We are thrilled to see Jon Cerio honored by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. Jon is an outstanding example of how WCA-accredited instructors are using our standards to connect high-school students with real-world industry needs and career pathways,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “To have three WCA EDUcation members win this prestigious prize in four years validates the importance of teaching verifiable, industry-recognized skills in the classroom.”

Cerio and Rogers High School were among 25 instructors and their programs to share in $1.5 million awarded by HFTS this year. Now in its ninth year, the prize was created to recognize excellence among high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators HFTS notes, “are frequently overlooked and underappreciated.” More than $10 million has been awarded to more than 180 teachers and their programs through the prize.

About Harbor Freight Tools for Schools
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is a program of The Smidt Foundation, established by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt, to advance excellent skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. With a deep respect for the dignity of these fields and for the intelligence and creativity of people who work with their hands, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools aims to drive a greater understanding of and investment in skilled trades education, believing that access to quality skilled trades education gives high school students pathways to graduation, opportunity, good jobs and a workforce our country needs. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program. For more information, visit hftforschools.org

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 2007. 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 over 240 woodworking machine operations. The WCA has issued over 6,000 Passport credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting woodworking skill achievements. Over 140 high schools and post-secondary schools across North America are WCA EDUcation™ members, and a growing number of woodworking companies have joined as WCA MANufacturing™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved, including INDustry™ Sponsorship opportunities, visit woodworkcareer.org.

How Avery Pipkin’s Woodworking Program is Crafting Career-Ready Students

Using the Woodwork Career Alliance’s credentialing program helps guide students from basics to advanced skills.

 

Cedar Ridge High School Students earn Green woodworking credential from Woodwork Career Alliance

Joshua Scism and Tyson Oswald, students at Cedar Ridge High School, display their Green credentials awarded by Scott Nelson, president of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, left. Joining in the ceremony is Avery Pipkin, woodworking instructor at Cedar Ridge High School.

At Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, the woodshop is a serious career and technical education (CTE) program where students have the opportunity to become industry-ready woodworkers.

At the helm is Avery Pipkin, a teacher whose own journey is deeply rooted in learning woodworking at Montgomery Central High School under Dan Kern, a chief skill evaluator for the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA). Pipkin double-downed on his love for high school woodworking by pursuing two years of furniture design followed by two years of industrial arts teaching at Appalachian State.

Pipkin’s desire to improve his woodworking skills is further evidenced by his association with the WCA. As a high schooler, he was the first in Montgomery County to earn his WCA Sawblade credential. He has subsequently upped his game by earning his Green then Blue credentials. He currently has his sights on the WCA’s Red credential.

Now as a teacher and a WCA accredited skill evaluator, Pipkin is helping his students earn WCA credentials. Using the WCA Skill Standards and credentialing system as the foundation of his high-performing program, Pipkin doesn’t just teach projects. He teaches industry-validated processes. The WCA framework provides a cohesive structure that guides students through the practical skills demanded by modern woodshops.

“The skill standards cover the basic woodworking operations,” Pipkin explains. Students are expected to master the entire milling process on a board, moving sequentially from the radial arm saw to the planer, jointer, table saw, and miter saw. “Every project that I plan, I try to think about WCA standards that I can talk about throughout the project.”

This progressive, standards-based approach is tied directly to a hierarchy of professional credentials, starting with the Sawblade Certificate and advancing to the Core and Green credentials.

A Hot Commodity
Pipkin’s classes are a hot commodity at Cedar Ridge High School. His Woodworking 1 class, which holds 20 students, is offered three times a year, generating 60 total spots. An astounding 500 students typically compete for those few openings.

Woodworking 1 students start with the basics, culminating in the construction of a small toolbox—a project requiring them to use different joinery techniques like biscuits and pocket screws, and master fundamental tool use like pre-drilling and countersinking.

The WCA Sawblade Certificate is the goal of Woodworking 2, where students build a Shaker table. Pipkin notes this is often the hardest credential to attain, as it requires mastering prerequisites like accurate tape measure reading and maintaining the correct feed rate on the table saw without causing “burn marks.”

Furniture 3 focuses on complex case goods, like nightstands with doors and drawers, allowing students to earn their WCA Core Credential.

In Advanced Studies, students can achieve the WCA Green Credential, the first full credential that validates a broad depth of experience on core tools.

Pipkin proudly displays his own WCA credentials in his office, creating a visual goal for his students. He stresses that these credentials are a “resume builder” that sets students apart.

“These credentials show an employer that the student knows how to do all of these important operations,” he says. Regarding students who’ve earned the Green credential, Pipkin says, “I would feel confident right now putting them in a woodshop and letting them work. They can read a set of plans and they can build a project. Those are the skills typically included in a job description.”

From Woodshop to Winners’ Circle
Pipkin’s standards-based curriculum serves as the launchpad for exceptional competitive success, particularly in SkillsUSA and the AWFS Freshwood student design competition. The WCA Sawblade Certificate is a de facto prerequisite for students competing in the advanced Cabinetmaking contest.

Joshua Scism represented the state of North Carolina in the 2025 SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking Competition held in Atlanta.

The Cedar Ridge program’s recent achievements are nothing short of phenomenal:

  • State SkillsUSA Sweep: At the 2025 North Carolina SkillsUSA State Conference, Cedar Ridge students dominated the Cabinet Making categories. Joshua Scism earned the Gold Medal in Cabinet Making, and Tyson Oswald took the Silver Medal. Scism went on to represent the state at the SkillsUSA National Cabinetmaking Competition in Atlanta. At the introductory level, the team also saw great success, with Ava Smith winning Silver and Mason Pierce taking Bronze in Cabinet Making 1.
  • National Recognition: Both Scism and Oswald were finalists in the AWFS Freshwood student design competition and were awarded their WCA Green Credentials at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas—a huge validation of their high-level skills.
  • Broader Success: Beyond woodworking, Cedar Ridge students have excelled in contests like Castle What’s Your Angle?, in which Thomas Matthews was crowned champion and Smith earned honorable mention.

Pipkin, who also serves as a SkillsUSA advisor, draws extra motivation from his own competitive history. Three times he says he competed and lost to students taught by his predecessor “the legendary” Keith Yow in state SkillsUSA competition. Now, he is proud to build on Yow’s legacy. His program’s perennial placement at the top of the state competition, including Scism’s representing North Carolina in the SkillsUSA national championships this year, is a testament to the comprehensive preparation his students receive.

Fostering Community and the Next Generation
Pipkin understands that a successful CTE program requires more than just a great curriculum—it needs a supportive community. He actively invites school board members, superintendents, and county media to contests, which has resulted in great support for the program and positive local press. His efforts paid off big time.

“I’ve gotten a lot of support from the school board and a nice story about my program was in the county newspaper. I’ve had more people asking how they can support my program.

“So far, my favorite thing, is seeing the success of all my students. It really means a lot when parents come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for providing this opportunity for my kid and stuff like that.”

Lincoln East HS Students Take First and Honorable Mention in Fresh Wood Contest

Tension & Flow by Ky Frederick Crossroad Coffee Table by Tyler Harris

Ky Frederick, a student at Lincoln East High School, won first place for “Tension & Flow” in the Design for Production category of the Freshwood student design and build competition at the 2025 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Tyler Harris, also of Lincoln East High School, earned an honorable mention for his “Crossroads Coffee Table.”

For their efforts, Frederick earned $1,000; Harris was awarded $250.

Lincoln East High School, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an EDUcation member of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America.

Fresh Wood, created and hosted by AWFS Fair since 1999, brings together high school and post-secondary students from woodworking programs across North America to compete in several categories. Finalists’ pieces were displayed at show.

This year’s Fresh Wood competition was sponsored by KCD Software, a Gold sponsor of the WCA.

View all 2025 Fresh Wood winning projects.

Access Training Materials from WCA’s participation at AWFS 2025 for Free

We’re pleased to make some of the informational materials from educational sessions at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas available for download.

For a limited time, you can access these documents without a Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) membership. We encourage you to take advantage of this now, as access may be restricted to WCA members in the future.

Available Informational Materials:

  • Building a Training Program for Your Shop: The PowerPoint presentation used by WCA President Scott Nelson and WCA Board member Bruce Spitz for their highly rated AWFS workshop.
  • Cabinetmaking Fundamentals & Skill Development: A comprehensive, detailed outline for creating a structured training program in your shop. It’s designed to be modular, progressive, and competency-based, making it easy to tailor to your specific needs.
  • WCA Skill Standards: Get a closer look at the foundation of our training philosophy with several WCA Skill Standards, including Measurement and Layout, Sawing, Milling, and Boring.

Access the downloads.

Woodwork Career Alliance Launches Online Courses to Address In-house Training Challenges

These courses are designed for new woodworkers but also contain valuable information for more experienced employees.

 

LINCOLN, Neb.—The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) announces the launch of a new series of online training courses designed to provide a foundational understanding of woodworking for new employees. The initiative aims to help wood manufacturing companies overcome the challenges of in-house training and accelerate new hires’ productivity.

Finding and training new employees with little to no prior woodworking experience can be a significant challenge for companies. In-house training often requires a skilled staff member to dedicate time away from their core work, a process that can be both expensive and inefficient. New employees may struggle to grasp complex on-the-job instructions without a solid grasp of fundamental concepts and industry vocabulary. This knowledge gap can lead to frustration and slow progress, impacting a company’s bottom line.

The WCA’s new online training modules are specifically designed to bridge this gap. The courses provide essential background knowledge in a comprehensive, structured online format. This allows new employees to study at home or on company time, review material as often as they need, and learn at their own pace.

“We believe these courses will allow your employees to become productive much faster and with a more in-depth understanding of fundamental woodworking principles than they would otherwise,” said Greg Larson, vice president of the WCA.

WCA Online Training Modules

 

The new online curriculum currently includes five courses:

  • WCA Overview: Introduces the WCA’s mission, skill standards, and credentialing process.
  • Math, Measuring and Layout: Covers workshop-related math, including fractional math, and fundamental measuring and layout techniques.
  • Wood Theory: A deep dive into the properties of wood, wood movement, and lumber measurement
  •  Milling and Machining: Teaches basic milling and machining operations, including how to mill a board “4 Square” using standard equipment.
  • Woodworking Fundamentals: Explores panel products, adhesives, fasteners, joinery, and cabinet construction.

These courses are designed for new woodworkers but also contain valuable information for more experienced employees. Upon completing the modules, trainees will be prepared to pursue the WCA’s Core credential, the first step on the path to becoming a certified woodworking professional.

The courses are available free of charge to employees of companies with a current WCA MANufacturing™ Membership and to students at schools with an EDUcation™ Membership. The WCA’s Manufacturing membership, priced at an annual fee of $250 per company, is a valuable investment for wood manufacturing firms looking to develop their workforce. By documenting employee skills, identifying training needs, and providing a clear career path, WCA membership helps companies reduce turnover and build a more knowledgeable and productive team.

For more information on the online training modules and how to implement them within your company, contact Greg Larson at info@woodworkcareer.org.

About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 2007. 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 over 240 woodworking machine operations. The WCA has issued over 6,000 Passport credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting woodworking skill achievements. Over 140 high schools and post-secondary schools across North America are WCA EDUcation™ members, and a growing number of woodworking companies have joined as WCA MANufacturing™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved, including INDustry™ Sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

Cabinet Makers Association

CMA Awards Scholarships to Four High School Woodworking Students

CMA 2025 Scholarship

CMA scholarship winner Holden Bowersock, left, with his nominator Jeremy Bowersock.

The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) announced the recipients of its 2025 Scholarship Program, an initiative designed to support the next generation of woodworking professionals. Each recipient received $1,000 to further their endeavors in woodworking, cabinetry, or related skilled trades.

This year’s scholarship recipients are:

  • Austin Alexander – Iberia High School (Nominated by Mikey Patro, M.R. Patro & Sons Cabinetry & Millwork)
  • Holden Bowersock – Wapakoneta High School (Nominated by Jeremy Bowersock, Old West Woods)
  • Gurdeep Singh – Portage Northern School (Nominated by Hans Parker, Board Foot Co.)
  • Logan Torrent – Grand Rapids High School (Nominated by Randy Niewind, Randy’s Cabinets and Woodworks)

“These students exemplify the talent and passion we need in our industry,” said Amanda Conger, Executive Director of the CMA. “We are honored to play a role in supporting their future careers.”

The CMA Scholarship Fund is made possible through generous contributions from member companies, industry partners, and individuals who believe in strengthening the woodworking workforce. Donations are accepted year-round, and every dollar goes directly to student scholarships.

Support the 2026 Scholarship Program
To help us continue making a difference, visit cabinetmakers.org/cma-scholarship-fund to contribute. Your support empowers the next generation of craftsmen and women who will carry our industry forward.

For more information about the scholarship program or to learn how you can get involved, please contact Amanda Conger at director@cabinetmakers.org.

Bobby Miller, Coon Rapids High School woodworking instructor

Bobby Miller Joins National Woods Board


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. —
The National Woods Board (NWB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Bobby Miller to its Board of Directors. Miller, a dedicated woodshop teacher with a decade of experience in woodworking education, brings a strong focus on student-centric, project-based learning to the NWB’s leadership.

Miller, a woodshop teacher at Coon Rapids High School of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, has spent the last 10 years inspiring the next generation of woodworkers and craftspeople. An EDUcation member of the Woodwork Career Alliance, Miller’s teaching philosophy emphasizes hands-on experience, allowing students to learn essential skills by creating tangible projects.

“I am honored to join the National Woods Board and contribute to an organization that shares my passion for the craft,” said Miller. “I look forward to joining in to the NWB’s work in promoting and preserving the art of woodworking.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Bobby Miller to our Board of Directors,” said John LeTorneau, chairman of the NWB. “His extensive experience in the classroom aligns perfectly with our mission to support and advance the woodworking community.”
The NWB is a non-profit organization tackling the workforce challenge head-on with a groundbreaking initiative to transform woodworking education and connect skilled workers with industry employers.

The NWB is developing a national solution for workforce training, education, and job placement in the woodworking industry. The organization’s key initiative is a scalable curriculum model designed for high schools and post-secondary institutions across North America. This curriculum, developed in partnership with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), provides students with standardized training, industry-recognized credentials and awareness of woodworking career opportunities.

About the National Woods Board
The National Woods Board (NWB) was inspired by the MiLL National Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which teaches woodworking students everything from fundamentals to advanced production using high-tech machinery. Ultimately, the vision of the NWB is to bridge the gap between education and the trades by creating advanced career opportunities that fulfill the industry’s massive workforce needs. Learn more about the NWB’s program and how to get involved with supporting its vital mission at NationalWoodsBoard.org.

 

Two Cedar Ridge High School Students Receive WCA Green Credential

Cedar Ridge High School students receive WCA Green Credential

 Joshua Scism and Tyson Oswald, students at Cedar Ridge High School, display their Green credentials awarded by Scott Nelson, president of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, left. Joining in the ceremony is Avery Pipkin, woodworking instructor at Cedar Ridge High School.

Tyson Oswald and Joshua Scism, students of Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsboro, NC, were each awarded their Green credential at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas.

Green is the first full credential in the WCA’s credentialling program. It signifies that each of the students has accrued a minimum amount of depth and breadth of experience on core woodworking tools and techniques.

Oswald and Scism attended the AWFS Fair with their woodworking instructor, Avery Pipkin. Both students were finalists in the AWFS Freshwood student design competition.

In what was a banner year for the students, Scism won the Gold Medal in Cabinet Making and Oswald placed second in the North Carolina SkillsUSA competition. Scism went on to represent the state in the SkillsUSA National Cabinet Making Competition held in Atlanta.