Frontpage Article – Woodwork Career Alliance of North America

Industry veterans Waltman and LeBlanc join National Woods Board

June 2, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The National Woods Board (NWB) announced the addition of two woodworking industry icons to its leadership team: Stephan Waltman and Gary LeBlanc. Their appointments reinforce the NWB’s mission to modernize woodworking education and secure the industry’s future workforce.

Stephan Waltman

In a corresponding move, Joe Wadsworth, CEO of Custom Source Woodworking, has transitioned from the NWB Board of Directors to the NWB Advisory Board, maintaining his strategic support for the organization.

Waltman was elected to the NWB Board of Directors. A 35-year veteran of Stiles Machinery, he retired as VP of Sales & Marketing in 2017.

While at Stiles, Waltman was instrumental in helping launch the
Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab (MiLL) in Colorado Springs. The NWB has updated the MiLL’s unique woodworking curriculum by incorporating the Woodwork Career Alliance’s skill standards and credentialing program. The NWB curriculum is being rolled out throughout the United States to teach high school and postsecondary students skills that will prepare them for successful woodworking careers.

Gary LeBlanc

Since his retirement, Waltman has stayed active in all-things woodworking. That includes volunteering as a woodworking instructor at a veteran’s hospital and Next Step West Michigan, where he also serves on the advisory
board. Last year, Next Step participated in a pilot program using the NWB curriculum.

“I’m proud to have been involved with woodworking education my whole life and professional career,” Waltman said. “I’m honored to be on The National Woods Board as a way of continuing my interest in developing intentional career development in the woodworking industry.”

LeBlanc joins the new NWB Advisory Board. Currently the Organizational Development Manager for Richelieu Hardware, he brings nearly 50 years of experience, including former leadership roles at Grass America and LeBlanc Global Sourcing.

LeBlanc was pivotal in spearheading the cabinetmaking program that will debut this fall at Susquehanna Valley Technical Institute in Pennsylvania, He is actively working on a new one at the Davidson-Davie Community College in North Carolina.

“As a CTE graduate, I know the value of a trade education and am working to expand cabinetmaking classes at high schools and community colleges and to connect the industry to youth through support of organizations like SkillsUSA and the National Woods Board,” LeBlanc said. “In four short years, more than 20 percent of the population will be retired. The Baby Boomer cabinetmakers will be gone. Who replaces them? The shortage of cabinetmakers can be addressed in one school district at a time but not without the engagement of local woodworkers and their suppliers.”

“The National Woods Board is blessed to have industry stalwarts like Steve and Gary,” said John LeTorneau, NWB Chairman. “Their expertise and deep commitment to the future of the woodworking industry will accelerate our momentum as we establish the NWB curriculum as the gold standard for woodworking education in America.”

About the National Woods Board
The National Woods Board (NWB) is a non-profit organization focused on solving the woodworking industry’s skilled labor shortage by creating a national pipeline of trained workers, bridging the gap between high school education and careers, and replicating the successful models like the MiLL Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The NWB develops standardized, industry-relevant curricula for high schools and colleges, connecting students with career opportunities in advanced wood manufacturing. NWB integrates Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) skill standards and credentials into its curriculum to ensure students graduate with verifiable, job-ready skills. Learn more about the NWB’s programs and how to get involved with supporting its vital mission at NationalWoodsBoard.org.

Top 10 Tips for Accurate Woodworking

June 1, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

Accuracy in woodworking comes down to consistent habits and the right tools. Small errors — out-of-square equipment, imprecise layout lines, or over-reliance on a tape measure — accumulate and compromise finished results. Key fundamentals like understanding wood movement, using smarter measuring tools, and refining cutting technique all contribute to better-fitting parts. With a well-calibrated process, proven shop methods, and essential measuring aids, achieving precision becomes manageable for woodworkers at any skill level.

Read Woodcraft Supplies’ ‘Top 10 Tips for Accurate Woodworking“ to achieve greater success in any woodworking project.

Woodworking Network Podcast with John LeTorneau, Chairman of the National Woods Board

April 30, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

Will Sampson, editorial director of Woodworking Network, interviews John LeTourneau, chairman of the National Woods Board, in a wide-ranging discussion about the myth of the demise of wood products manufacturing.

The National Woods Board is a not-for-profit organization that is working with educational woodworking program and the woodworking industry to promote and assist with skills training. The Woodwork Career Alliance’s skill standards and credentialing programs are embedded in the curriculum offered by the NWB.

The podcast is sponsored by FDMC magazine.

Listen to the podcast.

Welcome New Members & Sponsors!

March 25, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

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
Kalkaska High School – Kalkaska, MI

INDustry™ Gold Sponsor Renewals
Blum – Statesville, NC
Cantek America – Blaine, WA
Friulmac USA – Hickory, NC
Franklin International – Columbus, OH
Maksiwa – Boca Raton, FL
Shaper Tools — San Francisco, CA
Titebond – Columbus, OH

INDustry™ Silver Sponsor Renewals
Black Bros. — Mendota, IL
IMA Schelling Group USA – Morrisville, NC
Super Thin Saws – Waterbury, VTtitebond.com

View all WCA INDustry™ Sponsors & Supporters.

Learn more about the benefits of becoming a WCA sponsor.

Scott Nelson president woodwork career alliance

President’s Message: 10,000 Passports Served!

March 25, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

I’m excited to share that the WCA achieved a giant milestone. In February, we entered our 10,000^th candidate into the Passport credentialing program! The candidate is attending Enka High School in Chandler, North Carolina. Enka High School is one of six schools using the WCA credentialing program in the Buncombe County School District. The other schools are AC Reynolds High School in Ashville, Charles D Owen High School in Black Mountain, Clyde A Erwin High School in Ashville, North Buncombe High School in Weaverville, and TC Roberson High School in Ashville.

To put the magnitude of this achievement in perspective, just consider that we had 5,000 candidates at the end of 2022. We have doubled the use of the WCA Passport credentialing program in the last 3 years. I would like to thank all our WCA teachers and administrators for their continued support of credentialing their students.

Brian Bond

Thank you, Brian!
One of the early Board of Directors of WCA retired at the end of 2025. Dr. Brian Bond, Professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, joined the board in 2009 and has been a guiding force through the development of the WCA Passport credentialing program and its continued growth. Brian served as Chairman of the Board from 2023 thru 2025. I would like to thank Brian for ALL of his dedication and leadership to WCA. His expertise will be missed!

WCA Teacher Scholarships to Attend IWF
WCA is offering 10 Teacher Scholarships for $850 each through the Greg Heuer EDU Scholarship Fund to help offset the costs to attend IWF 2026 this August in Atlanta. Applications are being accepted now through May 15. Learn more and apply.

WCA will be exhibiting at IWF 2026 Booth BC424.

In addition, we will be presenting two workshops:

Wednesday Aug 26 — 9:00AM–11:30AM
“Building & Executing an In-house Training Program for Your Workers”

Thursday August 27 — 1:00PM–2:00PM
“An Overview of the new WCA Online Employee Training Resources”

New Passport Credentialing Registry Update
WCA’s new registry for the administration of the Passport credentialing program is now in beta testing and this new streamlined registry should speed the process of recording hands-on evaluations and online testing results for our Educators. This new system is in the second portion of the beta testing and should be ready for release at the end of this school year.

As always, we thank the continued support of our GOLD & SILVER Sponsors!! These companies truly allow us to continue to develop our programs and accomplish our goal of developing and growing a trained woodworking workforce!

Hope everyone has an enjoyable Spring!

Sincerely,

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

Woodwork Career Alliance Celebrates 10,000th Passport

March 25, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

The cumulative number of Passport credentials issued by the WCA has more than doubled since 2022.

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) is proud to announce a major historic milestone: the issuance of its 10,000th Passport since the program’s inception in 2011.

The landmark Passport was awarded to a student at Enka High School in Chandler, North Carolina. Enka is one of six schools within the Buncombe County School District that is credentialing student proficiency based on the WCA Skill Standards.

The WCA has seen a major acceleration in its Passport credential system over the last few years. The total number of Passport holders in the WCA’s online registry has more than doubled since 2022. Similarly, the number of credentials awarded each year has grown dramatically. A total of 1,591 credentials were awarded in 2025 compared to 734 in 2022. During that same period the number of Core credentials skyrocketed: 462 awarded in 2025 versus 18 in 2022.

The Core credential—the second of seven levels in the WCA system—acts as the critical bridge between the entry-level Sawblade certificate and the beginning professional Green credential. The recent skyrocketing of Core awards indicates that students are increasingly committed to mastering the intermediate skills required for potential woodworking careers.

“Issuing our 10,000th Passport is more than just a number; it’s a testament to the growing momentum behind professional woodworking education,” said Scott Nelson, President of the WCA. “Our mission has always been to provide a clear, standardized path for the next generation. Seeing the surge in Core credentials proves that students aren’t just starting the journey—they are committing to the craft at a higher level.”

This expansion has been fueled by the WCA’s investment in its Assessed Skill Evaluator (ASE) online training platform. Launched in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the platform has made it more convenient for high school and postsecondary instructors to become certified evaluators, allowing them to administer the WCA credentialing program within their own classrooms.

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 10,000 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.

Woodcraft’s ‘Ultimate Guide to Table Saws’

March 23, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

Whether you’re hunting for the best fit for your high school woodshop or upgrading your pro shop, the table saw is the heart of your woodworking journey. This comprehensive guide from Woodcraft Supply breaks down everything from the portability of jobsite saws to the precision of cabinet models.

Learn about the anatomy of table saws, including the key external and essential parts. Plus, discover essential safety habits to prevent kickback and other injurty preventions.

Read the article.

Carving a New Path for High School Woodworking

March 23, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

Bobby Miller woodworking instructor Coon Rapids High School

Bobby Miller, left, lines up with students showing off their completed woodworking projects.

Bobby Miller is preparing his students at Coon Rapids High School for potential woodworking careers.

In the heart of Minnesota’s vibrant manufacturing corridor, Bobby Miller isn’t just teaching students how to cut wood; he’s handing them the keys to a career. As an instructor at Coon Rapids High School in suburban Minneapolis, Miller has transformed the traditional shop class into a sophisticated blend of old-world craftsmanship and cutting-edge CNC technology.

His energetic approach to mentoring the next generation earned him the Top Teacher Award from Fox 9 News last year. The honor underscores his commitment to bridging the gap between the classroom and the wood industry, ensuring his students are truly “workforce ready.”

In addition, by partnering with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) and the National Woods Board (NWB), Miller is proving that woodworking is far more than a hobby—it’s a high-reward professional path.

A Legacy of Craftsmanship
Miller’s woodworking journey began at home. “My dad is a woodworker; he built the kitchen cabinets in our house growing up,” Miller recalls. “He’s made my children countless trinkets, toys, and noisemakers. He’s always been a huge influence on me.”

That familial connection was reinforced in high school by an instructor who became a mentor. In a poetic twist, Miller eventually replaced that very mentor when he began his teaching tenure at Cambridge-Isanti High School.

Beyond the classroom, Miller paid his dues in the “industrial trenches.” He spent years in custom shops crafting face-frame cabinetry for million-dollar estates, as well as on the commercial side, participating in high-efficiency production for schools and other environments.

This dual experience—the artisanal and the industrial—forms the backbone of his philosophy. “I love this trade, and I’m encouraged when I see my students pursue it professionally,” Miller says. “When I walk into a hospital waiting room, I’m the guy ‘geeking out’ on the architectural millwork. I try to pass that same perspective on to my students.”

The ‘CNC Millennial’
Miller describes himself as a “CNC Millennial.” While the lion’s share of his class time is still devoted to the fundamentals—safely operating table saws, jointers, and power tools, etc.—he knows the future of the trade is increasingly tech driven. Since introducing CNC technology in 2019, he has watched student engagement skyrocket.

In his advanced cabinetry classes, the CNC router is a total game-changer. “The machine can mill all the parts for an entertainment center in under four minutes. Doing that by hand could easily take three weeks,” Miller explains. This “instant” feedback resonates with a generation raised on digital devices, freeing them up to focus on using CAD (Computer-Aided Design) for everything from rocking chairs to musical instruments.

Turning ‘Rebels’ into Professionals
Miller’s shop is often a sanctuary for “non-traditional” students—those with what he calls a “punk rock or rebel attitude” who are eager to bypass the four-year college debt cycle in favor of immediate careers.

“My method is basically trying not to be the gatekeeper,” Miller says. “I have to guard the tools initially because they’re expensive and dangerous. But as soon as a student is trained and tested on the how-to, I turn them loose.”

In addition to his woodworking, welding, and graphic arts courses, Miller launched a woodworking club two years ago to help his most ambitious students compete. The results speak for themselves: last year, one of his students took second place at the SkillsUSA Minnesota cabinetmaking competition.

From IWF to WCA Credentialing to NWB Curriculum
A few years ago, Miller’s program caught the eye of Brian Donahue, president of Safety Speed Manufacturing. Beyond donating a vertical panel router to the school, Donahue invited Miller to the 2024 International Woodworking Fair (IWF) in Atlanta to help out at his company’s booth.

“Walking that show was like drinking out of a firehose,” Miller recalls. “I’d never experienced anything like it—the technology, the products, the networking. It was a real eye-opener.”

During the fair, Miller connected with the WCA and knew immediately he wanted his program involved. He has since integrated WCA Skill Standards into his curriculum. Currently, he is completing the online evaluator training so his students can earn their Sawblade certificates—a portable, industry-recognized credential.

“My job is often dictated by numbers,” Miller notes. “Being able to tell parents and students that they can earn graduation credits and a professional credential is huge for marketing the program.”

Miller’s drive to raise the bar also led him to the National Woods Board (NWB). After his program served as a pilot school for the NWB curriculum—modeled after the renowned MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) in Colorado—Miller was elected to the NWB Board of Directors.

“It’s a complete, big-time curriculum. You aren’t building the plane while flying it,” Miller says. By adopting standardized, industry-vetted projects like the MiLL’s signature end table, Miller ensures his students are learning the exact skills required by professional plants nationwide.

Advisory Board Reaps Multiple Dividends
One of Miller’s greatest achievements is the robust network of industry partners he has built. His advisory board includes 75 active partners who have contributed over $130,000 in equipment, supplies, and cash over the last five years.

These partners are deeply involved. They serve as guest speakers, provide raw materials, and host plant tours as Interscapes and Vision Woodworking did last year for Manufacturing Day.

“Most importantly, my advisors hire my kids,” Miller says. “I’ve had dozens of students move straight into summer jobs or full-time careers.”

To keep the momentum going, Miller operates like a modern marketer. He maintains a dedicated newsletter, a LinkedIn presence, and even a podcast, Mr. Miller’s Workshop, on Spotify and Apple.

“I have partners who come in just to help students write resumes,” Miller says. “The students realize that having a WCA credential or SkillsUSA experience on that resume is huge. It’s recognized everywhere, and it turns a shop class into a career launchpad.”

Woodwork Institute Scholarship Application Deadline is April 2

March 17, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

Scholarship applications are being accepted by the Woodwork Institute’s C.E. Bernhauer Jr. Scholarship Foundation for individuals interested in pursuing or furthering a career in the architectural millwork industry.

Scholarship applicants must:

Be in their senior year of high school, or
Be employed in the industry and maintain employment during the educational period, or
Be enrolled in a college/university, community college, or a trade school.

The deadline to apply is April 2.

Learn more.

AWFS Issues Call for Student CAD Competition Entries

March 9, 2026/0 Comments/in Frontpage Article/by Richard Christianson

The Association of Woodworking & Furniture Suppliers is accepting entries for Design-it-Digital, an online student design competition.

Students are presented with a hypothetical scenario in which a client is asking for a specific piece of wood furniture and/or case goods with certain constraints given. Students design their solution using CAD and rendering software.

Innergy is the Platinum Sponsor of this contest that introduces students to challenges that designers face when making real-world wood products. It also highlights the use of CAD software in the wood industry and provides an opportunity for companies to get involved with students and schools. AWFS’s focus is to engage the next generation into thinking about the many career opportunities available in the wood industry.

The competition is open to middle/high school (grades 6-12) and post-secondary students from the United States and Canada. Middle School, High School, and Post-Secondary students are all judged separately. There is no entry fee.

Students may use any available 2D or 3D drafting and rendering software, AutoCAD, Rhino, Sketch Up, etc. The design must incorporate at least 67% wood products that are readily available and must be producible in a standard wood shop, including a CNC router.

Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place respectively in each of the following categories:

Middle School (Coffee Table): $400, $200, $100
High School (Dining Table): $600, $500, $300
Postsecondary (Expandable Dining Table): $1,000, $800, $500

Note: Middle School students have the option to enter the High School competition. High Schol students have the option to enter the Postsecondary competition.

In addition, all winners will receive Low-Pro Deluxe dust separator courtesy of Materials Sponsor Oneida Air Systems.

Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts.

All winners will have their Design Presentation Board professionally printed and displayed at the Fresh Wood booth at the AWFS Fair, July 13-15, 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

See full contest details and access entry application.

The entry deadline is November 1, 2026. Winners will be announced December 31, 2026.