Bridging the Gap: Hands-on Woodworking Training Program Develops Skilled Workforce

Jim Wellever, department head of the Cabinetmaking/Millwork Training program at the Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI) in Plainville, MI, runs a department within the on-campus cabinet shop that trains people with disabilities to operate the machinery that is most likely to be found in woodworking shops across the United States. The program serves as the Midwest Advanced Woodworking Technology Center. Students are trained to safely operate machinery so that they can immediately enter the workforce upon graduation.

Student-Centered Curriculum
The program has an open enrollment policy for students who don’t have conventional learning styles. Tuition is free to qualifying students thanks to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the program’s accreditation by the Centers for Occupational Education. Students are usually between 19 and 21 years old at the time of their enrollment. The average student participates in this training program for four to seven 10-week terms, depending on the individual student’s needs.

The curriculum, based on Woodworking Career Alliance of North America’s skill standards, trains the students on equipment ranging from basic core woodworking machinery to automated chop saws and rip saws to moulders, sanders, and CNC routers. The shop better manages its wood waste with a Weima shredder. Weima is a sponsor of the WCA.

Experiential Education
“What we are good at is giving the students enough experience at learning how to run a machine so that whenever they are entering the market, they know how to learn any machine they encounter,” Wellever said.

Wellever noted that this type of institutional learning does not qualify as charity. “These students are good workers doing great work. When they leave our program, they are often better equipped to operate machinery than people with two years of experience.”

Upon graduation, the students are matched with area employers to transition smoothly into the work force. This extraordinary program boasts a very high placement rate for its students.

Warmth, Safety, and Lower Energy Bills
In the last few years, a Weima briquette press was installed in the building as part of a new dust collection system. The 13,000-square-foot facility was equipped with a 1960s air system, which provided no return air to keep the building warm. The result was an extremely high power bill due to low-energy efficiency. The shop is now equipped with a modern return air system with fire protection. This allows the shop to be heated continuously throughout the snowy Michigan winters and adds an extra level of safety due to the more efficient dust control.

Long History
2019 marks the 75th anniversary of  the MCTI.  Beginning in 1944 as the Michigan Veteran’s Vocational school, MCTI has evolved into the second largest, comprehensive vocational rehabilitation facility in the country. As an original trade, the Cabinetmaking/Millwork department has been a steady source of highly qualified workers.

Read related article: Postsecondary Educators Embrace WCA Credentials

Festool Roadshow Comes to Madison College

Madison College and Festool, a manufacturer of portable power tools, joined forces recently to host a training event for the college’s Cabinetmaking and Millwork students. This event was part of Festool’s educational roadshow that visits high schools and colleges across North America to promote the skilled trades and educate the next generation of craftsmen.

The event took place inside Festool’s mobile training center – a fully equipped, self-contained semi-trailer that opens up into a 900-square-foot sheltered workshop, complete with awnings and windows. Everyone who participated appreciated the climate-controlled environment on the crisp fall day in Wisconsin.

Festool trainer Brent Shively, assisted by several staff members, delivered the full-day training, which included hands-on instruction focused on building cabinets with Festool tools. Students left with a good understanding of the Festool product line and the unique features of their tools.

On Oct. 4, the day after the training, both Festool and the Cabinetmaking program each held an Open House. The event coincided with Manufacturing Day. High school students and area employers were able to visit both venues.

The Cabinetmaking program at Madison College, which an EDUcation member of the Woodwork Career Alliance,  hosts several seminars annually, which are open to industry members. To receive notification of future events, contact Patrick Molzahn at 608-246-6842 or pmolzahn@madisoncollege.edu.

8 WCA EDUcation Students Win Fresh Wood Awards

Eight students enrolled at woodworking programs belonging to the Woodwork Career Alliance’s EDUcation membership won awards in the biennial Fresh Wood Competition at the AWFS Fair held July 17-20 in Las Vegas. In addition, Joe Davis, woodworking instructor at the Dale Jackson Career Center, a WCA EDUcation member, won the Bravo to Teacher award.

Cole Daniels of Rolla Technical Institute , one of the WCA-affiliated student winners, won the People’s Choice Award and the $750 prize that went with it. Daniels’ project, Hard Ninety, an originally designed shuffleboard with intricate paneling and accenting, also won Second Place in the 2019 High School Special Theme Category: Sports and Games.

Other students of WCA schools that were honored in the 2019 Fresh Wood Competition include:

Kyle Hassett, Dale Jackson Career Center, Flower Mound, TX, “The Big Slick,” First Place, Sports & Games/High School category;

Chandler Norton, Reed-Custer High School, Braidwood, IL, “Riot Arts Gaming Chair,” Second Place, Design for Production/High School category;

Logan Miller, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln, NE, “L. & J.G. Stickley Prairie Chair,” First Place, Seating/High School category;

Katja Peereboom, Cedar Ridge High School, Hillsborough, NC, “Sinking Chair,” Second Place, Seating/High School category;

Caldell Davis, Lincoln East High School, Lincoln, NE, “The Limbert,” Honorable Mention, Seating/High School category;

Matthew Steger, Dakota High School, Dakota, IL, “Honestly Elegant,” Honorable Mention, Tables/High School category;

Sam Galliart, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, KS, “Stuff Sapele,” Honorable Mention, Seating/Post Secondary category.

Fresh Wood 2019 sponsors included KCD Software, Best of Show category; Wagner Meters, People’s Choice categroy; Next Wave Automation, Design for Production category; LIGNIA Wood Company Ltd., Seating category; and Northwest Hardwoods, Table category.

The Fresh Wood 2019 judging panel consisted of Bob Barone, Precision Drive Spindles; Judson Beaumont, Straight Line Design; Scott Grove, Imagine Grove; Wendy Maruyama, Wendy Maruyama Studio; and Jim Wellever, Michigan Career & Technical Institute.

First Place winners in each category and at each school level received a $1,000 prize, Second Place winners received $500 and Honorable Mention winners received $250. AWFS covers project shipping and the majority of travel and hotel costs to bring the students and their teachers to Las Vegas.

The biennial event, held as part of AWFS®Fair, attracted 188 entries from schools in the United States.

Read about all of the 2019 Fresh Wood Competition winners.

President’s Message – Virtual Reality Demos, Silent Auction, WCA 4.0, ASE Training on WCA’s Busy AWFS Fair Agenda

This edition of Pathways is laden with news and features previewing the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s plans for the 2019 AWFS Fair taking place next week at the Las Vegas Convention Center. 

For starters, we still have a limited number of slots open for our WCA Accredited Skill Evaluator (ACE) Trainings at the show. The three-hour trainings will take place at our Booth #10268 during the following dates and times:

Wednesday, July 17
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 18
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, July 19
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 20
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

You may register by contacting me at snelsonwca@gmail.com. WCA and AWFS are partnering to offer a SHOW SPECIAL PRICE of $150 per evaluator, which is a savings of $100. Remember this also includes a one-year subscription to WCA for your school or company.

WCA is also involved with three free workshops during the show. Patrick Molzahn, director of Cabinetmaking at Madison College and author of Modern Cabinetmaking, will present: “WCA – What’s in It for Me?” 1:30pm-3:00pm Wednesday, July 17 and “Finding, Training & Retaining Workers,” 11:30am–1:00pm Thursday, July 18. Patrick and I will co-present “Building a Training Program for Your Workers,” 3:30pm-5:00pm Friday, July 19. Check out the conference schedule on awfsfair.org to learn more details and to register.

Please stop by our booth and try your hand at the Mimbus virtual reality simulators. The Wood-Ed Table is a four-in-one system that can be used to teach students and novices how to operate basic woodworking machinery in a safe, dust-free environment. Visitors to WCA’s booth will have an opportunity to don a VR headset and try out one of the Wood-Ed Table’s four woodworking machinery simulation modules: bandsaw, ripsaw, jointer or shaper. 

Simspray is a virtual reality apparatus that replicates a spray booth allowing trainees to learn the fundamentals of applying a wood coating using a hand-held spray gun. Simspray not only eliminates the cost of finishing materials, it removes VOC emissions from spray operator training programs. Attendees will be able to test their spray skills virtually finishing wood parts.  Virtual reality is a tremendous tool for instructing students and new employees on the safe operation of equipment used in our industry.

WCA will be introducing our new pilot program WCA 4.0, focused on training and accrediting machine operators who work in cell-based manufacturing environments.  The WCA invites owners and managers of wood manufacturing companies to engage in face-to-face discussion about how WCA 4.0 can help them develop a skilled and stable workforce.

Thanks a bunch, to AWFS and Expo Auctions for organizing a special silent auction to benefit the WCA. Net proceeds of this fun event will allow WCA to further its workforce development and industry outreach programs. More than 80 sports and entertainment collectables, excursions and mother items are available now for online bidding. Even if you are not attending the show, you can still join the auction online and support the WCA!

Lastly, I am very happy to share that the WCA credentialed over 280 candidates this spring and our membership continues to grow on all fronts: Education, Manufacturing and Industry supporters. If you’re going to the show, be sure to visit us at booth #10268. Let’s discuss how we can work together to develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce.

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

Welcome New Members & Renewing Sponsors!

The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome five new EDUcation™ member schools, four new MANufacturing™ members, one new Association Partner  and four new INDustry™ Sponsors. We also welcome back one sponsor for a second year.

Thank you for your membership and support!

EDUcation™ Members
Arroyo High School, El Monte, CA
Dakota High School, Dakota, IL
Ridgewood High School, Norridge, IL
San Marcos High School, Santa Barbara, CA
Stoughton High School, Stoughton, WI

Find a WCA EDUcation™ woodworking program in your area.

MANufacturing™ Members
Gaston & Wyatt, Charlottesville, NC
Gillpatrick Woodworks, Overland Park, KS
Mission Bell Manufacturing, Morgan Hill, CA
Rowland Woodworking, High Point, NC

New Association Partner
Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association

New INDustry™ Gold Sponsors
James L. Taylor Manufacturing
, Poughkeepsie, NY
Rowland Woodworking, High Point, NC
Safety Speed Manufacturing, Ham Lake, MN
Woodworking Network/FDMC, Cedar Rapids, IA

INDustry™ Gold Sponsor Renewals
Friulmac USA, Hickory, NC

View all WCA INDustry™ Sponsors & Supporters

AWFS Fair Auction Opens; Supports WCA’s Workforce Development Programs

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Early-bird bidding opens. Enjoy an all-new online experience with the AWFS Fair Silent Auction benefitting the Woodwork Career Alliance.

NELLYSFORD, VA – A helmet signed by four-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady, guitars autographed by Jimmy Buffet and Ted Nugent, and a South African safari excursion are among the many and diverse items that will be auctioned during the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas.

The silent auction is presented through the special collaboration of Expo Auctions of Sugar Hill, GA, and the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS). Net proceeds will benefit the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and growing a skilled woodworking workforce. 

Separate silent auctions will take place on each of the first three days of AWFS Fair, Wednesday July 17 through Friday July 19. Show attendees and exhibit personnel will be able to view most of the auction items displayed on tables located in the concourse between the two entrances of the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center. These and other auction items – more than 80 in all – are available now for early online bidding. Expo Auctions’ mobile bidding platform allows bidders to participate from anywhere in the world using their smartphone. 

Expo Auctions’ treasure trove of interesting and curious auction items will also include an assortment of popular sports, entertainment and historical memorabilia; VIP trips to Tuscany, Belize and St. Thomas; and spirit and wine packages.

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

  1. Visit the official auction website BidEarlyBidOften.com or text SILENT AUCTION to 56651.
  2.  Register your mobile phone number, email and name.
  3. Bidding closes at each day on July 17, 18 and 19 at 3 p.m. PST.

Text notifications will be sent to bid winners at the close of each day’s auction communicating payment options and pick up. Winning bidders, including those not attending the AWFS Fair, will be charged for shipping their merchandise if required. 

“We are pleased to provide a channel through the AWFS Fair to support the Woodwork Career Alliance and its efforts to strengthen and develop skill standards and a skilled workforce for our industry,” said Adria Salvatore, AWFS education and conference director. “We hope to raise funds from this auction so that WCA can help expand school programs, allow more students and professional woodworkers to earn their skill credentials, and provide more resources for teachers to connect with our industry.”

 “AWFS has been a fantastic supporter of the Woodwork Career Alliance over the years,” said Scott Nelson, WCA president. “We deeply appreciate that the WCA has been designated to receive the net proceeds of this fun fundraising program. As a not-for-profit organization, we greatly appreciate this support to us connect with more schools and woodworking companies to develop the next generation of skilled woodworkers.”

Learn more about the WCA and its skill standards and credentialing programs at AWFS booth 10268 or visit woodworkcareer.org.

Bid Early Bid Often

 

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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 more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org. 

Mark Smith ‘Casts a Vision’ to Support His Woodshop Program

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 This veteran woodworking instructor discusses the multiple benefits
of marketing his program.

Mark Smith isn’t bashful about tooting a horn loud and often to call attention to his high school woodworking program.

“I’ve learned that you have to cast a vision of your program outside your classroom so that the superintendent, school board, community and local industry sees what you are doing and after a while they get it,” says Smith, woodworking instructor of Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood, IL. “Not blowing their horns is probably the biggest mistake woodworking teachers make. When the money crunch happens, no one wants to keep their program off the block because no one knows what they are doing.”

To cast a vision of his program, Smith regularly sends out press releases and posts them to several popular social media channels.

“I’ll put out a press release at least once a month,” Smith says. “It might be about a material donation to our program or about one of our students getting an internship. I then post the release on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. After a while, if you don’t know what’s going on with our program, then you’re probably not using any of those platforms.”

Over the years, Smith has built up a press release database that now numbers nearly 500 strong. Contacts include local media, national woodworking publications, industry and private supporters, school district administrators, school board members and anyone who expresses interest in keeping informed about what’s going on in his classroom. In addition, Smith has amassed some 6,000 LinkedIn connections, 600 Facebook friends and 575 Instagram followers.

Recent PR Examples
With approximately 100 students enrolled in one of his seven woodworking classes structured around the Woodwork Career Alliance’s Skill Standards, Smith never runs out of things to promote.

In one of his recent press releases, Smith publicized a gaming chair designed and fabricated by a student in his program. The LinkedIn post succinctly summarizes the student’s accomplishment.

“This RCHS Industrial Technology student designed in AutoCAD, toolpathed in Mastercam, and machined on our Thermwood Model 43 CNC Router this no hardware, knock down gaming chair for his independent student class.”

The post ends with this call to action, “Looking for future skilled employees? Contact us and begin building a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Another press release pays homage to Reed-Custer’s EDUcation™ membership in the Woodwork Career Alliance. (Smith, is a member of the WCA Education Committee and participated in developing the WCA’s Skill Standards.) Again, the cut-to-the-chase LinkedIn post reads, “Franklin International and Woodwork Career Alliance Support Reed-Custer High School’s Industrial Technology Program with Glue Donation.” The post includes a photo of a Reed-Custer student holding up a container of Franklin glue and concludes with this plug: “Industry supporters make it possible to offer great educational opportunities to our students. You can visit http://rchsit.weebly.com/program-supporters.html to see all of our industry supporters. If you would like to support the industrial technology program at RCHS, contact us at: mark.smith@rc255.net.”

Taking the Stage at AWFS Fair
Smith was gearing up to deliver multiple seminar presentations in the Teacher Track at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas when he was interviewed for this article. “Marketing Your Program – How to Get Started!” is the title of one of his sessions set for 9:30 a.m. Friday, July 19.

The presentation will cover why and how to market an educational woodworking program, including how to write press releases, leverage free social media channels and making industry connections.

“One of the premises of my presentation is that no one is ever thanked too much,” Smith says. “Because people donate stuff to support our program, I make sure that we thank them in numerous ways. Of course, I send them an email thank you, but I also mail out a certificate of appreciation. If any of our recent donors are exhibiting at the AWFS Fair, I plan to stop by their booth and hand them the certificate in person and arrange for a picture to be taken. That becomes the basis for a press release.

“The second premise is the importance of networking. Way back in 2000 I was attending a regional woodworking show in Milwaukee and met Jerry Finch, then a woodworking instructor at Oshkosh College. “Jerry became a mentor of mine. He taught me the importance of promoting your program and the skills of your students. He altered the course of my professional career. Now I tell my students all the time that you can be the best in the world in something, but if nobody knows it, how are you benefitting? How are you creating opportunities to expand your horizons?”

To illustrate his point about the importance of casting a vision for his program and networking, Smith says, “It really all comes down to making connections and getting your name out there. Ultimately people are sitting in a meeting somewhere and the topic comes up of starting a woodworking internship program, donating excess material or partnering with a local school on a training program. There’s a good chance that someone will raise his or her hand and say, ‘I know this guy named Mark Smith who teaches woodworking at Reed-Custer High School. He’s always sending me stuff about his students’ projects. Let’s work with him. Let’s help his kids.’ A lot of time that’s how it works. It’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. If you are always casting your vision, networking and putting your students out front, eventually opportunities will present themselves.”

Measuring Success
“I measure success of my marketing program in multiple ways,” Smith says. “One way is how many of my students go into industry. Every year we have kids who begin careers with woodworking companies and others who participate in internship programs. I love the woodworking industry and I’m proud that so many of the kids I teach do so, too.

Smith says a second measurement for gauging success of his promotional efforts “is the number of industry professionals who are willing to come in and talk to the students about their careers or talk about their products. Every year we get several. It’s a big deal because these people are busy.”

“I think when a company is willing to give technical support, a material donation or whatever, that it is another indicator of success,” Smith continues. “I think the list is more than 100 items long of what we have received from industry. That’s kind of a badge of honor for us because if someone is willing to give us something of value, then we must be doing something right.”

“Yet another important indicator is how the school administration and school board view our program. If they view what we are doing positively, then that’s a huge plus because they don’t have the time to come down and see for themselves.”

Free Advice
Smith is happy to share his experiences to help other teachers more quickly establish a successful marketing program. But he doesn’t have a lot of time to deal with those that whine they don’t have the time to do so.

“When I talk to a teacher who says, ‘I don’t have time for that,’ I think maybe they need to get more efficient or better organized because I think you have to have an extra two hours over the course of a month. I think they see all of the things that I’m doing and think, ‘Holy cow, that will take me five years just to set all of that up.’ And it’s true. You have to slowly develop and build it as you have time.

“I have to remind them that what I’m doing wasn’t built in a day. I’ve built my marketing program over 20 years, really since the time I met Jerry Finch. He talked to me about how to do these things and I started to do them. I started with press releases with a small list and over time, I built that list adding one contact at a time. After a while it takes on a life of its own because the kids help me do it. Sometimes the kids put together the press release or sometimes I use one of their pictures. It really becomes a team effort.”

Experience VR Wood Machining & Finishing in Las Vegas

Attendees of the AWFS Fair can give virtual reality training
tools a whirl at the Woodwork Career Alliance’s booth.

 

Nellysford, VA – Woodworkers attending the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas will have the opportunity to size wood parts dust-free and finish parts without over spray at the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s (WCA) booth 10268.

Through special arrangement with Mimbus Inc. of Chicago, the WCA will offer continuous interactive demonstrations of two unique virtual reality training systems: Wood-Ed Table and Simspray.

The Wood-Ed Table is a four-in-one system that can be used to teach students and novices how to operate basic woodworking machinery in a safe, dust-free environment. Visitors to WCA’s booth will have an opportunity to put on a pair of 3D interactive glasses and try out one of the Wood-Ed Table’s four woodworking machinery simulation modules: bandsaw, ripsaw, jointer or shaper.

Simspray is a virtual reality apparatus that replicates a spray booth allowing trainees to learn the fundamentals of applying a wood coating using a hand-held spray gun. Simspray not only eliminates the cost of finishing materials, it removes VOC emissions from spray operator training programs. Attendees will be able to test their spray skills virtually finishing wood parts at WCA’s booth.

“Virtual reality is a tremendous tool for instructing students and new employees on the safe operation of equipment used in our industry,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Young adults and kids are being raised on interactive video games that have a strong VR component. I think training simulators like the ones that will be demonstrated in Las Vegas can help attract more youths into our industry. I encourage educators and woodworking company managers to stop by our booth to see the potential of these systems first-hand.”

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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 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

WCA 4.0 to Debut at AWFS Fair

Credentialing skilled, cell-based machine operators is the focus of the Woodwork Career Alliance’s new pilot program.

NELLYSFORD, VA – The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America will introduce WCA 4.0, a pilot program focused on training and accrediting machine operators who work in cell-based manufacturing environments, at the AWFS Fair, July 17-20 in Las Vegas.

The launch of WCA 4.0 comes in response to the woodworking industry’s critical need to recruit, train and retain highly skilled machine operators, especially those who can be cross-trained to efficiently set up and run multiple machines on the factory floor. The new program builds on the WCA’s well-established Woodworking Skill Standards and Credentialing system.

“By focusing more on today’s high-tech, cell-based manufacturing, we have the opportunity to expand our credentialing program to better serve the industry,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Work cells are determined by each company according to its process flow and product mix. For example, a common cell-based manufacturing approach for processing panels to make cabinets is sawing, routing, boring, dowel insertion, assembly, specialty processing and finishing. WCA 4.0 helps promote cross-training on all of the machines within a cell, including the opportunity to evaluate an individual’s ability to do routine maintenance on various multiple machines.

“The success of WCA 4.0 requires that competencies be developed relating to cells both by machine as well as process,” Nelson added. “Many of the machine competencies are already included in the WCA Skills Standards. More pressing is the need to document the knowledge-based component required to successfully complete activities within the cell. For example, what are the various materials used in a particular cell? What knowledge must the candidate have about specific processes and their impact on the final product? How can employers measure this knowledge effectively to document a candidate’s skill achievements and/or need for improvement?”

The WCA invites owners and managers of wood manufacturing companies to engage in face-to-face discussions about how WCA 4.0 can help them develop a skilled and stable workforce. Stop by booth #10268 to learn more.

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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 240 woodworking machine operations. In addition, WCA has issued more than 2,500 credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 100 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

President’s Message: Evaluator Training at AWFS Fair; WIC Auction Is Music to Our Ears

The AWFS Fair in Las Vegas is now less than three months away.  WCA, with the help of our friends at the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers, will once again offer Accredited Skill Evaluator training for woodworking educators and industry trainers during the show.

The three-hour trainings will take place at the WCA’s booth #10268 at the following times:

Wednesday, July 17
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, July 18
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Friday, July 19
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 20
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Only four seats are available for each session and several of them have already are already spoken for. To make sure you don’t miss out, I recommend that you register ASAP by contacting me at snelsonwca@gmail.com.

As an added inducement, WCA and AWFS are offering a SHOW SPECIAL PRICE of $150 per evaluator, which is a savings of $100. The registration fee also includes a one-year subscription for your school or company to be an EDUcation™ or MANufacturing™ member.

The training sessions will include an overview of the WCA Skill Standards and demonstrations of how to evaluate a student’s or employee’s proficiency to perform a woodworking task or setup and safely operate a machine. Those who successfully complete the training session will be certified as an Accredited Skills Evaluator and be able to reward students or employees with credential points.

WCA is also involved with three free 90-minute workshops during the show.

Patrick Molzahn, director of Madison College’s Cabinetmaking & Millwork program, will present WCA – What’s in It for Me at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 17.

Patrick will also present Finding, Training & Retaining Workers at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18.

Finally, Patrick and I will co-present Building a Training Program for Your Workers at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 19.

A Hearty Thank You
I am very pleased to announce that the Live Auction held during the annual Woodworking Industry Conference raised $3,300 for WCA’s Education Fund. I would personally like to thank Jim Laster of Newman Machine for making and donating a beautiful ukulele and Michael Burdis of James L. Taylor Mfg. for being determined to buy Jim’s masterpiece for $3,000!

Thanks again to the Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America and Woodworking Machinery Industry Association, organizers of the WIC, for supporting the WCA!

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