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IWF 2024 Names WCA to the Industry Partners Alliance

woodworkers at IWFThe International Woodworking Fair (IWF) announced its 2024 Industry Partners Alliance (IPA). The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is one of 15 leading wood products industry trade and professional associations representing thousands of members to be named an IPA member.

As an IPA member, WCA will receive exclusive preferred benefits to help facilitate its participation at the tradeshow and conference set for Aug. 6-9 at the Georgia World Convention Center in Atlanta.

The menu of IPA member benefits includes free booth space, discounted trade show registration, and promotion on the IWF website and in the IWF 2024 Digitial Show Directory and Show Daily.

IPA members include several organizations that are WCA INDustry Supporters:

— Woodwork Institute (AWI)
— Cabinet Makers Association (CMA)
— Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA)
— National Woods Board (NWB)
— North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA)

Oher IPA participants of record include:
— AIMSAD – Turkish Woodworking Machinery Association
— Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc.
— Association of Closet and Storage Professionals (ACSP)
— Decorative Hardwoods Association & Capital Testing
— Moulding & Millwork Producers Association (MMPA)
— The Powder Coating Institute
— Stairbuilders Manufacturers Association (SMA)
— Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA)
— Wood Products Manufacturers Association (WPMA)

Learn more about IWF 2024 at iwfatlanta.com.

Woodwork Career Alliance to Host How-to Train Woodworkers Workshop at IWF

Scott Neslon, left, and Bruce Spitz will present “Building a Training Program for Your Workers” at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta.

NELLYSFORD, Va. – Two representatives of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA) will present a nuts-and-bolts workshop focused on helping woodworking companies develop effective in-house training programs at the 2022 International Woodworking Fair.

The session, “Building a Training Program for Your Workers,” will be led by Scott Nelson, president of the WCA, and Bruce Spitz, former owner of Classic Millwork & Products and a member of the WCA Board of Directors. It is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Aug. 25 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

During the workshop, attendees will receive guidance for creating the first-year training template for new hires based on their production shop’s unique needs and incorporating the WCA Skill Standards.

They will also learn how to:
— Develop a pre-hire test required for job candidates before employment;

— Identify the knowledge base skills and machine skills required in the first two years of a hire’s employment;

— Identify the company’s requirements to be accomplished in 30, 60, 90 days, six months, and end of 1 year;

— Develop a method of training that is best suited for their company and create standard operating procedures to facilitate the training program; and

— Access quality training resources.

Attendees of this program are eligible for a $100 discount on a one-year MANufacturing™ membership of the WCA, a 40% savings.

“According to a workforce study we helped conduct last year, 40 percent of woodworking companies have no established formal training program for their production workers. Most companies rely on one-on-one mentorship, which can detract from production output,” Nelson said. “Considering how challenging it is to find and retain qualified workers, it really is essential that companies develop in-house training programs tailored to their specific requirements to minimize hiring headaches and hiccups on the shop floor.”

Register to attend this session, WRK2, at IWFAtlanta.com.

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 over 4,000 Passport credentials, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of woodworking skill achievements. More than 150 high schools and post-secondary schools throughout North America are WCA EDUcation™ members and a growing number of woodworking companies have joined the WCA as MANufacturing™ members. To learn more about the WCA and how to get involved with its programs, including sponsorship opportunities, visit WoodworkCareer.org.

President’s Message: IWF Was Busy Good for the WCA

The International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta proved not only to be a very well-attended show, but a very productive one for the Woodwork Career Alliance.

Through the IWF Silent Auction and an optional $5 support registration check-off, WCA raised about $8,500 to support the mission of developing a trained workforce. I would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to IWF management for designating WCA to receive the proceeds from these two fundraising activities.

The show also produced a constant flow of woodworkers to our booth, including many who requested information about our MANufacturing™ credentials, skill standards and other programs. Hopefully this interest will spawn new MANufacturing members eager to get their own in-house training and Passport programs up and running.

This is also a very busy time for all of our EDUcation™ members. Schools are currently in the renewal process and requesting their annual benefit package. By the next edition of Pathways, I will be able to report on the success of our renewal process.

Upcoming Accredited Skill Evaluator Training Sessions
On November 2, WCA conduct Accredited Skill Evaluator Training at Madison College in Madison, WI. Because this session is sold out, we are looking into scheduling another ASE training event at Madison College in February.

On November 9, WCA will conduct another Accredited Skill Evaluator Training at the Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab (MiLL) in conjunction with the MiLL Academy curriculum training in Colorado Springs, CO. The $250 fee for the optional third day of training allows teachers to receive the WCA ASE training without additional travel time and cost. The additional fee also covers their school’s WCA EDUcation membership the 2018-19 school year. Five high school teachers are currently registered for the training.

Thank You Sponsors!
I am pleased to report that the WCA’s new INDustry™ Sponsorship program has so far enlisted the support of 21 Gold Sponsors and eight Silver Sponsors. The logos of all of our Gold Sponsors are included in each edition of Pathways. Our new sponsors include:

Gold – Roseburg Forest Products, Sherwin-Williams and Weinig Holz-Her USA
Silver – Eagle Mouldings, IMA-Schelling and Kerfkore.

Thank you one and all!

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

WCA Brings Wood Instructors Together at IWF

Robert Lindsay, left, Jeff Seavolt, Daniel Kern. Patrick White, Justin Christianson and Kent Gilchrist pose at the WCA’s booth during IWF 2018 in Atlanta.

Woodworking teachers of current and prospective WCA EDUcation institutions took time out from the hustle and bustle of the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta to meet and greet at the WCA’s booth.

They included, Robert Lindsay, recently retired from Trenton High School of Trenton, MI; Jeff Seavolt, Maple Valley Jr. & Sr. High School of Vermontville, MI; Daniel Kern, Montgomery County High School of Mt. Gilead, NC; Patrick White, The MiLL of Colorado Springs, CO; Justin Christianson, School of Woodworking and Discipleship of Indianapolis, IN; and Kent Gilchrist, Chairman of the WCA Education Committee.

IWF Memorabilia Auction to Benefit Woodwork Career Alliance

Proceeds from winning bids on sports collectables and other valuable merchandise will support the WCA’s woodworking workforce development activities.

 

ATLANTA – A batting helmet signed by new Hall of Fame inductee Chipper Jones and a microphone autographed by Grammy Award vocalist Taylor Swift are among the many and diverse collectables that will be auctioned during the International Woodworking Fair.

The silent auction is presented through a partnership of Expo Auctions of Sugar Hill, GA, and IWF. Net proceeds will benefit the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and growing a skilled woodworking workforce.

The silent auction will take place until 3:30 p.m. on each of the first three days of IWF, Wednesday August 22 through Friday August 24. IWF attendees will be able to view most of the auction items on display tables located near the press room B402. These and other auction items also are available for viewing on Expo Auction’s website. Bids will be accepted via text and online. Notifications will be sent to bid winners regarding payment options and pick up. Winning bidders, including those not attending IWF, will be charged for shipping if required.

Visit accelevents.com/events/IWF2018 to view all auction items and learn how to participate in the bidding.

“IWF has been a long-time supporter of the Woodwork Career Alliance,” said Scott Nelson, WCA president. “We greatly appreciate being designated the recipient of this unique and fun fund-raising event. These funds will help us recruit more schools and woodworking companies to our credential Passport program.”

Learn more about the WCA at IWF booth 4154 or visit woodworkcareer.org.

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About the Woodwork Career Alliance
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America was founded in 2007 as a 501C(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 1,600 Passports, a portable, personal permanent record documenting each holder’s record of achievements as a woodworking professional. 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 www.WoodworkCareer.org.