Tag Archive for: Wood Industry Association

Wood Industry Association
Richard Christianson

Woodworking Instructor Molly Turner Accepts WIA 2026 Educator of the Year Award

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Chris Timmer, chair of the WIA Education Committee, left, presents Molly Turner with the 2026 Wooden Globe Award for Educator of the Year to Molly Turner. Joining in the celebration is Erik Boose, chair of the WIA Awards Committee.

 

FOREST HILL, Md. — The Wood Industry Association (WIA) honored Ignacio High School of Ignacio, Colorado, its 2026 Wooden Globe Award for Educator of the Year at the Wood Industry Conference held in Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

Past WCA & NWB WIA Educator of the Year Award recipients

Ignacio High School and Molly Turner join a long list of WCA affiliates to win the WIA’s prestigious annual Wooden Globe Award for Educator of the Year. Past winners, who also are members of the National Woods Board, are highlighted in red.

2008 — Patrick Molzahn, director of cabinetmaking and millwork, Madison Area Technical College, Madison, Wisconsin

2013 — Dean Mattson, cabinet and wood manufacturing teacher, North Salem High School Woods Program, North Salem, Oregon

2014 — Doug Rappe, program director, Greater West Town Community Development Project, Chicago, Illinois

2015 — Doug Hague and Charles Phillips, woodworking instructors, Wood Technology Institute at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas

2016 — Scott Nelson, president, Woodwork Career Alliance of North America, Lincoln, Nebraska

2017 — Greg Larson, owner/director, New England School of Architectural Woodworking, Easthampton, Massachusetts

2018 — Joe Davis, mill and cabinet instructor, Dale Jackson Career Center, Lewisville, Texas

2024 — Mark Smith, woodworking instructor, Reed-Custer High School, Braidwood, Illinois
2025 – David Bult, executive director, Next Step West Michigan

2026 – Molly Turner, woods manufacturing instructor, Ignacio High School, Ignacio, Colorado

Ignacio instructor Molly Turner, a long-time accredited skill evaluator of the Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) and member of the National Woods Board (NWB), accepted the honor on behalf of her school’s woods manufacturing program. Ignacio High School is the ninth recipient of the WIA Wooden Globe Educator of the Year Award to be affiliated with the WCA since 2008. She is also one of four current board members of the NWB to receive the honor.

The Educator of the Year award recognizes an educational institution or training program that demonstrates excellence in preparing individuals for careers in the woodworking industry. Honorees are chosen for their advocacy, innovation, and impact on workforce development in the wood sector.

Ignacio High School and Turner were recognized for outstanding contributions to career and technical education through the school’s multi-tiered Woods Manufacturing and Building Trades program.

The program offers a progressive, project-based sequence that takes students from introductory woodworking and fabrication through advanced wood manufacturing, machining, finishing, furniture construction, and applied building trades. Students gain hands-on experience with CNC routing, panel processing technology, cabinetry and furniture design, industry workflow principles, and other related disciplines. Graduates can earn meaningful resume-building qualifications including WCA credentials, SkillsUSA competitive awards, Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS) and National Woods Board (NWB)-aligned curriculum experiences, and OSHA-10 safety certification opportunities. All of these opportunities supporting student placement into apprenticeships, manufacturing jobs, and technical programs.

A key dimension of the program’s success extends beyond Ignacio High School through the leadership of Turner. In collaboration with the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SWCEC), she has expanded access to career-training opportunities and industry-grade equipment across multiple rural districts. As a founding Board Member of the NWB and an active contributor to AWFS Education Committee initiatives, Turner has also helped shape curriculum frameworks adopted by woodworking programs nationwide.

“I am deeply honored to accept the Wooden Globe Award on behalf of our woods manufacturing program,” Turner said. “This recognition highlights the incredible potential of high school technical education. It inspires me to continue working alongside the WCA and National Woods Board to help shape a highly skilled, prosperous future for our industry.”

About the Wood Industry Association (WIA) 
The mission of the Wood Industry Association (WIA) is to equip and connect professionals in the wood machinery and supplies industry by delivering valuable resources, trusted insights, strategic connections, educational support, and strong advocacy that collectively shape the future of North America’s woodworking sector.

National Woods Board
Richard Christianson

National Woods Board Welcomes New Board Members

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National Woods Board

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The National Woods Board (NWB) is pleased to announce the appointment of four new members to its board of directors.

Following is a quick look at each of the new NWB board members and their credentials.

Nicole Carter Jason Greenwood Mark Smith

Nicole Carter is the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Widefield School District 3 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a role she has held since 2005. Among her responsibilities, Carter oversees CTE grants and state requirements and provides curriculum guidance for skilled trade programs at the MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab), aligning with industry certifications through the Career Development Incentive Program.

Jason Greenwood is president of JB Cutting Inc., a full-service manufacturer of three-dimensional laminate MDF components based in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Greenwood has 30 years of manufacturing and operations management experience, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and lean methodology. The bulk of his career was spent in the aerospace industry where mainly focused on power transmission products and tooling for large aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

Mark Smith is a recently retired woodworking instructor at Reed Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois, and has been an educator at the secondary and post-secondary level for 30 years developing and implementing computer-integrated-manufacturing curriculum with a view towards the wood industry. He currently serves as chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee and the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS) College of Woodworking Knowledge committee. The Wood Industry Association recognized Smith as the Educator of the Year with the Wooden Globe Award in 2024.

Joe Wadsworth is CEO and owner of Custom Source Woodworking Inc. (CSW) in Turnwater, Washington. CSW is a member of both the Architectural Woodwork Institute and Woodwork Institute. Throughout his more than four decades in the industry, Wadsworth has remained passionate to introduce the next generation into rewarding woodworking careers.

“It’s fantastic to welcome these four new voices to the board,” said John LeTorneau, NWB President. I look forward to working closely with each of them to advance this vital trade and ensure its future success by fostering growth for the next generation of skilled woodworkers.”

LeTorneau also thanked exiting board members Tim Kistler, Rob Rozell, Shane Skalla and Kelly Viktor-Burke for their past service. “I think I speak for the entire NWB board in acknowledging their valuable service and commitment to the organization.”

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.

What truly differentiates the NWB’s solution from previous projects are three key elements:

  • Industry Collaboration, Partnership, and Investment: The NWB’s approach is deeply rooted in strong relationships with woodworking companies and key industry associations, fostering a collaborative environment that ensures training directly aligns with real-world needs and is supported by sustained financial commitment.
  • Curriculum: The NWB has developed a scalable curriculum for high school and postsecondary woodworking programs that is not only industry-approved but also continuously updated to meet the evolving demands of the woodworking sector.
  • WCA Affiliation: A crucial differentiator is the seamless integration of Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) certification that is directly embedded into the training program. This means students earn valuable, industry-recognized credentials as they progress, significantly enhancing their job prospects by demonstrating their proficiency to potential employers.

By focusing on these three distinct areas, the NWB aims to bridge the gap between education and industry, creating a robust and efficient pipeline of skilled workers ready to meet the demands of the modern woodworking workforce.

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.