Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWM) group members recently created videos about their careers in the woodworking industry.
Current SWM President Saul Martin produced a 2 minute video with a quick tour around his shop while he talked about his role and responsibilities at Architectural Woodworking Company in Los Angeles. Diana Ramirez prepared a 1.5 minute video about her career at Reborn Cabinets in Anaheim. Both Saul and Diana have been at their employers for the majority of their careers and are passionate and accomplished members of their teams. Thank you to Diana Ramirez for bringing this opportunity to the SWM group after[...]
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This year, SkillsUSA California put students’ woodworking skills to the test at six regional competitions throughout the state. As the national SkillsUSA website states: “Skills USA is a national nonprofit organization serving middle school, high school and college students who are preparing for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.” AWFS® sponsored Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWM) members volunteered at three of these California events.
Region 3 Introductory Woodworking Students with their projects.
The SkillsUSA CA Region 3 Conference was held on January 25th at[...]
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The Society of Wood Manufacturing, or “SWM”, is an AWFS® chapter focused on supporting high school woodshop programs in the United States. SWM is open to individuals working in wood product manufacturing and related industries. The primary goal is to support woodworking programs through fundraising activities and events. Members benefit from this program by gaining opportunities to learn the many facets of the industry via networking, leadership development, tours and educational programs.
Members of SWM are industry-related business owners, educators, and professionals, who are focused on keeping woodworking relevant and exciting for students. The first SWM chapter is located in Southern California,[...]
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You can now watch the eight WED Talks (Wood Education Talks) that took place at the 2019 AWFS®Fair on YouTube.
Find information on each presentation, speaker and the video links on this page.
Norm Abram speaks at the 2019 AWFS Fair WED Talks
The 2019 AWFS®Fair WED Talks featured wood industry professionals and focused on topics including workforce development, industry skill standards, generational collaboration, social activism through woodworking, furniture design and the creative process, and the importance of diversity in the workforce. Speakers include Whitney Pyle and Thomas Allott, both members of the Woodworking Network “40 Under 40”; highly-respected and industry leading educator Patrick Molzahn; recognized artists Wendy Maruyama, Scott[...]
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Young professionals shared their experience working in the woodworking and finishing industry and answered questions via livestream from students…the Feb. 26 Careers in the Classroom event by Cue Career and AWFS…Read more…[...]
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AWFS® announces the second Design it Digital, a CAD-based design competition that is open to middle school, high school, and post-secondary students …This contest is entirely free to enter and entry applications will be accepted until May 29, 2020. Read more…[...]
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 15, 2019
CONTACT: Adria Salvatore, AWFS (323) 215-0311
Anaheim, CA – November 15, 2019 – The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) is in support of the “Counseling for Career Choice Act”, introduced by Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI-2) and Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA-15). The bill would provide grants to states to establish a comprehensive school counseling program.
“School counselors play a critical role in the information students receive about career opportunities and the choices they make”, says AWFS Executive Vice President Angelo Gangone. “We welcome any efforts to strengthen the counseling system and allow more resources to reach students.”
The “Counseling[...]
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MFG Day is Friday, October 4, 2019
MFG Day ("Manufacturing Day") is a nation-wide campaign to strengthen student awareness of manufacturing career opportunities. This is your chance to open your doors, welcome students, and make a positive impact on career awareness (and your future employee pipeline)!
Did you know...
...89% of students who attended MFG Day events are "more aware of manufacturing jobs in their communities"
...84% are "more convinced that manufacturing provides careers that are interesting and rewarding"
...64% are "more motivated to pursue careers in manufacturing"
(source)
How to Get Started
Once you decide to host an event, publish it on the MFG Day website.
Here are some additional resources to help[...]
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Two unique educational opportunities that took place at the 2019 AWFS®Fair enhanced the experience for teachers, students, and general attendees by providing more resources and information related to career awareness.
The Industry-Education Networking Breakfast on Thursday morning was a jam-packed event, with over fifty teachers and industry professionals coming together to share their challenges and how they can work together to find solutions and “bridge the skills gap”. A big conversation was the “language barrier” between industry and education, which many people find a common issue when trying to address the skilled careers gap and work with partners on the other[...]
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The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS®) educational program, the College of Woodworking Knowledge® (CWWK®), was held at the AWFS®Fair and provided value for thousands of AWFS Fair attendees through current topics and addressing business questions and concerns.
Designed to meet the current needs of the show audience demographics, the 50 sessions spanned topics to strengthen corporate culture and grow workforce, enhance business management expertise, improve skill sets, and increase knowledge of the latest technologies.
CWWK Educational Track Highlights
Business Management: Expert Tom Grandy spoke on mastering your cash flow. Marketing pro Jonathan Mills dove deep into digital marketing, including the role[...]
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