The purpose of the Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC) is to provide a collection of tools and solutions for the wood industry to attract and retain employees, while improving the perception of the industry.
This group exists to connect industry associations with one another and support and strengthen the woodworking industry and our association’s members by sharing information and resources.
Read the Official Jan 2021 press release about the Launch of the YouWood Campaign
Nashville, TN – January 27, 2021 – The Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC) is excited to announce the launch of their industry-wide career awareness campaign, “You Wood.” Developed by several industry trade associations led by AWFS, WMIA, and WMMA, in partnership with Nashville-based INDUSTRIAL Strength Marketing, the WIRC campaign aims to communicate wood industry career pathways and attract new talent. The “You Wood” campaign features a website with career resource information, including profiles of high-demand positions, career quizzes, links to educational resources like schools and scholarships, industry information, and an events calendar. The site will be continually updated, and features will be added, including industry pro spotlights, additional career pathway information, and custom video content.
Read the official Aug 2018 press release about the formation of the WIRC group
Atlanta, GA – August 20, 2018 – Ten wood industry associations are pleased to announce the formation of a coalition aimed primarily at perpetuating the long-term growth of the industry by sustaining an engaged workforce. Since its formative two-day brainstorming meeting in November 2017, the group has chosen to organize under the name Wood Industry Resource Collaborative (WIRC). The collaborative group is a consortium of trade associations, all related to the woodworking or the wood products manufacturing industry. The group’s purpose is to provide a collection of tools and solutions for the wood industry to attract and retain employees, while improving the perception of the industry. This group exists to connect industry associations with one another and support and strengthen the woodworking industry and their associations’ members by sharing information and resources. The 2017 charter members of the collaborative group are: AWFS, AWI, CMA, HMA, MMPA, NWFA, WCMA, WMIA, WMMA, WPMA.
WIRC Goals
This group strives to support the woodworking industry by identifying ways to help our member companies:
A. Attract Employees:
- Increase student awareness of wood industry careers
- Increase parent awareness of wood industry careers
- Increase student engagement
- Increase H.S. counselor awareness of wood industry careers
B. Retain Employees:
- Increase association memberships
- Improve member engagement and satisfaction
- Improve work culture at member companies
C. Improve the Perception of the Industry:
- Develop and communicate the stories of the industry
- Increase positive media coverage
- Increase engagement with legislative and educator communities
- Involve more associations in CTE wood group initiatives
Wood Industry Resource Collaborative Membership
Who qualifies as a member?
- This is a consortium of trade associations, all related to the woodworking or the wood products manufacturing industry.
- Membership is open only to trade association executive level staff. In the event that staff is unable to represent the association, staff may appoint a member of their Board to represent the association in their place.
- Trade press will be apprised of group updates at press conferences following in-person meetings, or via official press releases from the group.
What are the requirements of membership?
- Must agree with the purpose and goals of the group and identify alignment with own association’s mission and objectives.
- Must attend at least 75% of all meetings within a calendar year
- Willingness to promote the group’s message and any related information (events, publications, etc.) as it pertains to your association membership
- With the understanding that this group is only as strong as its members, willingness to share resources as needed and as your association can “afford”. This may include the following:
- Your (or other staff) time or effort on group projects (i.e. web content, graphic design, preparing a whitepaper, hosting a webinar or seminar,
- Your leadership experience, expertise and advice
- Referral of vendors for projects
- Taking turns hosting meetings
- Financial contributions for special group projects
- Reasonable participation and interaction with the group
What are the benefits of membership?
- Inclusion in the ongoing conversation about industry-wide topics, such as workforce development
- Access to resources and information developed or shared by the group
- Right to promote your membership in this group to association members and public
To learn more, please contact one of these association Wood Industry Resource Collaborative representatives:
Tovi Spero, Education Director, AWFS (Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers)
Doug Hague, AWI Executive Vice President, AWIEF (Architectural Woodwork Institute Education Foundation)
Jeff Brown, Director of Education, AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute)
Andrew T. O’Hare, President, CPA (Composite Panel Association)
Mike Turnbull, Vice President, Marketing, International Woodworking Fair, IWF Atlanta
Kevin Gammonley, Executive Vice President, NBMDA (No. American Building Material Distribution Assn.)
Stephanie Owen, Education & Member Engagement Director, NWFA (National Wood Flooring Association)
Michael Battaglia, President and CEO, WMIA (Woodworking Machinery Industry Association)
Fred Stringfellow, Chief Executive Officer, WMMA (Wood Machinery Manufacturers of America)