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.
 
“This campaign is the culmination of over three years of communication, research, and hard work,” says WMMA Chief Executive Officer Fred Stringfellow. “Companies in the industry are still struggling to find skilled workers as they grow to meet demand. We are excited to launch this campaign as a way to increase awareness; and to expand the pool of candidates for our future workforce.”
 
The campaign is geared towards two audiences: high school students and those in their mid-20s to late 30s who are seeking a career change, including military veterans. WIRC conducted a survey of these audiences in early 2020 and found that over 70% of all respondents had no awareness of wood industry careers; however, 23% would consider a career in the wood industry.
 
“We realize how critical it is to increase awareness of our industry and the career opportunities which exist for both students and those seeking a career change where they can utilize skills they’ve already developed in the workplace,” says WMIA President and CEO Larry Hoffer. “It is our objective that the You Wood website will serve as a portal for those unfamiliar with the wood industry to learn more and begin exploration of their wood industry-related career journey.”
 
Officially founded in 2018, the charter members of WIRC agreed to the following goals and identified those influencers who can effectively drive interest in the wood industry as a career path (e.g., parents, teachers, social media, and financial resources):

• Attract Employees: Increase student and career-seeker awareness of wood industry careers; increase parent awareness of wood industry careers; increase student engagement; and increase High School counselor awareness of wood industry careers.

 

• Retain Employees: Increase association memberships; improve association member engagement and satisfaction; and improve work culture at member companies.

 

• 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; and involve more associations in WIRC initiatives.

 
“We hope that members of the wood industry will embrace this website and use it as their own,” says Adria Salvatore, AWFS Assistant Executive Director, Education. “This site is a step towards a sustainable skilled talent pipeline for our industry. We look forward to continuing the work and expanding opportunities and resources for employers and job seekers.”
 
Find the WIRC You Wood website here: https://youwood.com/
The campaign media will drive to these targeted landing pages based on audience:

• Teenage Audience: https://youwood.com/wood-industry-passion/
• Young Professional Audience: https://youwood.com/wood-industry-right-job/

 
Follow the WIRC campaign on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wood-Industry-Careers-102616575144662
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodindustrycareers
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/woodindustrycareers
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The CMA and its members have enjoyed many virtual “What’s Your Problem?” discussions over the past few months; however, they are going to pause these sessions since the organization is launching an exciting new virtual webinar program.

Since IWF was cancelled, the CMA decided to move forward with their planned educational seminars by transitioning to an online format. Given the amount of content and speakers connected with the organization, the initial series has evolved into an exciting new webinar program to continue throughout the year. The sessions will be held each Wednesday at noon Eastern Time, and then shared online for anyone who is unable to attend the live event. Each presentation will be followed up with a virtual discussion on the same topic, which we are calling “A Closer Look.” This is a focused dialogue about what was previously presented – essentially an online question and answer session, but with more time to review and digest the presentation.

For the schedule of upcoming webinars and to register, visit www.cabinetmakers.org/events

The webinars are free for members. For non-members interested in participating, the fee is $35 and includes a one-month CMA membership, which can be renewed monthly or converted into an annual membership of $275.

Registration is required to attend, and space is limited.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today published “Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19” to help companies respond in the event of coronavirus in the workplace. The guidance was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).

The document provides practical guidance for preventing the spread of COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, and contains information on safe work practices and appropriate personal protective equipment based on the risk level of exposure.

“Protecting the health and safety of America’s workforce is a key component of this Administration’s comprehensive approach to combating the coronavirus,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “This guidance outlines practical ways that employers and workers can address potential health risks from the coronavirus in their workplaces.”

This guidance is part of the Department of Labor’s ongoing efforts to educate the workers and employers about the COVID-19 outbreak.

• In addition to the guidance, OSHA recently launched a COVID-19 webpage that provides infection prevention information specifically for workers and employers, and is actively reviewing and responding to any complaints regarding workplace protection from novel coronavirus, as well as conducting outreach activities.
• The Wage and Hour Division is providing information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, including effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
• The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs has also published guidance for federal employees and outlines Federal Employees’ Compensation Act coverage as it relates to the novel coronavirus.

For further information about Coronavirus, please visit the HHS’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) is pleased to announce that Dominic Rubino will be the closing keynote speaker at the organization’s 2020 national conference, which will be held March 4-6 in St. Charles, Illinois.

A professional speaker, facilitator, author, and business coach, Dominic Rubino is dedicated to helping woodworking professionals work less and earn more. Through his blog, articles, podcast, and videos Rubino has been teaching business improvement tricks to shop owners for almost two decades.

To leave the CMA 2020 event attendees with a memorable conference experience, Rubino will close the conference with insights about how business owners need a map to get their company to the destination. That map is a strategic plan that portrays what the company will look like over the next five years. Rubino’s presentation will outline specific steps to help attendees figure out WHO will do WHAT by WHEN.

Rubino’s presentation connects the overall event theme of “2020 Vision” and the associated sight lines of driving a car: looking in the rearview mirror to see where we have been, checking the blind spot to see what’s happening around us, and shifting gears to accelerate forward.  After that, according to Rubino, “The rest is just checking the map and making course corrections to get to your destination.”

​You don’t want to miss this event! For more information and to register, visit www.cabinetmakers.org/2020

The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) will once again host a day of local shop tours on October 16, 2019 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The CMA event is in conjunction with the Wood Pro Expo Lancaster, which will be held October 17-18.

On October the 16th, the CMA event will begin with a networking breakfast before the bus departs for School Specialty in Lancaster. The next stop will be Meridian Products in New Holland, PA. Then the group will enjoy lunch at Shady Lane Smorgasbord in East Earl, PA. The day will conclude with a visit to a CMA member shop: Seven Trees Woodworking in New Holland.

The CMA hosts high-value events such as this to connect similar-sized shops with the purpose of sharing best practices and business acumen, while learning how other businesses do what they do. In addition to the shop tours, the events encourage networking by providing an opportunity to talk shop, share issues, and provide solutions. 
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Registration for the full day ofCMA tours is $65 which includes group transportation, breakfast, and lunch. To register for the shop tours and the Wood Pro Expo, visit www.woodworkingnetwork.com/events/wood-pro-expo-lancaster. In 2018, the CMA event sold out, so early registration is encouraged to secure your spot.

The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) announces that Guy Bucey will be the opening keynote speaker at the organization’s 2020 national conference, which will be held March 4-6 in St. Charles, Illinois.

To kick off the CMA’s second national conference, Bucey will share why you should “Stay in Your Lane” when it comes to being an effective leader. Bucey is the COO of Inova, a leading manufacturer and innovator in the furniture industry. Located in upstate New York, Inova focuses on the hospitality, contract, multi-family, student housing, and military markets. Bucey began his career at the company following his service in the Marines and quickly became a role model, known for demonstrating the power of teamwork.

“At Inova, we put a lot of focus on our leadership — we want to be mentors and teachers and not just people who are telling other people what to do. The exact term we use is ‘servant’ leadership,” explained Bucey. “We’re always working to cultivate, train, and teach other employees.”

Bucey’s keynote address coincides with the event theme which focuses on “2020 Vision” and the three sight lines of driving: looking in the rearview mirror to see where we have been, checking the blind spot to see what’s happening around us, and shifting gears to accelerate forward.
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You don’t want to miss this event! For more information and to register, visit www.cabinetmakers.org/2020