Monday, June 2, 2025
The National Woods Board (NWB) declared that four new members had been added to its board of directors. Through a ground-breaking program to revolutionize woodworking education and link qualified individuals with companies in the industry, the NWB, a non-profit organization, is directly addressing the workforce crisis.
Mark Smith has been a secondary and post-secondary educator for thirty years, creating and implementing computer-integrated manufacturing curricula with an eye toward the wood industry. He teaches woodworking at Reed Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois. Both the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS) College of Woodworking Knowledge and the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee are currently chaired by him. Smith received the 2024 Wooden Globe Award from the Wood Industry Association, which honored him as the Educator of the Year.
Since 2005, Nicole Carter has served as Widefield School District 3’s Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Carter’s duties include managing CTE funds and state standards, as well as advising the MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab) on curriculum for skilled trade programs that correlate with industry certifications via the Career Development Incentive Program.
Jason Greenwood is the president of JB Cutting Inc., a Mount Clemens, Michigan-based full-service producer of three-dimensional laminate MDF components. Greenwood has thirty years of expertise in operations management and manufacturing, with a particular emphasis on lean techniques and continuous improvement. He worked in the aerospace sector for most of his career, primarily in tooling and power transmission equipment for major aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.
Custom Source Woodworking Inc. (CSW), located in Turnwater, Washington, is owned and operated by Joe Wadsworth. CSW is a member of the Woodwork Institute and the Architectural Woodwork Institute. Over his more than 40 years in the field, Wadsworth has remained committed to introducing the next generation to fulfilling employment in woodworking. “It’s fantastic to welcome these four new voices to the board,” exclaimed 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.” Additionally, LeTorneau expressed gratitude to departing board members Kelly Victor-Burke, Shane Skalla, Rob Rozell, and Tim Kistler for their previous contributions. “I think I speak for the entire NWB board in acknowledging their valuable service and commitment to the organization.”
The NWB is creating a nationwide program for education, job placement, and worker training in the woodworking sector. A scalable curriculum model created for high schools and post-secondary educational institutions throughout North America is the organization’s main project. Students who complete this curriculum, which was created in collaboration with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), will receive industry-recognized credentials, structured training, and information about career options in woodworking.
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