Friday, May 16, 2025
The Wood Industry Association (WIA) has announced Next Step of West Michigan as the winner of the prestigious 2025 Wooden Globe Award for Educator of the Year. The announcement was made during the WIA Annual Business Meeting at the Wood Industry Conference (WIC) in Scottsdale, Arizona. David Bult accepted the award on behalf of Next Step, highlighting the organization’s commitment to advancing woodworking education and workforce development.
The Educator of the Year award celebrates institutions that excel in preparing skilled professionals for careers in the woodworking sector through innovative training and advocacy. Next Step of West Michigan earned this distinction for its impactful vocational programs, including the Adult Wood Training Program and the High School Wood Tech Program, both based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Since its inception in 2020, the Adult Wood Training Program has delivered an intensive seven-week curriculum focusing on hands-on woodworking skills and job readiness. With six cohorts annually, the program maintains a 77% job placement and retention rate, equipping participants for roles in woodworking, furniture manufacturing, and construction industries.
In 2022, Next Step expanded its offerings with the High School Wood Tech Training Program, a project-based course providing students with industry-recognized credentials such as the Woodworkers Career Alliance Sawblade Certification. This program prepares high school students for internships and careers in modern wood manufacturing.
Over the last 12 years, Next Step of West Michigan has supported over 250 individuals in launching successful woodworking careers. The WIA commended the organization’s dedication to workforce growth and its vital role in nurturing the next generation of woodworking professionals.
This award reinforces Next Step’s position as a leader in woodworking education and highlights the critical role of specialized training programs in sustaining the wood industry’s skilled labor pipeline.
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Tags: Educator of the Year, Next Step of West Michigan, vocational training, WIA award winners, Wood Industry Association, Wood Industry Conference, wood manufacturing training, Wooden Globe Award 2025, woodworking careers, woodworking education, workforce development
