Industry groups produce career awareness video

The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers, Architectural Woodwork Institute, and Woodwork Career Alliance have collaborated on a video promoting careers in the wood industry that will run on public television stations.

The six-minute video is part of the “In Depth with Laurence Fishburne” series. There’s also a one-minute version airing on cable networks, including Fox Business Network.

“We are so excited to partner with In Depth on this video project,” Angelo Gangone, executive vice president of the AWFS, said in a statement. “This is a fantastic way to reach a new audience through In Depth’s distribution channels. By collaborating with AWI and WCA, we could access the fantastic manufacturing facility at Hollywood Woodwork, add more voices to the story, and ensure that our industry’s skill standards are included in the conversation.”

The video showcases Hollywood Woodwork, an employee-owned millwork and casework company in Hollywood, Fla, run by AWI president Sebastien DesMarais. It also features Brian Joyce, vice president of sales at Blum Inc.; AWI executive vice president Doug Hague, WCA president Scott Nelson, and Jennifer Glender, senior project manager at Hollywood Woodwork, who talk about the skills needed for wood industry careers, education and training opportunities, and job opportunities.

“This was a unique opportunity, and it was important that WCA could participate in it,” says Nelson. “We are very satisfied with the end-product and hope this can be an asset that our industry can continue to use to introduce wood manufacturing to our future workforce and the general public.” 

This article was originally published in the July 2021 issue.