LANCASTER, Pa. - Greg Pilotti has been running a successful custom furniture and case good business in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania for his entire career. He's 27.
Trained in his field through the commercial woodworking program at Lancaster's Thaddeus Stevens State College, Pilotti is already a seasoned manager who has carefully charted a plan for aggressively growing his business - accomplishments acknowledged in July when he received the 2017 Wood Industry 40 Under 40 Award in Las Vegas.
Young enough to be in touch with the mind-set and expectations of incoming generation of workers, at Wood pro Expo Pilotti will share his insights and the techniques he uses to attract and hold young workers in the field - including outreach through social media.
"A lot of people tell me that they can even find applicants for jobs," Pilotti says. "I have two or three people lined up for every opening." But that's only half the battle, he notes.
"You have to be willing to work with them and understand their expectations if you want to keep them," Pilotti says.
Pilotti's passion for the industry, and his conviction that it is a great career path, is also conveyed by his contninued relationship with his alma mater. Pilotti is also teaching some classes there, and during Wood Pro Expo will assist the Woodworking Network team in assembling a job board for job seekers and employers on-site at, October 19-20, 2017, at the Lancaster Host Resort Expo Center.
Pilotti's presentation is on October 20 during a noon-time Lunch & Learn on the approach he takes to bring in applicants.
Lancaster is home to Thaddeus Stevens State College, which offers four educational programs tailored to woodworking and related design:
- Carpentry Technology
- Cabinetmaking & Wood Technology
- Residential Remodeling Technology
- Architectural Technology
In training for residential and light commercial construction work, carpentry technology students use up-to-date equipment and the newest technology in the building industry.
Greg Pilotti
Pilotti's was a winner of the 2017 Wood Industry 40 program, which honors the next generation of people likely make an impact on the wood products manufacturing industry in North America. Awards presented at the Leadership Conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center on July 18.
Pilotti's award recognized his successful entrepreneursip in launching a successful custom furniture and cabinetry business that he built from the ground up. His vision of running his own furniture shop, creating timeless pieces of furniture using the finest techniques has come to fruition.
Following his studies under master craftsman at Thaddeus Stevens School of Technology, he added historically inspired designs to produce heirloom quality furniture.
Building his business to ensure his family would be financially secure, Pilotti was described by his nominator as " Determined. Thoughtful. Committed." Says Pilotti, "Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of your life like most people can't."
Learn more about Wood Pro Expo.
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