NORTH LIBERTY, IA - Don't miss your chance to nominate a rising star for Woodworking Network’s 11th annual Wood Industry 40 Under 40, an award program that honors young professionals who are shaping the future of the North American woodworking industry.

Nominate a team member or enter yourself at wdwrk.net/submit40u40 by May 11. 

Eligible candidates must be 40 or younger by Dec. 31, 2026, and be involved professionally in the North American woodworking industry. The 40 Under 40 recognizes achievements in the categories of: operational excellence (productivity, profitability, and organizational leadership); innovation (ingenuity, product development, and/or technical innovation); and industry or community impact (social good, peer inspiration, and mentorship). The Wood Industry 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 is sponsored by PaintLine and Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. (PLM).

Persons in all job levels, in all sectors of the professional woodworking industry, are eligible. Past honorees have been involved in the cabinetry, residential and contract furniture, closets/home organization, architectural woodwork, retail fixtures, and wood components markets, as well as related segments, including research, education, and associations.

Nominees will be judged by Woodworking Network’s editorial team. To ensure a competitive application, please provide specific examples of the nominee’s achievements and their measurable impact on their organization, the industry, or the community. Honorees will be notified via email, and those selected will be recognized online, at the Leadership Reception to be held Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5:30-7:30, at the Georgia World Congress Center during IWF, and in print in FDMC’s October “Leadership” issue.  (View the 2025 issue.)

Nominations close May 11. For more information on Woodworking Network’s Wood Industry 40 Under 40, or to view past honorees, visit woodworkingnetwork.com/40under40 or email Karen Koenig at [email protected].

Woodworking Network's Wood Industry 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 is sponsored by PaintLine and Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Co. (PLM).