Elias Cortez, a 25-year-old, second-generation woodworker, says he was born for the woodwork industry.

PLANT TOUR Walk through Golden Casework's new plant Elias Cortez posted photos of his operation in the Show Us Your Shop channel.

NOMINATIONS FOR 40 UNDER 40 CLOSE MAY 1

"My father taught me all about the woodwork industry from a young age. He taught me everything, like how to maintain a clean shop, how to fabricate, how to install, how to draw up a whole $140,000 project."

Cortez opened up his own business in three years ago, and then, in 2016, "Due to heavy demand of work, I decided to optimize my shop and I invested in CNC machinery and software to boost my production line. I would be lying if I said I was not scared."

In recognition of his risk-taking and ambition, Cortez has been nominated for the 2017 Wood Industry 40 Under 40 Award. Launched last year, the first crop of winners were honored at the IWF 2016 expo. Nominations are open for the 2017 awards, which take place July 18 at the Wood Industry Leadership Reception, at the las Vegas Convention Center, the night before AWFS Fair woodworking show opens.

Winners receive recognition at the even and experienced an opportunity to bond and network at the 2016 celebration. 40 Under 40 winners also receive continuous opportunities to raise their profile at key industry events during the year.

• At the 2017 Executive Briefing Conference in Detroit next month, 40 Under 40 winners will meet up at the reception April 14, and no doubt meander later to the Detroit Westin Motor Bar. Thrillist says it's the top hotel bar in the city, and the remodeled Westin - once a hulking, boarded up cadaver of a building - now boasts one of the top U.S. restaurants, Roast. The Executive Brief Conference will tour Fanuc Robots and Ford's F10 aluminum truck plant.
• During the Wood Industry Conference, where suppliers meet annually, a panel of 2016 40 Under 40 winners is being flown in, including Casey Bell, COO of Bellmont Cabinets; Carly Boudrea, president of furniture manufacturer Coriander Designs; Guy Bucey, operations manager at commercial furniture maker Inova Designs; and Todd T.R. Herzog, president of Accu-Router.
• At the 2017 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas, last year's 40 Under 40 winners will have a reunion at the 2017 Wood Industry 40 Under 40 awards event. It's July 18, following the day-long Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, which will also feature a 40 Under 40 panel with Sauder Woodworking's Jonathan Zublena, J Alexander Fine Woodworking's Jared Patchin.