Every year the AWFS organizes a D.C. fly-in event, where leaders of businesses that supply tech and materials for furniture producers meet with lawmakers’ staffs to discuss issues and legislation affecting our industry.  

This was my second year as part of the fly-in team, tasked with bringing lawmakers up to speed our industry’s positive impacts on sustainability, climate change, forest management and local economies and culture.

Our appointments were scheduled for the day after President Trump announced wide-sweeping tariffs in his “Liberation Day” speech on April 2, and few if any of the specifics contained in that address had been shared with lawmakers’ offices ahead of time. Which is why many of the staffers we met — these are the people tasked with taking the myriad calls from constituents and taking meetings with interest groups like ours — looked rather stunned, like someone had just shot their dog.

“We’re just looking for some consistency so we can plan accordingly,” the AWFS team said in every meeting. “We wish we could help you with that, but you know as much about what’s going to happen as we do at this point,” was the refrain from staff members in meeting after meeting.

CTE education
One of the stated goals of the tariffs — onshoring manufacturing — resonates well within our industry and factored into every conversation we had on The Hill. The major challenge: a lack of CTE (career technical education) focused on the wood products industry.

“We love the idea of bringing more production and more jobs back,” Angelo Gangone, Executive VP of AWFS, said in every meeting, “but the truth is, we can’t even fill the open positions we have now. We just don’t have the skilled workforce we’d need.”

It’s not news that this is a critical and ongoing challenge: how to attract, train, and retain skilled workers in an increasingly technology-driven industry.

The key for our industry is targeted initiatives that bridge the gap between education and industry. Tovi Spero, AWFS's Education Director, envisions a strategic approach that goes beyond traditional outreach methods.

“We've stopped using the word ‘woodworking’,” Spero says. “Now we talk about wood manufacturing — a term that immediately signals technology, STEM opportunities, and professional career paths.”

This messaging shift is key. Many still view woodworking as a dusty hobby rather than a high-tech career. By reframing the narrative, AWFS is working to change perceptions and attract a new generation of skilled workers.

Starting local for national impact
One thing we heard repeatedly was, as we pursue national policy shifts toward supporting more CTE programs, it’s critical to start at the local and state level. Not only do these initiatives have more immediate impact; they also help zero in on what approaches work most effectively.

AWFS is working with the Department of Education to create registered apprenticeship programs specifically tailored to wood manufacturing. These programs provide students with a structured pathway into the industry, offering federally recognized credentials that demonstrate their skills and potential.

The fly-in revealed that legislative representatives are increasingly open to these efforts, especially when presented with concrete, local examples. “When we mentioned specific high schools with wood manufacturing programs in a legislator's district, they immediately became interested,” Spero says. This local focus has proven more effective than broad, national appeals.

Raising respect for careers in wood manufacturing
Gangone pointed out one of our top challenges: The woodworking industry lacks the robust union infrastructure that supports apprenticeship programs in other sectors. Industries like carpentry and electrical work have well-established training pipelines, while woodworking is more fragmented.

To address this, AWFS is taking a grassroots approach. The Society of Wood Manufacturing (SWIM) chapter in Southern California serves as a model, creating local networks that connect industry professionals, teachers, and students. These networks facilitate everything from classroom presentations to manufacturing facility tours, giving students a realistic view of career opportunities.

The organization is also expanding its approach, with plans to launch SWIM chapters in other regions. The goal is to create a nationwide network of local advocates who can drive workforce development from the ground up.

Legislative conversations during the fly-in focused on practical support mechanisms. This includes exploring expanded 529 savings plans to support trade education and identifying federal funding sources that can support wood manufacturing training programs.

One model approach includes promoting the wood manufacturing industry to grade-school students, like Indiana’s Woods on Wheels program, which focuses on 4th to 6th graders. Younger generations are increasingly focused on sustainability, so including data on our industry’s positive impacts on healthy forests and climate change may help generate more interest in and respect for careers in our companies.

The main takeaway is clear: workforce development requires active participation. Companies must be willing to invest in training, create apprenticeship opportunities, and work closely with local educational institutions.

As the woodworking industry continues to evolve with advanced technologies like CNC machining and sophisticated design software, the need for skilled workers has never been more critical. AWFS's strategic approach — combining targeted advocacy, local partnerships, and innovative training models — offers a promising path forward.

The future of wood manufacturing depends not just on machinery and materials, but on the skills and creativity we help develop in future generations.

For more information on AWFS’s education initiatives, please reach out to [email protected]