MADISON, Wis. -- Patrick Molzahn, the long-time director of Madison College’s Cabinetmaking & Millwork program officially retired Dec. 31.

Molzahn was a fixture of Madison College's prestigious cabinetmaking program for more than 25 years. Fittingly, his successor, Lizzy Conley, was one of the more than 400 students he taught. 

In addition to his storied career at Madison College, Molzahn was a founding member of the Woodwork Career Alliance Board of Directors. He was instrumental in helping shape the WCA’s mission to develop and grow a skilled woodworking workforce by creating a credentialing system that offers career pathways to professional woodworkers. In addition, Molzahn helped craft the WCA Skill Standards and created numerous videos in the Training Resources that are available to EDUcation and MANufacturing members. 

In 2008, Molzahn was named Educator of the Year by the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (now part of the Woodworking Industry Association), In 2018, he became the first person ever to earn the WCA’s Diamond Credential. He also authored the 5th and 6th editions of Modern Cabinetry, a textbook that thoroughly covers the how-to of woodworking.

In the accompanying video, Molzahn reflects on his time with the college and the Cabinetmaking program with Bryan Woodhouse, Dean of Technology & Trades. He also discusses his retirement plans, including lots of traveling, beginning with an adventurous trek to Antarctica.