GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The National Woods Board (NWB) announced the appointment of four new members to its board of directors.

The NWB is a non-profit organization tackling the workforce challenge head-on with a groundbreaking initiative to transform woodworking education and connect skilled workers with industry employers. 

Mark Smith is a woodworking instructor at Reed Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois, and has been an educator at the secondary and post-secondary level for 30 years developing and implementing computer-integrated-manufacturing curriculum with a view towards the wood industry. He currently serves as chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee and the Association of Woodworking & Furnishing Suppliers (AWFS) College of Woodworking Knowledge committee. The Wood Industry Association recognized Smith as the Educator of the Year with the Wooden Globe Award in 2024.

Nicole Carter is the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Widefield School District 3 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a role she has held since 2005. Among her responsibilities, Carter oversees CTE grants and state requirements and provides curriculum guidance for skilled trade programs at the MiLL (Manufacturing Industry Learning Lab), aligning with industry certifications through the Career Development Incentive Program.

Jason Greenwood is president of JB Cutting Inc., a full-service manufacturer of three-dimensional laminate MDF components based in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Greenwood has 30 years of manufacturing and operations management experience, with a strong focus on continuous improvement and lean methodology. The bulk of his career was spent in the aerospace industry where mainly focused on power transmission products and tooling for large aircraft manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

Joe Wadsworth is CEO and owner of Custom Source Woodworking Inc. (CSW) in Turnwater, Washington. CSW is a member of both the Architectural Woodwork Institute and Woodwork Institute. Throughout his more than four decades in the industry, Wadsworth has remained passionate to introduce the next generation into rewarding woodworking careers.

"It's fantastic to welcome these four new voices to the board,” said John LeTorneau, NWB president. "I look forward to working closely with each of them to advance this vital trade and ensure its future success by fostering growth for the next generation of skilled woodworkers.”

LeTorneau also thanked exiting board members Tim Kistler, Rob Rozell, Shane Skalla and Kelly Victor-Burke for their past service. “I think I speak for the entire NWB board in acknowledging their valuable service and commitment to the organization.”

The NWB is developing a national solution for workforce training, education, and job placement in the woodworking industry. The organization’s key initiative is a scalable curriculum model designed for high schools and post-secondary institutions across North America. This curriculum, developed in partnership with the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA), provides students with standardized training, industry-recognized credentials and awareness of woodworking career opportunities.