LINCOLN, Neb. — The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America elected Brian Bond, professor of Sustainable Biomaterials at Virginia Tech, as chairman of the board of directors. Additionally, the WCA Board selected Mark Smith, an industrial technology teacher at Reed-Custer High School, as chairman of the WCA Education Committee.

Bond, who is also associate dean for Extension, Outreach, and Engagement at Virginia Tech, will serve as chairman for a one-year term. He has been a member of the WCA Board of Directors since 2009. Bond was instrumental in helping develop the format of the WCA Skill Standards, the core of the WCA’s Passport credentialing program.

"The WCA is in good hands with Brian at the helm,” said Scott Nelson, president of the WCA. “Through his long-standing dedication to fostering excellence in woodworking education, Brian has been a valuable member of the WCA team and has helped us propel our mission forward.”

Smith has been a woodworking instructor for nearly three decades including the last six years at Reed-Custer High School in Braidwood. In 2014, Smith was one of the first woodworking instructors to become a WCA-accredited skill evaluator. Over the years, Smith has helped hundreds of high school students earn their WCA Sawblade certificates. He is also a frequent presenter at industry events and is well-versed in using social media platforms to promote his program to the woodworking industry.

"Mark's dedication and expertise to making his woodworking student’s workforce ready makes him perfectly positioned to run the Education Committee,” Nelson said. “Under his guidance, we anticipate significant advancements in our educational initiatives. The WCA will also greatly benefit from his social media expertise."

In addition to Smith, the WCA is welcoming a new team of members to the Education Committee including:

•    Rich Christianson, Richson Media, Chicago.
•    Lizzy Conley, Madison College, Madison, Wis.
•    Kristine Cox, Rowland Woodworking, High Point, N.C., SkillsUSA Manufacturing and member WCA Board of Directors
•    Tim Fixmer, CCI Media/Woodworking Network, North Liberty, Iowa
•    Kent Gilchrist, Fremont Interiors, Indianapolis, Ind., SkillsUSA/Manufacturing and member WCA Board of Directors
•    Chris Hofmann, Colonial Saw, Kingston, Mass.
•    Daniel Kern, Montgomery Central High School, Troy, N.C. and WCA Chief Evaluator
•    Adria Salvatore, Architectural Woodwork Institute, Potomoc Falls, Va.
•    Le Snelling, Silverton High School, Silverton, Ore.
•    John Stearns, Amity School District, Amity, Ore., and member WCA Board of Directors

Responsibilities of the Education Committee include overseeing the WCA Essential Benefits Package and Greg Heuer EDUcation Scholarship Fund, plus advancing the WCA through social media.