CAREERS
IN THE WOOD-RELATED INDUSTRIES
SEGMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY
Primary -- Sawmill and forestry operations,
extracting and milling of logs
Secondary -- Wood products manufacturing such as
cabinets, millwork, furniture and other wood products
Suppliers -- Companies that make the machinery and
supplies used in wood products manufacturing such as
CNC routers, saws, edgebanders, wood panels, flooring,
veneers, hardware, soft goods such as upholstery and
bedding materials
ALL SECTORS NEED SKILLED WORKERS
 Just like any other industry, there is a vast
range of job types, from sales and marketing, to
design, computer skilled jobs, machine
operation, plant supervision and many more.
 This PowerPoint, which spotlights careers from
the Secondary and Supplier segments, is just a
small sampling of the varied jobs within the
industry.
CAREER PROFILES
The profiles of job positions that follow
are held by industry veterans with many
years experience (and who will need to
be replaced when they retire) as well as
recent students who have found
employment in the industry.
JOB POSITION #1: OWNER,
FURNITURE DESIGN COMPANY
• Martin Goebel, Co-Founder,
Director of Production
• Goebel & Co. Furniture
• Innovative furniture design company,
St. Louis, MO
Job Characteristics
 Create product designs (prototyping)
 Manage production, manufacturing,
the supply chain, contractors and
client relations
 Work with vendors, retailers and
clients
Martin created the
design for “Cruz Stool”
with 3-D modeling
software; he produces it
with CNC technology.
He then creates custom
finishes to please a
variety of customers.
Martin seeks out wood
in the community slated
for removal or felled by
storms.
This table was made
from a salvaged log like
those in the photo.
JOB POSITION #1: OWNER
Martin’s Background:
 Fine Woodworking Certificate from College of the
Redwoods, CA
 BFA, Studio Fine Arts, University of Missouri
 MFA, Furniture Design, Rhode Island School of
Design
JOB POSITION #2:
MACHINE TECHNICIAN
• Luis Rodriguez,
Maintenance Technician
• Wood Manufacturing Technology
Cerritos Community College
• Norwalk, CA
Job Characteristics
Keep machines properly adjusted and clean for
safety and optimum performance
Parts ordering and inventory; work with vendors
and outside technicians
Design jigs for various procedures; create
procedures lists
Work with staff and students on operation of new
equipment
Luis is sharpening
the carbide knives
on the cutter head
of an Oliver planer.
Luis checks the
SawStop table saw,
which has a fleshsensing gauge that
shoots a cartridge
into the saw blade to
stop it instantly. It is
called the “blade
brake safety system.”
Luis is replacing the
overhead table saw
guard and splitter,
which prevents wood
from closing on the
back edge of the blade
and creating a
“kickback.”
JOB POSITION #2: MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN
Luis’ Background:
 AA in Auto Tech (mechanical
background)
 AA in Wood Manufacturing Technology
JOB POSITION #3:
TEXTILE AND SUPPLY SALES
• Gene Valcke, Manager
• Hanes Fabrics Company, a
division of Hanes Industries
• Cerritos, CA
Job Characteristics
 Sales and marketing of textiles and products used
in residential and commercial furnishings
 Identify and assist in development of new products
for furnishings manufacturers
 Evaluate national and regional sales trends
Gene is reviewing a processing order with the slitter operator,
who customizes the cuts needed by various customers.
The upholsterer is
applying construction
textiles over the chair
frame to protect the
padding and upholstery
from abrasion by the
springs.
JOB POSITION #3: TEXTILE AND SUPPLY SALES
Gene’s Background:
 Wayne State University, Marketing and
Geography
Over 40 years experience in home
furnishings and soft goods
JOB POSITION #4:
FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
•Heather Hull, Field Service
Representative
•Stiles Machinery, Inc.
•Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Job Characteristics
 Install and service sliding table
saws, edgebanders, panel saws and
wide belt sanders.
Heather is instructing customers on the proper techniques of the sliding
table saw at a “Lunch and Learn,” an informal gathering sponsored by her
company.
This is the first
beam saw that
Heather installed
on her own.
This is a Brandt
edgebander that
Heather installed
in a high school
shop.
JOB POSITION #4: FIELD SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Heather’s Background:
 Riverside Community College, CA
(electrical training)
 Stiles University, classes in specialized
application
JOB POSITION #5:
SALES AND MARKETING
•Steve Regele,Vice President of
Sales & Marketing
•Blum, Inc.
•Stanley, NC
Job Characteristics
Direct/train the internal marketing and customer
service teams and the external sales force
Develop sales plans in align with corporate
objectives and product program strategies
Prepare budgets
Coordinate product launches in the market
Serve as member of Top Management team
Steve’s job requires
considerable people
contact, both within
and outside of the
organization, so he
is generally a “suit
and tie” guy.
Sales team members
continually hone
their skills and learn
about the features
of new products.
JOB POSITION #5: SALES AND MARKETING
Steve’s Background:
 Mechanical Engineering Degree
 Business Administration Courses
 Involvement with trade associations,
including acting as board member
JOB POSITION #6: MACHINERY SALES
• Vince Burson, Territory Sales Rep
• Biesse America
• Southern California
Job Characteristics
 Cover regional area selling CNC routers,
edgebanders, panel saws and sanders
 Directly contact manufacturing businesses
in the wood and plastics industries
Vince is also a
Luthier—a maker of
musical instruments.
Shown here is a
reproduction of a
Dyer Harp Guitar.
JOB POSITION #6: MACHINERY SALES
Vince’s Background:
 Trained in cabinetmaking
 Sales as a distributor and
manufacturer’s rep covering as many as
15 states
 Self-taught guitar maker
JOB POSITION #7:
ENGINEER TECH AND ESTIMATOR
• Adam Kessler, Engineer Tech and
Estimator
• DatesWeiser Furniture Corporation
• Buffalo, NY
Job Characteristics
 Create CAD drawings, taking into account any material
limitations
 Get quotes for materials or fabrication needing to be
outsourced
 Calculate material and labor costs for furniture pieces
 Check final drawings for accuracy; prepare cut lists, itemized
materials and finishes lists and bill of materials for
production
Adam is making job
packets to go to the
factory floor. These
include the drawings,
cut sheets and bill of
materials.
Adam checks out a
table on the factory
floor. The table has
power/data boxes with
lids, a microphone/
speaker plate (that he
designed) and a flat
screen TV that pops up
out of the base.
Fresh Wood competition winner in 2011!
JOB POSITION #7: ENGINEER TECH AND
ESTIMATOR
Adam’s Background:
 Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY, A.S.
 Buffalo State College, B.S. in Wood/Furniture and
B.S. in Fibers Design
JOB POSITION #8: PRODUCT MANAGER
• Michael Cassell, North American
CNC Product Manager
• Holz-Her USA
• Charlotte, NC
Job Characteristics
 Sales, marketing and support of the CNC
(Computer Numerical Control) Product Line
 Develop sales and marketing materials to support
products
 Teach and assist regional sales managers, dealers
and customers on the product line and its
applications
Mike instructs an
audience of
manufacturers in
CNC technology at
the AWFS®Fair in Las
Vegas, one of the
industry’s largest
woodworking shows.
Holz-Her is a wood
machinery equipment
manufacturer. They sell
edgebanders, vertical
and horizontal panel
saws, wide belt sanders
and CNC machines for
panel processing.
JOB POSITION #8: PRODUCT MANAGER
Mike’s background:
 University of North Carolina
 30 years field experience in machine
tools
JOB POSITION #9: MASTER
WOODWORKER, FURNITUREMAKER
• Paul Schürch, Owner
• Schürch Woodwork
• Santa Barbara, CA
Job Characteristics
 Design/build custom, high-end furniture & architectural
elements, specializing in marquetry and inlay
 Teach skill-building workshops, deliver lectures to
colleges, trade schools and industry fairs throughout
the country
 Creator of videos, books on specialty skills and
furniture design
 Repair of fine antique furniture
Paul is finishing a
custom
marquetry wall
piece in his shop.
A custom chest
with a floral
marquetry
pattern
Paul (top center in
blue) teaches a
week-long
marquetry class in
Arizona. Students
display their
completed projects.
JOB POSITION #9: MASTER WOODWORKER
Paul’s Background:
 Piano and church organ-building
apprenticeship in Switzerland
 Boat building study in England
 Marquetry study in Italy
 Holds title of Master Furniture Maker
JOB POSITION #10:
INSPECTOR OF FINISHED CARPENTRY
• Randa Vargas, Director of
Architectural Services
• Woodwork Institute
• Southern California
Job Characteristics
 Deliver seminars to architects, general contractors
and manufacturers on finish carpentry topics
 Review construction documents for compliance
based on the Architectural Woodwork Standards
manual
 Inspect manufacturers’ shop drawings, product,
product assembly, site conditions and installation
Randa makes a site
inspection to determine
if the jobsite is compliant.
A log tag device (in photo
foreground) is used to
track temperature and
humidity of the room,
critical for the installation
process.
This is a typical
material sheet required
when submitting shop
drawings for inspection
and review by the
architect.
Randa (right) served
as the Editor of the
newsletter for the
San Diego chapter
of the Construction
Specifications
Institute (CSI).
JOB POSITION #10: INSPECTOR OF FINISHED
CARPENTRY
Randa’s Background:
 Chaffey College, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
 Ongoing workshops, seminars and webinars
to stay current with industry
JOB POSITION #11:
SHOP SUPERINTENDENT
• Saúl Martín, Shop Superintendent
• Architectural Woodworking
Company
• Monterey Park, CA
Job Characteristics
 Oversee all shop activity to ensure maximum productivity
 Create/change drawings and generating programs
 Supervise plant crew, hire and fire, train and cross-train
 Diagnose and repair machines that are down and return to
fully functioning state ASAP
 Ensure procedures for safe and clean working environment
Saúl (right) and coworker review a
blueprint to
determine specific
details to be
completed before
shipping.
Preparing a case
that will be
trimmed out.
Saúl and co-worker
at the Point to Point
machine computer
screen going over
parameters of
horizontal boring.
Interiors created by AWC
JOB POSITION #11: SHOP SUPERINTENDENT
Saúl’s Background:
Los Angeles Trade Technical College
Local 721, Cabinetmakers and Millmen,
California Journeyman’s Card
Professional courses in AutoCAD, CNC, Lean
Mfg., Advanced Excel, Point to Point
WHAT ADVICE DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE
FOR YOU?
 Getting a degree can’t hurt.
 We are all born with different talents, skills and abilities. We
add to these through education and experience. No matter
what your job, be involved, show up and learn from the
opportunity.
 If you want to be a maker, understand what you are trying
to design, create or sell. School is a great place to get the
basics. Later you can expand your knowledge base.
WHAT ADVICE DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE
FOR YOU?
 Learn from the ground up, all aspects—don’t think
you are going to start at the top.
 The opportunities are limitless if you put your
mind to it and make yourself marketable. Take a
variety of courses because you never know what
job may end up becoming your passion.
WHAT ADVICE DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE
FOR YOU?
 Stay engaged in your technical courses. These skills are
desperately needed in the woodworking industries.
 Network and try many different things. The more
exposure you have, the better you can determine your
calling.
 Find out as much as you can about the industry. Join
industry associations.
WHAT ADVICE DO THESE PEOPLE HAVE
FOR YOU?
 Learn to work with different materials and develop as
may skills as possible. If interested in the furniture
world, learn CAD.
 Enjoy what you are doing! Don’t be afraid to make
mistakes—they are learning experiences.
 Push yourself to do something you have never done
before or something you love. Make it exciting for
yourself! The more passion you have, the better you
will do.
IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND
PREFERENCES
Do you like…
Then you might like…
Working with, meeting and talking
to people?
Sales, marketing, team leader,
management
Tinkering and fixing things?
Machine operator, machine
technician, furniture
repair/restoration, hardware
sales/installation
Designing and creating
Furniture or cabinet maker, product
designer, machinery
design/engineering
IDENTIFY YOUR STRENGTHS AND
PREFERENCES
Do you like…
Then you might like…
Organizing, creating order and
efficiency
Plant manager, office administrator,
procedures developer, quality
management
Motivating people, public speaking
Team captain, product trainer,
teacher, inspector
Computers
Product design, drawing, CNC
operator, marketing, social media
expert
If you have identified the woodworking
industry as right for you…
there is a place for you, no
matter where your interest
lies!
A huge number of workers are
preparing to retire from this
industry. With preparation,
you can choose the job you
want!
INDUSTRY FACTS
U.S. manufacturing has added workers
in 2010, 2011 and 2012. But one thing
holding back more growth is...
the availability of skilled workers.
There are currently over 600,000
unfilled positions in U.S. manufacturing
due to the lack of skilled labor.
INDUSTRY FACTS
Today’s modernized plants lean heavily on
computers, software and automation, a trend
referred to as “advanced manufacturing.”
The hands-on experiences you gain in CTE
classes will give you an edge in adapting to
these advanced systems.
Manufacturing facilities today are clean, bright,
appealing places to work.
INDUSTRY FACTS
Wood-related companies that
moved to China are coming back!
The competitive advantage has shrunk by
nearly 50% and continues to decrease
due to high shipping costs, rising energy
prices and rising salaries in China.
INDUSTRY FACTS
According to Boston Consulting Group,
residential furnishings is one of seven
segments that will return to U.S.
factories from overseas by 2015.
This could create 2 to 3 million jobs.
Sample Salary Survey
This is an estimated guide to salaries which will fluctuate depending
on number of years and breadth of experience as well as on
geographic region.
Occupation
Cabinetmaker
Coating, Painting and Spraying Machine
Operator
Computer and Info Systems Mgr
Computer Controlled Machine Operator
Designer
Drafter
Estimator
Finisher
Hourly Rate
$13-40
$16
$47
$16-17
$13-40
$20
$13-40
$15
Salaries, cont.
Foreman
Inspector
Installation, Maintenance and Repair
Machinery Maintenance Worker
Marketing Manager
Material Handler
Project Manager
Sales, Mfg. Technical Products
Supervisor of Production and Workers
Woodworking Machine Setter, Operator
$18-40
$18-20
$23-25
$20
$46
$13
$28
$36-40
$22-28
$13-14
From Occupational Employment Statistics, May 2011, the AWI Cost of
Doing Business Report and Cabinet Makers Association Survey, 2011
Want to hear directly from
people in the industry?
Check out this video on jobs in the
architectural woodwork segment of
the industry: http://youtu.be/aCKlbNdpk9Y
Start on your path today.
The woodworking and related
industries will welcome you!
This PowerPoint was prepared by:
Association of Woodworking &
Furnishings Suppliers® (AWFS)
A non-profit trade association based in Commerce, CA,
serving the suppliers to the commercial and residential
furnishings industries. www.AWFS.org