AWFS to feature new expo area: The Campus

The Campus, an area on the show floor focusing on developing or showcasing the skills of woodworkers of America, will debut at this summer's AWFS fair in Las Vegas. The Campus will have three distinct areas, all focused on industry skills and training opportunities:

WorldSkills

Premiering at the AWFS fair will be the WorldSkills Cabinetmaking Qualifying Trial. WorldSkills is an international career technical education training organization. Students from countries around the world will compete for gold medals.

SkillsUSA is the authorized national organization that selects and determines the competitors that will represent the U.S. at WorldSkills Qualifying Trial and will determine the competitors for WorldSkills Leipzig (Germany) in 2013. The competition will take place for three days during the AWFS fair. Attendees can watch students build projects showcasing their cabinet construction and woodworking skills.

"SkillsUSA is an important industry education organization and we are pleased to partner with them on such an exciting event," AWFS executive vice president Angelo Gangone said in a release. "Our intent is to increase awareness of SkillsUSA among our exhibitors and attendees and emphasize the importance of skilled trades to the future of the industry."

smartSHOP

The smartSHOP, a fully operational cabinet shop on the exhibit floor, will showcase "Simplicity in Automation for the Small Shop."

SmartSHOP will be hosted by industry expert Gero Sassenberg and other professionals available to answer questions or show how machinery and software can improve the process of cabinet construction from data input software to cabinet assembly. While doing demonstrations, the smartSHOP will produce cabinets for the Animal Foundation of Las Vegas.

The Woodwork Career Alliance

The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America will debut the Woodwork Passport Credentialing program by offering live operational evaluations using the Woodwork Manufacturing Skill Standards. The Woodwork Passport is a portable, personal, permanent record of a woodworker's level of competency in tool and machine operations. This credential will advance the worker's knowledge, skill and professionalism needed to sustain and grow the woodwork industry.

For information, visit www.awfsfair.org.