POTOMAC FALLS, Va.  ─ The Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) has announced the recent appointment of Adria Salvatore as Education Director.

Salvatore brings 17 years of experience at the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS), a national trade association in the wood products manufacturing industry whose members are machinery and supply providers. In her departing role as AWFS Association Director, she focused on Membership, Association and AWFS Fair Education, and Public Policy. 

At AWI, Salvatore’s responsibilities include: education outreach with AWI chapters; the AWI Speakers Bureau; educational programming for the annual convention and Spring Leadership Conference; educational support of AWI standards and compliance; and overall support and strengthening of the architectural woodwork industry and AWI members through education.

“We are delighted to welcome Adria to our staff.  She will fill a mission-critical niche and help AWI elevate our education programs to a new level of service for the architectural woodwork community.  We look forward to employing her talents and expertise to expand our education programming,” said AWI CEO Doug Hague.

“I am very excited to join the AWI team to support AWI Members and our industry through education. I have had the fortunate opportunity to partner with AWI on education initiatives during my tenure at AWFS, and it was always a positive experience. It’s clear that education is at the heart of AWI’s mission and I am proud to help advance that mission,” Salvatore said.

While at AWFS Salvatore was responsible for the College of Woodworking Knowledge educational conference program, and the Fresh Wood student woodworking competition, both featured at the biennial AWFS Fair. She oversaw projects that support industry-education and career and technical education (CTE) such as AWFS’ “Meet the New Face of Manufacturing” industry advocacy campaign; the WoodIndustryEd.org searchable database website; and AWFS’ relationship with SkillsUSA California, including management of the state woodworking contests. Salvatore was the AWFS' representative on the Wood Industry Resource Collaborative, a coalition of industry associations that include AWI and are dedicated to workforce development through its YouWood.com website and campaign. She also managed AWFS’ Public Policy efforts, including the annual DC fly-in, which is focused on support of workforce development, Perkins funding, and CTE programs.

Salvatore has a BS in Finance and an MBA in Marketing, both from California State University, Long Beach.  She lives in Orange County, California, with her partner Adam (a professional woodworker) and her daughter.  She can be reached at [email protected].

Founded in 1953, the Architectural Woodwork Institute is a professional trade association of nearly 2,000 members that publishes industry standards for interior architectural woodworking. It also provides industry-leading education and networking opportunities for woodwork manufacturers, architects, suppliers, general contractors, and associates.