In the Community

In the fall of 2005, my family decided to move to Northern New Hampshire and open NorthWoods Manufacturing. When we arrived we found a warm, vibrant community that welcomed us with open arms. It was a wonderful thing to begin our new adventure living and working in such a beautiful place. As a result of that warm welcome over a decade ago, NorthWoods and I personally remain committed to giving back to the North Country community in any way we can. I would like to share some of the projects that have helped make NorthWoods Manufacturing the company it is today.

For six years, NorthWoods has helped the Ammonoosuc chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Each year this Habitat chapter builds one house for a deserving local family, and NorthWoods contributes by providing a brand new kitchen for the project home. We treat this project as all of our custom kitchen projects in that we give the new homeowners a choice of wood species, cabinet styles, etc. NorthWoods is proud to be a major supporter of Habitat for Humanity and the important work they do in the North Country.  Click here to learn more about the local chapter and how to get involved in this year’s project.

Most everyone in the North Country has heard of the Lancaster Grand Prix and its’ rich history: it is the oldest snowmobile race in the US! NorthWoods’ involvement in the Grand Prix came about one spring afternoon when a friend stopped in the office to visit. He told me about a group that was working hard to revive a historic snowmobile race. He had me hooked — I wanted to be part of it. Since that time, NorthWoods has been a regular contributor to the Grand Prix. I also contribute my personal time taking photos of the event, which have been used in advertising for the Grand Prix as well as a feature spread in the New Hampshire Snow Mobile Association newspaper. The Grand Prix is something not to be missed.

In the fall of 2006, I became the Cubmaster of the Lancaster, NH Cub Scouts – a title that I still proudly hold. As often happens with small companies, my involvement meant that NorthWoods was also destined to contribute in many ways to the local Scouting effort. Each year we open the NorthWoods shop to scouts working on their Pinewood Derby cars. NorthWoods employees help the scouts cut and sand their derby cars and prepare them for paint. Scouts are encouraged to be as hands-on as possible during these sessions so they may learn basic woodworking skills. NorthWoods is involved with numerous other scouting projects throughout the year. We are proud to have a part in shaping our area youth – they are the future of our community. If you have a son or grandson between the ages of 5 and 18, I urge you to get them involved in scouting.

NorthWoods has begun a partnership with the White Mountains Regional High School (WMRHS), specifically its ELO Program (Extended Learning Opportunity). NorthWoods has opened its offices and shop to high school students considering a career in woodworking, CNC machining, or project management, and allowed them to learn in a hands-on environment. Students spend several hours a week in our facility, working side-by-side with our project managers and CNC operators learning exactly what is required in a shop such as ours. This hands-on learning is invaluable in helping students focus on a career path.  NorthWoods project managers work closely with the CTE department at WMRHS to evaluate the students’ performance as interns. I am excited to see the school embrace ELOs and I am very proud that NorthWoods is a part of this critical learning technique. Students interested in becoming part of this program should meet with their guidance counselor to discuss the opportunities that are being developed at many great local companies.

In addition to these key areas, NorthWoods is always looking for ways to give back to our local community.  If you think we could assist you with your community project, please don’t hesitate to send me an email. Please be sure to include your organization’s name, how you think we may be able to help, and most importantly your contact info – preferably email and phone.