Our graduates are employed by Chicago's top companies producing the finest cabinets, furniture, architectural millwork and musical instruments in the world!
Audrey, Lyon & Healy Harps
Audrey's claim to fame is graduating with the historic first class of the Woodworkers Training Program and achieving 25 YEARS on the job at Lyon & Healy Harps!!! She uses both hand tools and machines to craft the finest concert harps made.
Melvin, Closet Works
Melvin took charge of the second shift at Closet Works, Inc. after demonstrating his mastery of CNC skills and people skills. Here Melvin is setting up the computer controlled panel saw for a project.
Daniel, Holly Hunt, Ltd
Daniel used the skills he learned at Greater West Town project to start his career in fine furniture making at Troscan Design. He has since moved on to Holly Hunt Ltd. where he supervises the shop producing high-end custom furniture.
Randy, Owl Hardwood Lumber Company
Randy has 12 years of experience running a moulder, one of the most complicated machines in the woodworking industry. He built on what he learned at Greater West Town to learn this in-demand skill on the job at Owl Hardwood Lumber.
Alexa, Bridgewater Studio
After 15 weeks of training at GWTP, Alexa's hard work earned her a fabulous opportunity to work as a woodworker and CNC operator. Within a week of graduation she was hired by the only full service digital and scenic fabrication studio in Chicago, where she has continued to learn new skills and excel, and has been employed since.
Andrei, A&M Wood Specialty
Andrei is shown here in training using a router to finish the edge on a Corian solid surface countertop. After graduation he was placed at A&M a manufacturer of custom trim and mouldings and specialty wood products.
Josalan, Skyline Furniture
Josalan is shown here in training installing cabinet hardware. She started working immediately after graduation at Skyline Furniture where she assembles fine furniture sold by some of the most well known retailers in the country.
Demetrius, Lyon & Healy Harps
Demetrius works on one of the most critical parts of a concert harp, here we see him inspecting the soundboards that he has matched and glued-up.
At 20 years old, Terrell Marshall was one of the younger students to enroll in GWTP’s Woodworking & Solid Surface Manufacturing Program. Prior to enrolling in the program, Terrell had worked as an in-home caretaker and jumped around different retail jobs, but was looking to start a career, but more importantly, a career that he would actually enjoy. “Since I have left high school, I have been trying to find something that I would like to do” says Terrell. “I knew that I like to work with my hands, so when I was told about the program, I couldn’t pass it up.” As an additional motivator to establishing a steady career to support himself, Terrell became a single father during training, so his ambitious goal setting became even more serious. Shipping & Receiving Instructor, Agustin Jaramillo, also leads a weekly resiliency and goal-setting program called Tuning Impossible to Possible (TIP), and he stated that “Terrell had a kid while in training, and he knew motivation paid off, and while also participating in GWTP’s Transitional Jobs Program, Terrell interviewed and was hired by Aztec Plastic, a company that specializes in custom injection molding of special thermoplastic, thermosetting, and composite materials. While his first role with the company was working in the warehouse, his familiarity with the operation of CNC machines through his training at GWTP, quickly led to his promotion to a machine operator, fabricating components for the aerospace industry. He found a career that he enjoys, and has the potential for future growth with a high-demand company.
