Company Founder Introduces Carpentry Students to HempWood®

Greg Wilson, founder of HempWood®, a Murray-based company that produces flooring and lumber products from industrial hemp, met with upper-level carpentry students from the Mayfield/Graves County Area Technology Center (ATC) last week to discuss his company and how HempWood® is featured in construction projects around the world.

Wilson's visit was part of the Power in Partnership Program, a collaboration between the ATC and Graves County Economic Development (GCED).

Wilson also emphasized the importance of mathematics, and how the students' ability to work with numbers, in addition to their construction skills, will make them more marketable as they compete for jobs. He noted that HempWood® is built around the Fibonacci sequence, a special list of numbers first recognized more than 2,000 years ago. This mathematical pattern is often found in art, design, computer engineering, and even in nature, in the design of flower petals, pinecones, and seashell spirals.

"It's great to see the next generation in classes like this. In the late '90s I took carpentry and manufacturing classes in a tech high school. Thank you for letting me pay it forward," said Greg Wilson.

"Presentations like this are eye-opening for our students," said Kevin Hutchens, ATC carpentry instructor. "Construction is an ever-changing field, and to be successful, our students will need to adapt to new materials, technologies, and processes. We're grateful to Greg and to HempWood® for introducing our students to these innovative products and sharing their creative approach. Thanks also to Graves County Economic Development for helping make these visits possible."

GCED President Jason Lemle emphasized the value of connecting students with employers like HempWood® while they are still forming the skills and mindsets that will lead to successful careers in the future: "Power in Partnership provides outstanding opportunities for the ATC students to get an inside track and see for themselves just what it means to be part of an exciting, innovative industry. But none of this is possible without the support from our local companies. Together, we are putting the pieces in place for economic growth now and in the future."

HempWood® uses a patented process to transform hemp fibers and protein-based bonding agents to create a viable wood substitute that can be used for anything typically made with wood. Proud to be made in the USA, HempWood® is dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of the building materials industry through innovation and collaboration with local Kentucky farmers.

The ATC's carpentry program is designed to prepare students for employment in the residential and commercial construction industry. Students are involved in blueprint reading, layout, fabrication, walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs of structures. Students will use several forms of materials such as wood, metal, plastics, fiberglass, Styrofoam, and concrete in the construction process. The care and safe use of hand tools, power tools, and equipment is emphasized during training. The ATC is located on the Mayfield High School campus and educates students from Mayfield Independent Schools, Graves County High School and Carlisle County High School.

Power in Partnership visits will continue throughout the school year.