Bio
Born and raised in central Minnesota, I've always been drawn to working with wood. My grandfather was a master carpenter and cabinet maker, though I never knew him well as he passed away when I was very young.  Although I never worked along side him, his legacy and the many structures and items he left behind have inspired me to pursue and understand “how he did that”.  As I began a new life with my wife Faye, woodworking became a necessity.  The "turn of the century" home we purchased was in great disrepair and we did not have the money to hire the work done.  As our family grew, I had more time to dedicate to woodworking as a hobby.  Then in 2006, I purchased my first lathe and it was love at first shaving.  My woodturning obsession inspired me to share my passion and skill with others.  In 2008 I was instrumental in forming the Central Minnesota Woodturners Group, a sub-group of the Central Minnesota Woodworkers Association . In fall of 2010 our group had grown to 35 members and a decision was made to create the Mid Minnesota Association of Woodturners, a local chapter of the American Association of Woodturners (AAW). I've learned so much in the short time I’ve been turning. The desire to try new things is what fuels my passion to make unique items from unique pieces of wood.  I'm committed to using only found and discarded logs or trees lost to natural causes.  I’ll leave the living trees for future generations to behold.

Founding Member and Past President and Board member of the Mid Minnesota Association of Woodturners
Member of the: Minnesota Woodturners Association, American Association of Woodturners, Segmented Woodturners, Visual Arts Minnesota and the American Craft Council
Board Member of the Paramount Center for the Arts (2014-2017) Member of the Visual Arts Advisory board (2012-2017)

 
Woodturning Education (direct and indirect):

• Hands-on class:
  • Mark Gardner   
  • Trent Bosch
  • Dixie Biggs
  • Ashley Harwood
  • Kirk DeHeer
    
  •  Avelino Samuel 
• All Day demos by:
  • Jamie Donaldson 
  • Michael Hosaluk
  • Bill Grumbine
  • Molly Wilton 
• Other Demo (Symposiums and AAW Chapter meetings) 
  • David Ellsworth
  • John Jordan
  • Richard Raffan
  • Mike Jackofski 
  • Liam O'Neill
  • Malcolm Tibbetts
  • John Lucas
  • Jerry Kermode
  • Jimmy Clewes
  • Glen Lucas
  • Al Stirts
  • Betty Scarpino
  • Andrew Potocnik
  • Tania Radda
  • Rudy Lopez
  • John Wessels

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​  Here I am, pictured with fellow MWA member George Martin (left) Avelino Samuel (middle and myself (right).
  Avelino is from St. John in the Virgin Islands. I had the opportunity to spend the day and learn from this             incredible talented man. 

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