Jim Wisser

Craftsperson, 2014

I support our craftspeople by selecting wood from the rough mill, so it will match up perfectly on the piece they’re building. It takes a while to be good at it, and I take pride in doing it well, especially on something like Dr. White’s Chest. Getting all the wood to match on a piece that large is a challenge.

The people here care about their work, but even more about their co-workers. One time, I jumped in to help one of the guys who was having difficulty gluing an oversized tabletop. It took us a little while, but we finally got it. The next day, a card was on my bench thanking me for going above and beyond. It’s just one small example of what kind of people we have on the team.

“Every other Friday afternoon, we get the chance to work on our own woodworking projects. It’s a great way to learn from the best and create pieces for our homes.”