I was playing with wood in my Grandfather's shop as early as I can remember, and my first paid job was "sweeper" at Peters' Wooden Toy Factory. After 2 years at the University of Colorado, and 3 years in the United States Army, I enrolled at Colorado State University, receiving a B.S. with honors in Wildlife Biology and a M.S. in Watershed Science.

These degrees didn't keep me out of the woods. I was employed in industrial, commercial, and residential construction before starting my own cabinet and furniture shop in 1980. Chair making and repair led me to the lathe; obsession followed. In 1994 I co-founded the Rocky Mountain Woodturners, in Fort Collins, Colorado, and served as president for the first three years. I continue to support the club as program director.

I am also a member of the Front Range Woodeturners in Denver, Colorado, the American Association of Woodturners (AAW), the Woodturning Center, the Collectors of Wood Art, and the International Wood Collectors Society. I am a part-time faculty member of Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the John C Cambell Folk School, Brasstown, North Carolina.