The Story of the Chief Artisan

---

I began woodworking as a young child, working in my grandfather's shop. He was a master craftsman, and teacher. His passion for taking raw wood and transforming it into something unique and beautiful was contagious. I think I lived in his shop. After school, I would run home to get over to grandpa's shop. All the while, spending many hours learning to create. Whether it was milling lumber, cutting intricate patterns on the scroll saw, or turning a bowl on the lathe, my grandfather ignited my passion for fine woodworking, and taught me everything. He would be fascinated by all the tools and technology, especially the CNCs we have now. Yet, he would still prefer to take everything in by hand. 

What is in a name? The Denali Llama is a name that has been in my mind since the early 1990's. I worked for a large helicopter services company based in Oregon. Our fleet of 160 aircraft operated in many countries, including right here in the United States. One of our contracts, put us flying search and rescue operations in Alaska at the United States' tallest peak, Denali. Our aircraft was the the Aérospatiale SA 315B Lama. With its Artouste powerplant, it was the perfect high-altitude helicopter. If I remember correctly, this is the first commercial helicopter to land on the summit of Denali. Our lead pilot for this operation had quite the sense of humor, and christened the helicopter, "The Denali Lama". This was probably around 1992-ish. She held true to the name, and was a high-altitude pack animal.

Fast-forward 40 years, and here I am...

I love to help our customers bring their vision to reality. I would love the opportunity to create a unique, heirloom piece for you.