A North Carolina native, Don has called Western North Carolina his home for almost 40 years. He obtained a BA in psychology from NC State University, an MS in rehabilitation counseling from East Carolina University, and a PhD in Child & Family Studies from UNC-Greensboro. After moving to Asheville in 1984, he opened a private practice specializing in mental health issues and relationship counseling, and he founded several addiction treatment facilities. Both prior to moving to WNC and afterward, he could often be found working on a wood project... rehabbing old houses, building new ones, or simply enjoying a wood project in the basement.

Since retiring in 2015, Don has devoted more time and energy to his passion. He currently enjoys building floating shelves and live-edge coffee, end, and sofa tables, making coat racks with handcrafted metal far hooks, and creating interesting charcuterie trays and cutting boards. Many of his recent products are made from 100-year-old chestnut barnwood from Eastern Tennessee.

Don has always enjoyed the challenge of designing interesting and functional wood items. Given the unique characteristics of wood, all of Don's creations are one-of-a-kind pieces of wood art.