My entry into luthiery was initially through playing the guitar and being a tinkerer. I tore my first guitar apart, as well as my second, and my third. Growing up I attended Purdue Lafayette’s summer guitar workshop. That program was my first exposure to actual luthiery. I built an electric guitar there. It wasn't very good but it was an honest first try. In high school I placed highly in a state art competition entering two guitars that I constructed completely out of popsicle sticks One acoustic and one electric. Both instruments are no longer reasonably playable however I have definitely always been drawn to the more offbeat side of luthiery.

After college I got a part time job working at Billy O’s Dynamite Music in Griffith Indiana. I was originally hired for online sales but I managed to work my way on the bench. Bill, the owner taught me how to correctly set up instruments and perform routine service. I performed mostly setups, minor electronics repair and intonation).