Inventionland (IL): What inspired you to get into woodworking?

Jonathan Moran (JM): My father. He was a woodworker and had a business. From a young age, I helped him rebuild furniture. That’s when my interest started.

IL: How do you study woodworking? IE, were you privately trained or self-taught, etc.

JM: I’m completely self-taught: trial and error.

IL: What are some of the challenges you commonly face as a woodworker?

JM: Probably the biggest challenge- and it’s why I love woodworking- is when customers want something custom and I need to think of a way to meet their needs and requirements. I like being challenged and I’ve always been the type to get bored easily. Woodworking is a profession that constantly lets me think outside of the box, create something functional but aesthetically pleasing. Especially if they’re paying me lots of money (laughs).

IL: Why do you think there’s such a large revival for crafts like wood and metalworking?

JM: I think it’s because people (especially the younger generation) are starting to appreciate unique pieces that only custom work can provide. They’re also looking for things they can make themselves, which is leading to the revival of crafts like woodworking and pottery. It’s particularly big in Pittsburgh.

IL: What is the most ambitious project you’ve worked on?

JM: Probably our retail store, where we had to outfit the entire store with work I’ve made. I make a lot of custom pieces but making a large number of similar projects for our retail store was probably the most ambitious undertaking.

IL: Any advice for amateur woodworkers reading this?

JM: I would say “Do not give up or do not get angry when you make a mistake.” Mistakes are learning lessons and you’ll learn not to make them again. Over my 30-40 year career, I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. Try to be creative, but don’t give up. Things will usually work out.

IL: You tend to work with reclaimed wood. Does this pose any unique challenges? (Note: reclaimed wood refers to wood previously used in another project as a form of recycling.)

JM: I like reclaimed wood because of the age of it. There’s a history to it, coming from old buildings and barns and the like. The challenge is they’re never dimensionally the same, so getting it to fit together can be difficult. Even acquiring it can be difficult, since you need to find it or get it in some other fashion.

Retrieving usually involves ripping down some sort of old structure, such as a barn or old house or building. Then the cleaning and de-nailing is also lots more work. Most of the wood I use is over 100 years old. It’s challenging, but that’s the appeal.

IL: Just for fun- what kind of wood, besides reclaimed, is your favorite to work with?

JM: Walnut! It’s a very easy wood to work with and has a beautiful grain.

The maker movement shows no signs of slowing down, and neither does Moran. With a pile of reclaimed wood and a bit of time and patience, he’s able to create a masterpiece of a centerpiece table. With the same materials, practice, and patience, you could, too.

Johnathan Moran Woodworks can be found on Facebook, Instagram, or their website at https://www.jthn-moran.com. Their retail store is located on 19th Street in Pittsburgh, PA.

The post Woodworking: An Interview with Johnathan Moran appeared first on Inventionland.

Lumberjacking in the United States: Then and Now

America’s history with lumberjacking begins before the country was even colonized. In precolonial times, England would regularly visit North America to harvest hardwood and conifer after their own forests had been exhausted. This trend continued once the colonies were settled, although with much of the lumber being used to build homes in the New World. Sawmills were established across New England, particularly in Maine. In fact, Bangor, Maine was the world’s largest lumber shipping port by 1830. By the 20^th century, however, logging had moved to the West Coast due to dwindling resources in the east. Like many industries, it suffered during the World Wars and Great Depression and was greatly impacted by the founding of the Division of Forestry in 1885.

As for the modern day, the American logging industry is fairly stable and the United States consistently remains the second-largest exporter of wood in the world. For women, though, it’s a difficult industry to get into. While 59% of logging companies employed both sexes in 2009, less than 1% of the industry was female. The hourly rate for lumberjacking is anywhere between $9.95 and $25.24. As for the dangerous part, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2015 that 132.7 deaths occurred per 100,000 workers. For comparison’s sake, the second highest figure were fishermen- 54.8 per 100,000 workers. With an American average of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 in any industry, it means logging is 39 times more dangerous than the average occupation in the States.

Meet Lumberjill Alissa Wetherbee

Recently, Inventionland spoke with Alissa Wetherbee of AxeWomen Loggers of Maine to discuss the dangers of logging, how timbersport entertainment differs from lumberjacking, and what it’s like being a Lumberjill.

INVENTIONLAND (IL): What is it like to be a woman in the lumber industry, specifically as an entertainer?

Alissa Wetherbee (AW): I’m not sure what little work I do in the woods really classifies as “in the lumber industry.” When not performing AxeWomen shows, I do work in the woods… But mostly property management, storm clean up, trail maintenance and habitat restoration. It works well for my schedule, and I get to work alongside my husband and my dad. [But] being a woman in the timbersports entertainment side of things is awesome!! I think it appeals to everyone! A mom sees us and looks at us as role models for her children. Kids see it as something they’ve maybe never seen before. And men see strong women running chainsaws and swinging axes.

IL: What inspired you to start lumberjacking? How about timbersports?

AW: What inspired me was seeing all the other women at my first timbersports competition. It inspired me to train harder, learn more events and teach the sport along the way! That’s why I started performing. I love the sport. I love showing that women are amazing in this sport! And we all love sharing the enjoyment of timbersports with others!

IL: Your team is one of the few all-female lumberjacking teams in the world. Does this add any additional pressure?

AW: There is some pressure that goes along with being one of the few female timbersports entertainers. I always want the show to be professional, entertaining and exciting to the crowds. We always give 100% each and every show. We are all competitive…. so that’s easy! You never want to lose a competition! But you definitely always want to be professional.

IL: What’s the main difference between working in the lumber industry professional vs as an entertainer?

AW: Lumber industry vs our entertainment business… I think they are two very different worlds. They both come from the same place in history. I love that we compete in, and get to show a heritage sport. I love that at almost every show we do, at least one person comes up to tell us that their father, grandfather or great-grandfather was a lumberjack!

IL: Which is the better name/term: Lumberjills or Lumberjanes?

AW: The proper term is definitely Lumberjill! There’s an amazing history of the women going to work in the woods when the men went to war.

The post Industry Profile: Lumberjills and Timbersports appeared first on Inventionland.

The first major milestone in manufacturing history was in 1785 when modern bulk material handling was first used. Oliver Evans built an automatic flour mill with conveyors, elevators, and similar devices. Other major accomplishments included the Industrial Revolution of the 1820s and the popularization of the American System of Manufacturing in the 1850s. Computers, now a vital part of most industries, were first introduced in 1953 and have been tied to manufacturing ever since. PCs, cell phones, and 3D printing are also modern advancements reshaping our understanding of the manufacturing industry.

According to the United States Census, women made up one-third of the manufacturing industry in 2017. Interestingly, women manufacturers actually make more than their peers in other industries by just under $5000. They still made significantly less than their male coworkers, however, by a staggering 28%. And much like the inconsistent history of both manufacturing and construction, most women in the manufacturing industry are in sales and office positions.

There are untapped benefits in having female workers, though. “Research shows that gender diversity benefits a manufacturing organization through improved ability to innovate, higher return on equity, and increased profitability,” reports Deloitte. “When employees believe that their organization is committed to inclusion, they report better business performance in terms of their ability to innovate. Organizations can also unleash the full potential of their female workforces by creating a culture where unique strengths thrive.” These strengths vary of course, but leadership, creative thinking, and different perspectives are among the perks.

Recently, we spoke with Lori Albright, President and CEO of Stellar Precision. She told us of her experiences as a female leader in the manufacturing industry and what the future holds for her, for manufacturing, and for other women.

INVENTIONLAND (IL): What is it like to be a woman in the manufacturing industry?

LORI ALBRIGHT (LA): I’ve been in Manufacturing for 40 years now, so it’s normal for me.  However, it is quite common for me to participate in customer events or trade organizations and be one of the very few women participating, if not the only one.  A story I frequently recall is when I’ve attended a high-level management meeting of customers and vendors and am frequently mistaken for the administrative assistant or wife of one of my male management team members.

IL: What inspired you to join the manufacturing industry?

LA: My father started this company when I was a teen. Early on I was drafted into it rather than be inspired to join, but as time went by it is something I’ve become passionate about, especially in the marketplace we support.  Aerospace, Space, and Defense are exciting opportunities.  My employees have often spoken about what we do here as a reflection of their contribution to our country.  Many of us have not had the opportunity to serve otherwise and consider it a personal mission to be able to support in this way.  We hear stories from military personnel who have used products that we’ve helped to produce, we get to watch various rocket launches that we have made parts for, all while providing life-sustaining careers for our staff.  How can you not be inspired by that?

IL: How did you rise to become CEO of Stellar Precision?

LA: Stellar is a family business, started by my father in 1979.  He retired in 2003 and I assumed the role at that time.  While I was certain at that time that I was well prepared, there is nothing quite like having to do the job to truly learn the job.  I am always looking for learning opportunities and have had the great privilege to attend the Owner / President Management Program at Harvard Business School, I am active in many trade societies and peer learning groups.  CEO doesn’t mean that you’ve made it – it means that you have a great responsibility to this company, and all its stakeholders, to do the very best job that you can.

IL: Do you see the industry becoming more accepting of women in the future?

LA: I see a significant increase, particularly at my customer levels, of women in leadership roles.  Two of our largest customers have women CEOs (Lockheed Martin and Aerojet/Rocketdyne).  I realize that having women in leadership positions doesn’t always equate to “acceptance,” but there is progress.

IL: If and when do you see the pay gap between men and women decreasing?

LA: At Stellar, we pay fairly based on the job and do not discriminate based on gender.  The pay gap is a more complex issue than equal pay for equal work.  What I know is that there are very few women applying for Machinist jobs which tend to be higher paying careers.  The challenge I see as a manufacturing business owner is that female applicants are few and don’t appear to be going into the trade.  One of the initiatives I work closely with is Women in Manufacturing Day at the Advanced Technology Center at Westmoreland County Community College.  This is our 5^th year of inviting high school aged young ladies to the trade school to meet women who own manufacturing companies and learn, hands-on in many cases, about a variety of opportunities in manufacturing.

IL: What difficulties do women face in entering the manufacturing industry? Any advice for girls interested in manufacturing?

LA: Regarding difficulties entering manufacturing industries, I understand that historically women were not always welcomed by male counterparts.  However, I wonder if the stigma of entering a manufacturing trade is now driven by others who consider it “blue collar,” or unacceptable to families, rather than entering a 4-year degree program.  At Stellar, we pay apprentices on the job, pay for their tuition and books for a 4-year Journeyman program, and they can earn an Associates’ Degree with a few additional core classes.  At that point, they are ready for the trade, hold a degree and have zero debt.  I’d absolutely advise young women to take advantage of an arrangement like this rather than having to pay student loans indefinitely while still being unable to find an entry level job in their chosen field of study.

IL: What is the future of aerospace?

LA: My knowledge of the future of aerospace is driven by my experience with my customers.  They are all forecasting previously unseen increases in the number of new programs and the volume of work in existing ones.  The future looks bright, technology is rapidly advancing, the jobs pay well.

The post Industry Profile: Women in Manufacturing appeared first on Inventionland.

MR. CORY’S COOKIES

At age six, Cory Nieves decided he was sick of riding the bus and wanted to buy his mom a car. His plan? Sell hot chocolate to his neighbors in Englewood, New Jersey. This evolved into adding lemonade and cookies to the menu–cookies that he and his mother Lisa spent hours perfecting. Now his cookies are sold nationwide online and he’s collaborated with the likes of Pottery Barn and Whole Foods. Oh and that car he was saving for? It was gifted to him on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

NAY GAMES

Have you heard of “Bubble Ball?” It launched on the Apple app store in 2010 and surpassed 2 million downloads in its first two weeks. The company behind the game, Nay Games, was created by then 14-year-old Robert Nay. He told CNN he learned all his skills through research at the library and produced the 4000 lines of code needed in just a month. Bubble Ball even dethroned “Angry Birds” as the most downloaded free game at one point.

LEANNA’S ESSENTIALS

Leanna Archer’s great-grandmother had a secret recipe for all-natural hair pomade. When Leanna was eight, she decided to start sharing that pomade with the world. Although she first distributed it for free, she now has a full line of beauty and skin-care products, including skin lotion, facial masks, and shampoos. She’s now CEO of Leanna’s Essentials and in 2008 founded the Leanna Archer Education Foundation (dedicated to building schools for children in Haiti).

MO’S BOWS

Who loves bow ties? Moziah “Mo” Bridges. He was disappointed with the few selections available to him, so he learned how to sew his own with the help of his grandmother at age 9. Mo sold his ties on Etsy before they were picked up local boutiques. Now 16, he’s the CEO of Mo’s Bows and was invited to the inaugural White House Demo Day to meet President Obama (whom he gifted with a custom tie). In 2017, he signed a licensing deal with the NBA, allowing him to make bow ties with NBA team logos.

BOTANGLE

Never let it be said that the bitcoin craze didn’t help anybody. Erik Finman cashed out his small bitcoin investment to fund Botangle, an online video tutoring service. He started the project at 15 after dropping out of school due because he was being bullied. His latest project? Building a satellite that will serve as a time capsule. “The easiest way to make money is to create something that solves a problem, or improves a situation. Don’t chase fads, chase opportunity,” he tweeted last year. He’s quite the motivational speaker. Just check out his TEDxTeen Talk:

GLADIATOR LACROSSE

When Rachel Zietz was 13, she needed new lacrosse equipment because her old stuff just wasn’t durable enough. When she couldn’t find any, she decided to create her own. With the help of her entrepreneur family and some of the Sharks from ABC’s Shark Tank, she was able to launch her business. Gladiator Lacrosse offers better-quality products including thicker netting and metals for longer-lasting gear at prices families can afford.  The company is an official goal sponsor for the 2018 FIL World Lacrosse Championships.

ME & THE BEES LEMONADE

The youngest business kid on this list, Makaila Ulmer was just four-and-a-half when she the entrepreneur bug stung her. Literally. She got stung by a bee and became fascinated by them. She learned how they help our environment and, as a result, “Me & The Bees Lemonade” was born.  The honey-sweetened beverages were also inspired by her grandmother’s vintage recipe for flaxseed lemonade. “Me & The Bees Lemonade” is now a staple of southeastern Whole Foods. She donates a percentage of the profits to organizations focused on saving honeybees.

ORIGAMI OWL

Bella Weems always had a passion for jewelry-making, so it was only logical when she started selling them at age fourteen. Her signature item, the Living Locket, allows customers to build their own jewelry by mixing chains, charms, and lockets–the Build-a-Bear of necklaces, if you will. She’s now a millionaire and the founder of the Owlettes Initiative, where Bella personally mentors 12-17-year-olds through business. “You can’t do anything in life alone, so surround yourself with people who believe in you,” she said in an interview with Luca Magazine. “Never let anyone tell you that you are too young to follow your dreams.”

The next time your kid approaches you with a sales pitch, listen and encourage them. You never know…it could be the next big thing.

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