About Bur Oak Woodworking

The Craftsman

I create custom furniture spanning traditional Shaker and Mission/Craftsman styles to contemporary live-edge designs. Whether building a classic sofa table or a modern bookmatched natural dining set, I work primarily with premium domestic hardwoods like walnut, white oak, cherry, and maple, selecting each board for how its grain will enhance the finished piece. For me, woodworking is a way to slow down and work mindfully with my hands.

I've also added CNC capabilities to my shop, creating custom carved pieces, trophies, and commemorative awards, with much of my work supporting the gravel cycling community.

My Journey

When I was in high school, I took a couple of woodworking classes and loved them. It wasn't until my early 30s, shortly after my mom passed away from cancer, that I bought a few tools and built a workbench that my journey started. After that I slowly acquired more tools and built my skills by doing more challenging projects.

As my machinery and tools continued to grow, working out of a 2-car garage was getting cramped. In 2014 I built a 30×40′ dedicated woodworking shop with high ceilings, good lighting, and is well-insulated and heated.

My friend Andy is a St. Jude ambassador, and we would talk about it during bike rides, and he said I should fundraise for St. Jude. I realized that on October 16, 2022, I was going to be a 50-year childhood cancer survivor and wondered if I could use my woodworking to raise money for childhood cancer research. In October 2021 I started Woodworker vs. Cancer with a goal to raise $3,650 in the year leading up to my 50-year survivor anniversary. I ended up doubling that goal and hit $10,000 by the end of 2022!

In July 2022 Carrie from St. Jude called to tell me that corporate had caught on to what I was doing and wanted to send a film crew to my shop! In October 2022 a St. Jude film crew visited my shop to document my 50-year survivor story and how I'm using woodworking to raise money for childhood cancer. During their visit while talking with them, I got the idea to try to get other makers to join my mission.

St. Jude film crew visit

On January 1, 2023 I launched Makers for St. Jude, and the support from other makers and brands has been tremendous! We raised $11,000 in the first year alone and have raised a total of $72,197 since launching in 2023. What started as a solo mission has grown into something much bigger! Learn more and get involved at makersforstjude.org.

In 2025 I began supporting Adventure for All, an organization whose athletes, families, and coaches I've come to know personally. As my charitable work expanded, I rebranded to Bur Oak Woodworking on January 1, 2026 to better reflect my professional capabilities while continuing to support St. Jude, Adventure for All, and other charities.

To date, I've personally raised $33,922 through my woodworking. As both a 53-year childhood cancer survivor and 10-year adult cancer survivor, helping others continues to be deeply meaningful to me.

Gravel Worlds Through Thick and Thin Award

"The 'Through Thick and Thin' Award is given out every year to an individual who has overcome challenges and perseveres through tough times while also keeping an overly positive attitude that inspires and encourages us all.

Our 2023 awardee is a 50 year cancer survivor. He has overcome the lifelong psychological and physical challenges that come with being a cancer survivor while turning that experience into a positive. For the last several years, our awardee has used his woodworking skills and passion for doing good to create 'Woodworkers vs Cancer'. Mike donates 100% of his time, skill, and material in exchange for donations to the St. Jude Children's Hospital. In 2022 he raised over $10,000 and is on pace to raise well over $15,000 in 2023.

The trophies we used for our Winter Endurance race in February and the sword holders you see for our Captains of the Gravel Seas awards were made by Mike."

I was honored to receive this recognition from the gravel cycling community in 2023, and have continued to build great relationships with the Gravel Family. Creating custom trophies and awards for gravel events has become a favorite part of my work.