Nick Offerman

Nick was taught to swing a hammer and countless other tools by his Dad, his grandfathers and his Uncles Dan and Don of Roberts Brothers Farms. In theatre school at the University of Illinois, he used these skills to begin working in the scene shop, under the tutelage of Kenny Egan. This paid off handsomely when Nick began his professional theatre career in Chicago, as he offset his meager acting income with building scenery and props for large equity theaters. By the time he moved to Los Angeles, he'd opened his own modest shop in a warehouse and begun collecting tools. Once in LA, Nick couldn't find as much scenery work, so he turned to building decks and cabins with his longtime friend Martin McClendon, another Illinois alumnus. Together, they fell under the spell of old-world furniture joinery, and, with Marty's help, Nick opened his shop soon after, where he continues to build furniture, small boats, and anything else that tickles his fancy.

RH Lee

Lee began working with wood at age 7, when she was enrolled in the Kids Carpentry program in her hometown of Berkeley, CA. Years later, while studying art and philosophy at Brown University, she got involved in set building for theater - incorporating her building skills with her interest in art. She worked as a scenic carpenter and instructor of scenic arts in small theaters around San Francisco for years before eventually moving into building interactive science exhibits for the Exploratorium museum. During her five years in the Exploratorium woodshop, Lee honed her skills in fine woodworking and started building furniture on the side. Since moving to LA in 2008, Lee has been managing Offerman Woodshop, as well as designing and building custom furniture on commission.

You can see more of Lee's work at leebuild.com

Josh Salsbury

Originally from Palo Alto, CA, Josh studied furniture and cabinetmaking at Cerritos College. Utilizing traditional joinery and construction methods, his work emphasizes honest craftsmanship. He is especially influenced by Shaker, Arts and Crafts, mid-century modern, and Asian design. When not at the shop, Josh enjoys cycling, snowboarding, and drinking IPA's.

Matt Offerman

Matt stumbled backwards into woodworking at the tender age of 23. He previously spent 7 years apprenticing as a grade school janitor, but upon moving to Los Angeles he spurned his dream to take up antique restoration at Shabby Chic. Matt quickly became the most adept carpenter of the 3 actors employed there. Although he enjoyed 3 blissful years touring California buying, hauling, and restoring antiques, he grew tired of painting furniture pink. Matt worked occasionally for OWS, but didn't find enough confinement for his spirit there, so he tried his hand at a variety of office jobs. Matt still had to get his furniture fix at night. And thank Jehovah he did. It was during these nighttime sessions that Matt discovered his true calling: not finishing furniture projects. It has been a magical 7 years now of not finishing pieces that has lead Matt to be OWS' resident Incompetence Marshall*. Come by the shop and see some of the pieces Matt hasn't finished.

*Fully certified.

Ric Offerman

Growing up on a farm, Ric spent a lot of time working with his hands. Even after he moved to town and worked as a history teacher, he spent his summers doing labor.  He worked on local farms, did odd jobs, and spent 18 summers laying asphalt.  He worked with wood a lot, but never purposefully created something out of wood until 1972 - the year Nick needed help getting up to the toilet. Ever the attentive parent, Ric made him a handy little step stool out of pine.  Since then, he has outfitted the family living room with an entertainment center and end tables out of oak, and for their dining room Ric built a china closet out of oak to match the existing antique one.  For the last few years, he has put in a lot of time working on the scroll saw and laminating hardwoods.  As a result, he has furnished most of his friends and family with cutting boards, Christmas ornaments, Cribbage boards, and bird houses.  If you ever get the chance to visit him in the shop, you'll leave with a smile on your face.

Matthew Micucci

Matty has to be called Matty because the name "Matt" was taken. Matty is from the little town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania.  He spent much of his childhood riding his go-kart, making forts in the woods, and performing in local musical theater.  After graduating from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Theater he spent some time in New York City working for The Public Theater.  Not having any real skills he spent half his day helping build scenery and the other half creating performances in the elevator.  Some elevator show favorites were Mission To Space, Wild West Saloon, and the vaudeville classic 'This Is The Elevator' complete with song and tap dance.  During his time at The Public he picked up a few tricks of the trade, packed his bag and headed to Hollywood.  Having nothing but a dream in his eye and a song in his heart he found the Offerman Woodshop.  He is truly grateful to be working and learning the trade from such a loving team.  When not working at the shop Matty enjoys playing the ukulele.

Michele Diener

Michele's first experience with wood was producing a pinhole camera in a high school photography class. It opened her eyes to all that was possible designing something that was beautiful and actually worked. She continued studying photography in college, but found that sculpture and design was in her heart and thus the transition into the three dimensional world began. After college she held many positions in the art and craft worlds, honing her fabrication and design skills. They ranged from gallery/museum preparator and technician to artist assistant to machinist. Once she settled at the The Exploratorium in 2004, , she constructed a range of interactive exhibits, furniture and public art pieces. She left in 2010 to study at the College of the Redwoods Fine Furniture Program in northern California which inevitably led her on a search to find a shop where she could build furniture on commission. Luckily the Offerman Woodshop is where she landed and has been ever since.You can see more of Michele's work at michelediener.com

Elias Putnam

Eli first joined The Offerman Wood Shop as an apprentice when he was 15, having minor experience but major interest in woodworking due to his involvement with stage design and building at his high school. It was a slow change from plywood and a jigsaw to hardwood and chisels, and he spent the majority of his first year at the shop sanding, sweeping, observing, and reading Nick’s grand collection of woodworking books. Now at 17, Eli has attended a few summer workshops at The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport, Maine and completed nearly two years of apprenticeship at OWS. With much still to learn, Eli continues to work as an apprentice (when he isn’t completing his senior year of high school), helping out with shop projects and every now and then completing one of his own.