Stretch has been working with wood since high school. He helped build the family home in 1968, and did house framing during summer vacations during college.

He built three cedar strip canoes during his college days with an old table saw, sabre saw, 1/4 inch drill, and a belt sander as his only power tools.

He has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering and worked in the Oil Industry for 30 years.

He built his first piece of furniture in 1976, and has been working at improving his skills ever since.