At 17 years old, I got my first real glimpse into the hardwood flooring business. Before that, I had no idea the wood floor installation and refinishing trade even existed. Like most people, I walked across gym floors, hardwood floors, and basketball courts without ever stopping to think about who built them, who maintained them, or what kind of craftsmanship went into making them look perfect. But looking back now, maybe this trade was always meant for me. Growing up, I was always mechanically inclined. I loved working with my hands and figuring things out. I spent years alongside my father using woodworking tools, swinging hammers, running saws, and learning how to respect both the tools and the work itself. Hard work was normal to me. Creating something with your hands was normal to me. Even as a kid, I took pride in doing things the right way.

Everything changed when I got connected with a local floor refinishing company. At the time, they told me something that stuck with me forever — they said hardwood floor refinishing was becoming a dying trade and that they could never find enough people who actually wanted to learn the craft. The moment I stepped onto that first jobsite, I was hooked. There was just something different about the work. The smell of freshly sanded hardwood, the sound of the machines running across the floor, the transformation that happened when an old worn-out floor came back to life — it all grabbed my attention immediately. The owner of GHP Flooring took me under his wing and introduced me to the trade. I still remember something he told me like it happened yesterday: “If you stick with me, I’ll give you 20 years of experience in one year.” That sentence changed my mindset completely. I didn’t look at this as just another job anymore. I became obsessed with learning every part of the process — sanding, edging, installation, repairs, staining, coatings, layouts, machine control, and jobsite professionalism. I wanted to learn everything I possibly could. And I picked it up fast. Within my first year, I became one of four guys trusted to remove and reinstall gymnasium floors around Stockton. That included major projects like the Alex G. Spanos Center and Stockton Christian High School. I had the opportunity to work alongside Paul Guthrie, Jason Guthrie, and Andy Bracken — hardworking craftsmen who helped shape my understanding of what real production and real quality looked like. At that point, I knew this trade was part of who I was. I loved it from day one. For me, showing up to work never felt like a burden. All I had to do was show up ready to go — the rest came naturally. It honestly felt like I had done this in another life or something. The more experience I gained, the more passionate I became about the details, the craftsmanship, and the pride that comes with transforming hardwood floors.

Over the years, I worked for several companies and continued sharpening my skills. Every jobsite taught me something new. Every craftsman I worked beside helped me improve. I learned that this trade is about far more than just sanding floors — it’s about discipline, consistency, patience, and pride in your workmanship. One of the biggest chapters of my career was spending 12 years with Raphael Hardwood Flooring in Lodi. During that time, I worked alongside some of the best craftsmen in the industry. That experience helped raise my standards and shaped the level of work I provide to this day. That company taught me the importance of continuously raising the bar. Not cutting corners. Not rushing craftsmanship. Not settling for average. Real hardwood flooring is an art form, and the details matter. Today, everything I’ve learned throughout my journey gets poured into Grain House Hardwood. Now I’m building something of my own — a company built on quality, professionalism, integrity, and next-level craftsmanship. Whether it’s a custom residential floor or a full-scale gymnasium project, I approach every floor with the same mentality: Do it right. Take pride in the details. Leave behind something you’re proud to put your name on. This trade has given me opportunities, life lessons, friendships, and purpose. And after all these years, the passion is still there just like it was when I first stepped onto a jobsite at 17 years old. “It’s game time.”

And I’m excited to see what comes next.