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Our Story
Meet Don Simon
Don (though Jane Ann calls him Donald Lee) has spent more than 30 years with sawdust on his boots and a deep love for the craft of woodworking. Don studied woodworking in college, and continued his passion for working with wood as a homebuilder. His practical education as a builder let him into a 30 year career in the design, engineering and sales of structural components for wood framed construction. He ended his career as the education and training manager at a major forest products manufacturer in Charlotte, NC. At every stop along the way, Don never lost his passion for woodworking and passing along what he knew to benefit others. The last 10 years has afforded Don the opportunity to continue to hone his skills, taking classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and American Crafts. He will complete their prestigious “Marc Adams School of Woodworking Master’s Program” in 2027.
But if you ask Don what matters most, he’ll likely tell you it’s teaching. Sharing knowledge has always been as important to him as shaping wood. In his most recent role with Huber Engineered Woods, he led education and training initiatives, helping sales teams truly understand the “why” behind the products. He’s known not just for his expertise, but for his gift of making complex ideas simple and approachable.
Today, Don continues to hone his craft at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and American Crafts and is just one class away from completing their prestigious “Masters” program. For him, woodworking isn’t just a profession — it’s a lifelong pursuit of excellence, craftsmanship, and passing knowledge on to the next generation.
Meet Jane Ann Simon
Jane Ann is a sculptor at heart — someone who sees possibility in every curve of grain and every solid block of wood. With a background in art and design and years devoted to sculptural study, she approaches woodworking as both an art form and a discipline. Wood is her primary medium, but she often incorporates alabaster, marble, metals, and bent lamination techniques to create movement and contrast. As she likes to say, she loves to “bend wood to her will.”
Her work ranges from expressive sculptural forms to elevated functional pieces designed to bring beauty into everyday life. From refined charcuterie boards to artistic woodworking elements, each piece reflects her belief that functional objects can — and should — feel like art.
Like Don, Jane Ann continues to deepen her craft at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking and American Crafts, where she refines her techniques and explores new creative possibilities. For her, woodworking is about shaping more than material — it’s about shaping experiences, spaces, and the way we live with the objects around us.
