Members

Tom Clossey
After studying anthropology and studio art in Ohio, Tom headed to San Francisco to see what the city had to offer. After a few ill-fated attempts at life in the corporate world, Tom decided to go back to doing what he liked best, working and creating with his hands. Since founding Woodshanti in 1997, he has been refining his skills as a woodworker and exploring the limits of furniture design.

Shawn Berry
Shawn moved to San Francisco from upstate New York in 1996, forsaking his background in nuclear physics in a quest for a more artistically creative endeavor. Less than a year after the move, he started woodworking and has never looked back. He has since become a skilled woodworker and has developed, along with his fellow craftsmen, a fresh, new, organic style of furniture design that sets Woodshanti in a class of its own. A dedicated community organizer and activist, Shawn helps bring a strong sense of purpose to Woodshanti as a value-driven business. Shawn currently does sales, marketing and client services for Woodshanti.

Rick Espinoza
Caught in the web of the corporate world in Silicon Valley as a salesperson. Rick pursued his long time dream of being a professional woodworker with the support of his wife, Michelle. “A new beginning, creating and building fine works for others to appreciate. This is my way of life. And to do this with a strong handful of talented, dedicated and kind people makes me thankful.”

Gomez
Gomez is an artist who began his studies at the University of Kansas in his home state. He received a BFA in sculpture in 1991. In 1994 he received his Masters Degree from the University of California at Berkeley in sculpture. After graduating he worked with bay area artists and fabricators from custom carpet weaving, production jewelry making to creating props for banana republic. His work has been seen in retail shops and homes across the country. During this time he began to create custom cabinetry and furniture out of small shop in Oakland.

In 2003, Gomez began teaching in the Alameda School district. He taught woodworking to children, kindergarten to fourth grade, in an after school program. Also in that year, he began teaching adults welding, sculpture and furniture making at the Crucible. Gomez’s furniture and cabinetry business was maturing and for the next 4 years he focused mostly on commercial interiors in restaurants and cafes in San Francisco. In 2007 Gomez is bringing his experience and creative process to the Woodshanti as a Designer.

John Eckhoff
Bio pending.

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Entenmann
Bio Pending.

 

 

 

Sue Separk
Technically Sue is not a member of the cooperative but she is great and we could not do it with out her.!