From Corporate Career to Entrepreneurship
In 2021, after 10 years working in corporate IT for a Fortune 100 company, I made the decision to leave my career and pursue a new path. During my time in the corporate world, I had the opportunity to work remotely and travel with my family, which taught me the importance of balancing work and personal life, and the value of spending quality time with loved ones.
As I traveled and worked remotely, I also found myself drawn to a new passion: woodworking. I had always enjoyed woodworking as a hobby, but during my travels, I saw the potential for combining my expertise in technology with my love for woodworking.
Inspired by this realization, I formed my own company, Inland CNC. Inland CNC is a woodworking company that uses cutting-edge technology to enhance the craft of woodworking. With my years of experience in both IT and woodworking, I saw an opportunity to revolutionize the way woodworking is approached.
My journey has taught me the importance of following my passions and pursuing what truly makes me happy. It has also shown me the value of hard work and determination, and the rewards that come with taking risks and stepping outside of my comfort zone.
To further pursue my dream I entered the Enterprise Challenge in March of 2022. This is a business plan competition put on by the Kittitas Chamber of Commerce and the Yakima County Development Association. It is a rigorous 12-week competition in which I was required to attend 15 2-hour courses, and also compete in a mock trade show with the final round being a 15-minute “Shark Tank” style presentation to six judges. After three months of hard work, I took home 1st prize, earning a $10,000 grant to aid in continuing to get Closet Maestro off the ground.
As I continue to build and grow my company, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the impact that Inland CNC will have on the world of woodworking.