Raymond Finan

Ray Finan makes furniture full time in his workshop in Arlington, Vt. After more than 20 years working for a large corporation, a brief fundamentals course at Boston’s North Bennet Street School lit the fuse, and then a three-month stint at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Camden, Maine, confirmed his decision to launch his own woodworking business.

When not in the shop, you’re… “hiking up Mt. Snow for the Forest Service, recording the weather conditions.” (In September, the Forest Service sent him to Montana to fight wildfires.)