Tom Owens

Tom Owens has been a woodworker since 1984, both as a furniture designer/maker and as a timber frame designer and carpenter. His furniture work was featured in the book, “The Custom Furniture Source Book, A Guide to 125 Craftsmen” published by Taunton Press and he has written for “Sukiya Living: The Journal of Japanese Gardening”, on the topic of traditional Japanese carpentry. Tom apprenticed with a Master Japanese carpenter and practices these skills in both the furniture he is commissioned with and with every timber frame he designs and fabricates. Tom not only designs the timber frame, he also puts in almost as much time considering every aspect of the project from the lot access and home orientation to the final landscaping.

Peter Jankowski

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Peter found himself leaving the paper mill life for the cold Arctic waters on a Coast Guard Cutter and then to the warmer climate of Florida. Finding it a little too warm, Peter moved to North Carolina and spent a couple of years as a diver for the NC Dept of Transportation before getting involved, again, with carpentry and his love for timber framing. Well at ease with the outdoors, Peter is usually found in the shop, hand cutting the timbers and then scaling the frame during the timber raising phase of the construction process. A full time woodworker, Peter is also a full time farmer, with his wife Dorene, specializing in growing hot peppers and tomatoes for his homemade salsas and hot sauces, under the label, Fire from the Mountain.

Mark Brayshaw

With a background in forestry working with the paper companies in the wilds of Maine, Mark picked up residential construction in Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina in the late 70’s. As an on site general contractor and home designer Mark has helped many clients of custom homes realize their dreams for quality yet affordable housing. His passion for timber framing results from an appreciation of the aesthetic and timeless qualities of traditional architecture.

Michael Brisson

Michael, from Salisbury , NC , began working with High Country Timberframe during his sophomore year of college.  As a recent graduate of Appalachian State Universities Building Science program, he has taken great interest in the practices of building efficiency and green design.  While working with High Country Timberframe, Michael has developed a strong knowledge of practical building skills and a passion for timber framing.  In his free time he enjoys hiking, surfing, rebuilding his motorcycle, and traveling abroad.

William Denton IV

William was born and raised in Arlington, VA.  He went to British Columbia to learn the craft of timber and log building.  Upon competition of the courses offered at the Island School of Building Arts, and finding himself without a job, he went back to school.  He was part of the inaugural class of the American College of the Building Arts with a Bachelors degree in timber Framing.  He moved from the low country of Charleston, SC to the high country of Boone, NC in July 2009.

Brian Hefter

Born and raised in the shadow of the dairy barns of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, as a young child Brian milked many of the cows that provide the milk for America’s cheese. After pondering his odds at joining the multitudes who’ve struck lottery gold along Fond Du Lac’s famed Miracle Mile he yearned for a career that would keep him in a lower tax bracket. It was the heavy timber roof systems in the dairy barns that housed the annual Walleye Weekend Fish Fry that captured Brian’s imagination and spurred him headlong from the shores of Lake Winnebago and into the world of timber frame construction. Brian spent time at Fox Maple School in Maine and worked abroad in Ireland for an Irish timber frame company for a time as well. Brian first joined our team as an energetic young man in his teens and has worked with us for the better part of 10 years off and on.

Tim Manney

Tim was born in the hills of northern Pennsylvania.  He moved to western North Carolina in 2002 to study biology at Warren Wilson College.  After three years of floating around the country he moved back to North Carolina to apprentice with a timber framing company in Franklin, NC in the winter of 2008.  The following summer he apprenticed at the Country Workshops with Drew Langsner.  He has happily worked with HCTF for the past year and looks forward to the continued study and learning of carpentry, woodworking, and life in general.

Austin Oates

Austin graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in industrial design after trying out every other degree to see if they fit.  In his search for knowledge he has worked in general design within fields as varied as furniture to challenge courses.  Design or the solving of the next problem adapts him to each new job.  Here at HCTF this makes him as able to design the next project as to spend his days sanding and staining timbers.  You will find him plugged into his IPod seeking inspiration or just passing the time with a story, but always hard at work.

Robbie Oates

Robbie brings a diverse set of skills to HCTF from working as a foreman, trainer, and Director of International Operations for Alpine Towers International. When not working with HCTF his love of trees and ability to rig in high places finds Robbie working with Canopy Construction Associates building forest canopy access systems worldwide. He lives with his wife Laurie, they have raised two children, Jesse and Austin.

Wynand Potgeiter

Wynand’s work experience spans several industries and two continents.  Born and raised on the red earth of East Africa, he began his professional life as a Manager of exclusive tented camps and lodges in the beautiful game reserves of Kenya .  The last decade has brought a change of pace far from the hospitality industry that included a new professional focus and a new home in North Carolina .  His work in the construction industry included finishing carpentry, flooring, framing and renovation projects.  Wynand is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with High Country Timber Framing and Gallery Woodworking Co. where true craftsmanship is honored and preserved.

Peter White

Over the past 30 years Peter’s construction career has taken him down many paths and across many waters. And while he’s a dead ringer for Kenny Rogers, he’s not a gambler of consequence. Pete has nonetheless been dealt the “royal flush” of carpentry during his woodworking career. His good fortune and cunning life strategies have enabled him to build sailboats, geodesic domes, log cabins, ropes courses and climbing walls, furniture, and traditional timber frame buildings. According to his bookie, and this is no bluff, Pete loves working with wood of all shapes and sizes and is especially drawn to the craftsmanship required in hand cut timber frame structures.

Jenny Zetty

Jenny was born and raised in Stafford , VA.   She received a B.S. degree from The University of Mary Washington where she double majored in Economics and Business Administration.  Following graduation she moved to Charleston , SC to work as an administrative specialist for a large teaching hospital.  She moved to Boone , NC in July 2009.