Piedmont Joinery is a Durham-based woodworking business. Founded by Durham native Tim Harrison in 2008, the business focuses on residential cabinetry and other custom woodwork. Piedmont Joinery also partners with the Durham Public Schools Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to help strengthen Durham Public Schools.

The Durham Voice: Can you start by telling me a little bit about your business?

Tim Harrison: We do residential cabinetry and woodwork, mostly for local builders, designers and architects. We build whatever somebody tells us to build, so we don’t have a set standard. But we mostly do kitchens, bathrooms and home offices.

As a Durham native, is that why you decided to keep your business local?

Yeah, I grew up here, went away for school in Ohio, and then realized North Carolina was a great place to live. I traveled for a while, but when I finally settled into carpentry work, I happened to be living here. I don’t think I could have pulled it off anywhere else because, in the beginning, you rely on people you know to give you opportunities. Having grown up here definitely helped.

What drew you to woodworking and carpentry?

My dad was a banker, but he knew how to use tools and enjoyed woodworking. My grandfather had been a shop teacher and had a small woodshop where he crafted nicely made wood pieces. It was different from the skateboard ramps and projects we built around the house. Seeing him create things at such a high level made me realize what was possible. While I didn’t get to learn a lot from him directly since we didn’t visit often, just seeing his work inspired me and showed me what could be done with woodworking.

While you were in school, was that where you practiced your woodworking skills?

I think so, yeah. I liked doing it, and I got out of college working various jobs—washing dishes, bartending, waiting tables, stacking boxes and screen-printing T-shirts. I eventually came back to woodworking because I realized I liked doing it. I got a job working for a local carpenter who was good at what he did. He built decks, additions and furniture. I worked for him for about a year and a half and learned a lot. Then I started doing my own thing, mostly field carpentry, which involves working on houses and building structures. I was about 30 when the opportunity to get into cabinet work presented itself. At the time, I didn’t have any formal shop experience, but I jumped in and figured things out.

You’ve partnered with the Durham Public Schools Foundation. What made you want to get involved and give to this foundation?

My wife introduced me to it. She’s a Durham Public Schools graduate and has been a public school teacher since she finished college. She’s always been aware of the good work the foundation does, and I trust her judgment.

Education is one of the most important things in this country, and right now, it’s underfunded and underappreciated. Teachers are overworked and underpaid. The DPS Foundation helps bridge that gap, and I want to support that.

Do you think your partnership with DPS helps expose students to other career paths like the trades?

I hope so. College isn’t the best option for everyone—it’s expensive, and there are great-paying jobs in the trades, particularly in some of the new technology and automation that is coming out. I think the DPS Foundation seems to be helping relay that.

If another business wanted to get involved in partnering with the foundation, what would you say to them?

I think you have certain responsibilities in life, and if you have enough to sustain a healthy lifestyle, you should give back. Education should be a level playing field and I think everyone should have an opportunity to get a good education. The people that are providing that education should also have the resources to provide that.