My name is Grant Burger and I am a professional woodworker in Morro Bay, California.
I am originally from Leavittsburg, Ohio and started my career in the trades as a screen printer at 15 years old. After an enlistment in the Marine Corps I attended Triangle Tech in Pittsburgh, PA, receiving my AST in Construction Technology.
Having worked as a residential carpenter in Pittsburgh, I set my sights on my true passion: custom furniture making. I used my remaining GI Bill to attend the North Bennet Street School in Boston, MA, attaining a two-year certificate in Cabinet and Furniture Making.
Upon graduation I stayed in Boston, working full time building custom furniture, cabinetry, and other miscellaneous wood fabrication as Grant Burger Woodworking DBA. My shop was located with Charlestown Furniture Makers, a woodworking collective in Charlestown, MA.
Throughout my time in Boston, I also taught woodworking classes at the North Bennet Street School. I taught regularly on nights and weekends, including introductory woodworking, machine woodworking, and wood turning.
I moved to Morro Bay in 2022 to escape the hustle and bustle and harsh winters of Boston. Since arriving, I’ve been a custom builder for two shops in the county. It is now my goal to provide my services to the Central Coast and become a contributing member to our wonderful community.
In my free time I can be found fishing, working on custom boats, or reading by the fire with my girlfriend, Paige, and our large cat Nick.
Education
Certificate, Cabinet & Furniture Making
North Bennet Street School, Boston, MA
AST, Carpentry & Construction Technology
Triangle Tech, Pittsburgh, PA
Experience
Senior Builder, Knowlton Brothers Fine Furniture, Grover Beach, CA 2024
Lead Builder-Custom Projects, Barnick Wood Design San Luis Obispo, CA 2023-2024
Woodworker, Grant Burger Woodworking Charlestown, MA 2017-2022
Woodworking Instructor, North Bennet Street School Boston, MA 2018-2022
Carpenter, Handverker Construction Pittsburgh, PA 2015
Fabrication Carpenter & Traveling Installer, Lilliput Play Homes, Pittsburgh, PA 2014-2015
Carpenter, C.G. Ulrich Construction & Fine Woodworking, Pittsburgh, PA 2013-2014
United States Marine Corps Bridgeport, CA 2006-2011
Courses Taught
“Fundamentals of Machine Woodworking,” North Bennet Street School
“Madison Park Vocational High School Summer Carpentry Program,” North Bennet Street School
“Carpentry,” First Semester, North Bennet Street School
“Intro to Bowl Turning,” North Bennet Street School
“Introduction to Framing,” North Bennet Street School
“Woodworking 101,” North Bennet Street School
Private Instruction, North Bennet Street School
Private Instruction, Pittsburgh, PA (2017 – 2018)
Achievements and Publications
Alden Artisan Advancement Scholarship, New Hampshire Furniture Masters, 2017
“A Wishing Tree for the North End Library,” North Bennet Street School Blog, April 2018
“Rock Star: Not Your Grandma's Chair,” Pittsburgh Magazine, August 2017
“Masterful Helping Hand,” Fine Woodworking Magazine, July 2017
“Marine Corps to Shop Floor,” Popular Woodworking Magazine, February 2017
“Boston Woodworking Student Honored with $1,000 Scholarship,” Woodshop News, December 2016
“Somerville Resident Receives Alden Artisan Advancement Award,” Wicked Local Somerville, November 2016