Want to meet the guy behind our Grab & Go Store? Ethan Westlund is our warehouse manager and is an expert in all things wood and milling. He’s eager to welcome you to our factory store, but is also ready to take charge of anything when it comes to logistics and managing the yard. Ethan has been with Excelsior for eight years and even started his career at our facility!

Keep reading to learn more about Ethan and his journey with Excelsior Wood Products!

What got you started in the woodworking industry?

I actually started here at Excelsior. When I joined, I had a hard time reading my tape measure past the half-inch mark. Since then, I’ve been working on different projects like putting together parquet panels, designing tables, and learning how to manage a warehouse.

What’s your favorite part about working at Excelsior?

Somewhere between the trust and camaraderie of my coworkers and me. You see, one of the things I realized is that I see them more than the people I live with. That’s why I call them my 40-hour family. God’s blessed us with a lot of great coworkers and that’s what I enjoy most about this place.

Do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on?

That’s tough to answer! Those parquet panels were very cool to work on. It was the very first project I was involved in. They order 750 parquet panels of reclaimed oak with different intricate pieces, which was really fun to put together. There have been so many other projects that were interesting along my journey as well.

What are some of your hobbies outside of working at Excelsior?

I’ve taken up raising ducks and planting trees. I’m an arborist, but not in the traditional sense. I have four ducks—Swedish Blacks and Swedish Blues. Swedish Blues are an endangered species and there are only 156 breeding pairs in Sweden. My ducks’ names are Fitzgardard, Sebastian, Claire, and Emma. It took me a long time to come up with those names.

Do you have a motto that you live by?

“Work like a machine and interact like a human.” There are retail stores where people work like they don’t care and interact like robots with customers. I believe the opposite should be true—you should focus on getting things done and making good decisions while being personable with customers.

Are you looking for an exciting place to work? Are you as passionate about wood as we are? Then you’ve found the right place! We’re currently looking for shop workers, delivery drivers, a receptionist, and more. Apply today!

Related Article: Excelsior Wood Products Spotlight on Jon Hester