Meet our 2024 Timber Framing Apprentices

Yelena Kasdan

As a former Heartwood apprentice currently living in Quebec, my invested interest in timber framing grew after completing a Heritage Carpentry diploma. Timber framing resonates with me because it bridges the gap between craftsmanship and the natural world. I love that the entire process of building a timber frame requires an understanding of the material being used, which, as a result, fosters a relationship with the builder. The coupling of precision and artistry creates structures that are both functional and timelessly beautiful. Timber framing is a good time!

Charlie Jenck

I am a Heartwood apprentice who grew up on a dairy farm in Tillamook, Oregon. I studied architectural engineering and plan to build a barn in my hometown following the apprenticeship. I got into timber framing after attending a Timber Framers Guild event in my college town, and I love the concept of creating something of local materials that are both structural and beautiful.

Kristoffer Meunier

A Michigan native and recent transplant to the Northeast, I recently attended the TFG Heartwood School as an apprentice and am looking to enter the professional field after having a career in the realm of natural resources. I am drawn to timber framing for its strong and beautiful structures and the hard work and applied knowledge it takes to create those structures. It is work I can feel proud and fulfilled doing. Being relatively new to the craft, I consider myself green wood, which is easy to work with and shape. Nonetheless, with time and experience, I hope to develop into a nicely seasoned oak with my own earned opinions about the craft. I am thankful to the timber framing community for welcoming me and providing opportunities to meet others who are passionate about the craft and willing to share their knowledge and a laugh. And last but not least, I am a sucker for old-school traditions, tools, and techniques and hope to utilize them when I can. Boring machines and gin poles, baby!