Today we’d like to introduce you to Attie Jonker
Hi Attie , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I moved to San Antonio in 2002 From Botswanan Africa where i built luxury Safari lodges for a decade prior. My wife Grew up here in Texas. In 1999 we met at a lodge deep in the heart of Botswana while she was on a trip to Africa, the rest became history. For the first ten years in the states I dabbled in all sorts of building projects trying to find a field that I enjoyed. During that time i had built a few treehouses for friends and people in our community. It quickly became something that people were interested in and I stared to pursue it more aggressively, Azzanarts was born in 2008 and we installed over 40 treehouses in south texas in about nine years. I had some great media exposure over the years like the hit show Treehosue masters on TLC as well as on local news channels here in San Antonio. In 2015 We did a large Treehouse for the Doseum and shortly there after a playground exhibit fort the zoo school. The treehouse fad has since dwindled and I now only design and consult on that front. I have executed lots of other fun projects in the last few years like outdoor educational play areas for preschools and luxury Glamping tented camps. I am more of an artist than a builder with a unique ability to realize my clients ideas into a higher level of design and function.
In 2010 I started an urban saw mill. Green Wood Milling. We work with tree services and home owners collecting the trees that they remove from their perspective properties. From there we mill the logs into lumber, kiln dry the wood and give it a second life trough custom designed furniture and wood sales to other wood workers. We mainly make all kinds of tables, fireplace mantles, coffee table ect. How ever we are not limited to just wood working. we have made decorative steal vent hoods, even a modern steel fountain and a custom lime stone sink from a boulder on a customers ranch My favorite thing is wood sculptures and other display pieces. I can just get lost in the process of allowing the piece to emerge form the wood. Our shop is very diversified in services catering to novice woodworkers that are just looking for a small piece of wood or needs something machined for a project to larger commercial installations. We employ 6 people including my self and have been in bussiness for almost 15years. We have been so blessed to participate with many great clients like the Whitte, the doseum, The SA Zoo and thousands of local customers that wants something unique. Green Wood milling has also enjoyed it’s 10 min of fame featuring in the first two seasons of “why the heck did I buy this house ” on HGTV as a specialist. Our specialty is heirloom Trees from multi generational families, it’s such a honor to process a tree that is hundreds of years old that someone’s great or great, great, grandfather planted and now becomes heirloom furniture for the children and grandchildren. I have some good stories of these projects. My business partner Peter stared with me as an employee not long after high school and has worked his way up. I am so proud of him and how far he has come. The wood business is a labor of love and not for the faint of heart. it’s hard work that takes a lot of patience, time and resources to keep all the cogs turning. Its a very for filling path were we get to serve so many different clients form all walks of life. all the wheel we get to express our gifts and talents trough rescued wood,
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think I have ever met a business owner that has ever claimed smooth sailing exist. especially in my industry. Creatives have even a more challenging time. We are typically not build for business. I would say that the first major obstacle for most creative starting out is finding their price point to where they can make a profit. The second biggest challenge is finding the right people to help you grow your business. The third biggest challenge is networking with vendors and other similar businesses that you can trust, The fourth biggest challenge is equipment and tools and keeping those things running long term. while you are working on all those things at the same time your biggest challenge is positive cash-flow. Building your business is one thing. sustaining it long term is a whole other story.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
To best describe myself as the Person, I would say that I am a hardworking God fearing husband, father and then a “creative” business owner; In that order. It wasn’t always that way but I have learned to prioritize my life if I want to stay alive.
As a creative I feel that reinventing your self about every 5 years is imperative to growth and sustainability. I like to create new things all the time otherwise my brain will rot and my soul will die. A ever evolving environment is a challenging business model for employees, structures and systems. They do not like change. I have become very good at creating systems around evolving creativity so that its not so upsetting to the constant flow required to function. I have leaned trough the years that i can channel my creative mind into the things that I can’t stand, like any admin work, any kind of electronic device and lots of people in a confined space. I think the best quality that anyone can nurture is to love people for who they are and the season that they are in. My favorite mediums are wood, stone and metals. I don’t prefer any particular item or design to create, For me its to listen to what someone thinks they want and then creating something that exceeds their expectations and needs. Building something that will last for decades and possibly generations. I love repurposing things, giving those seemingly useless objets a function and purpose and a new life.
what I am most proud of is my family. my team and how we conduct our selves. I am also Proud of our amazing projects that we have accomplished over the years. not half bad for a bushman out of Africa and a few rookies in the city.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I love to collaborate with home owners, businesses, artists, designers, architects and builders. our gift is to get it done and get it done well. We are a one stop shop. bring your ideas, your plans and your budget and we will work our magic to get it done. If we can’t do it, will bring someone along for the ride that has the know how.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greenwoodmilling.com
- Instagram: #greenwoodmillingco
- Facebook: Green Wood milling Company
