G. Keener & Co. Furniture came into existence in the summer
of 2000.
Although the company itself is young, the formation started years
before that.
The owner and craftsman, Gary Keener, enjoyed woodworking since he
was a small boy. Pounding nails into anything he could get his hands
on.
Sometimes this got him into a little bit of trouble, but mostly it
was appreciated.
His potential was realized and refined a
little as he entered high school and enrolled in Industrial Arts
classes.
The program was excellent and the instructor stressed fine joinery
and quality finishes.
As Gary entered college he decided he would take his love for
woodworking and desire to work with people and become a teacher.
He felt that passing on this passion to others would enhance
society.
He finished his degree and obtained a teaching position at a High
School in Sandusky, Ohio teaching woodworking and drafting.
While teaching, he began making furniture on the side for others in
the community.
Gary really enjoyed providing great furniture at a good value to
others. Most of all he loved to see satisfied customers and the
treasured the relationships that were made through the process.
The love and desire to do this as a career propelled him forward
into the next phase of this process. He and his wife decided that
they would give a business a try, but first Gary felt that he needed
some more instruction and marketing experience.
He resigned from teaching and obtained a apprenticeship position
with the well known furniture maker M.T. Maxwell in Bedford,
Virginia. He studied under Maxwell for a year where he refined his
woodworking skills, designed his first line of furniture, made a
catalogue, and participated in the Philadelphia Furniture and
Furnishings Show, all as an apprentice.
At the show in 2000 he helped M.T. Maxwell win the apprenticeship
award given by the show.
After completing his apprenticeship he and his wife moved back to
Ohio where they bought an 1840's farmhouse and some land to build
his new workshop. He worked out of his two car garage for 6 months
while his new building was being built. In January of 2001 he
finally got into his new shop and he was a much happier person as
his wife attested.
Gary has attended several shows since then. Providence Fine
Furnishings show, Philadelphia Furniture And Furnishings Show and
the Charlotte ACC show. He is pleased with the response to his
designs and is working diligently to make new ones.
