And while I was able to make a path for myself with relative ease, eventually, the inequality of the field started to grate on me.

I recognized, before even entering the field that it was male dominated. I was finally able, in one place, to be creative, to be physical, to be outdoors, and to work with wood. It wasn’t until I tried and was unsatisfied with careers in both of these fields that I realized the construction industry was a place where I could satisfy all these inclinations. I studied Computer Science in college where virtual creation helped assuage my urge to build, and got a minor in Geology where I was able to use both my body and mind in an outdoor setting doing field work. But even as I recognized that this urge to create was a strong part of my personality, I didn’t think about carpentry as a legitimate career path. My dad and grandfather were hobbyist woodworkers, and I did projects with them, as well as taking woodshop in middle school. On top of a myriad of other creative pursuits, Maria is also an accomplished SketchUp modeler and instructor.Ĭlass in session: Maria Klemperer Johnson (right) gets hands-on at Hammerstone Carpentry School.Ĭan you tell us a bit about your introduction to carpentry and your inspiration for starting the Hammerstone School?Įver since I was a kid, I have enjoyed building things. After realizing the lack of women in woodworking, she founded the Hammerstone School of Carpentry for Women. Formally trained in computer science, she left the academic world to pursue a career in the trades. Maria Klemperer-Johnson is not your typical carpenter.

Sketchup for carpenters