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About Cutting Edge
Woodworking

We provide our clients attentive, one on one service

Tom Charles brought with him to Colorado a traditional American work ethic born in the rigors of farm life in western Kansas. By the time he opened Cutting Edge Woodworking in 2002; he had become a master cabinet maker and had extensive high-end custom homebuilding experience. Tom believes that honoring his commitments is one of the most important keys to success.

Growing up on the farm,” says Tom, “I learned that when you want something done right you have to do it yourself. If I tell you the job will be finished on time, it will be. If that means working a 70 hour week, so be it. We provide our clients attentive, one on one service, so we are personally involved and desire our customers to be involved to the level they are comfortable." Tom encourages customers to visit the facility and see the work in progress.

Our Team

Tom Charles

Partner, Founder

Tom founded Cutting Edge Woodworking in 2002. He is a master cabinet maker and built Cutting Edge into what it is today by focusing on amazing design, product quality and customer service. Tom is married and has two teenagers, and chases them around their various sporting activities in the mountains. In his “Spare Time” he is a licensed pilot, and enjoys the unique vantage point from the pilot’s seat to view the beautiful mountains around Leadville, Colorado.

Craig Jack

Partner

Craig acquired a majority interest in Cutting Edge in late 2020. He has spent 25+ years managing and leading manufacturing companies of all types, and all over the world. Craig brings business process expertise, such as Lean, that complements Tom and the rest of the team’s woodworking expertise (though he did build furniture in high school!). Craig is married, and has three adult boys who were all born in different countries overseas. He enjoys anything that gets him into Colorado mountains, both summer and winter – especially skiing, biking and fly fishing.

Marilyn Bryant

Partner, Sales and Design

Marilyn has been with Cutting Edge since 2005. She is the one who meets with our clients and helps guide the design team to make the clients’ vision and dreams a reality. She has an amazing ability to listen to what the client says, and translate that into stunning cabinet designs. She also has an incredible attention to detail and ability to keep many balls in the air – the magic that keeps our projects moving and our clients and building partners happy. Marilyn has three adult boys, and she enjoys spending as much time with them as she can.

Steve Pennisi

Partner, Shop Director

Steve has been with Cutting Edge since 2019, and was associated with the company as a contractor for many years before that. Steve is the one who takes the design shop drawings, and makes sure everything is constructed, finished and installed to meet the client’s expectations. He is a master carpenter, and also has a gift for troubleshooting problems that arise with all of the different machines we have at Cutting Edge. Steve is married and has two teenage daughters who keep him more than busy outside of work.

Jim Rockwell

Partner, Operations

Jim joined Cutting Edge in 2020. He is a graduate of the US Military Academy at West Point and served for eleven years in some of the Army’s elite infantry units, including the 2nd Ranger Battalion and the 82nd Airborne Division. After leaving the Army, he spent time running large distribution and manufacturing operations. Jim maintains our production schedule, leads our safety program and our continuous improvement work. He is married and has two daughters. Jim enjoys athletic activities that test his physical fitness, and old Army habit he hasn’t shaken.

Brian Hennek

Partner, Engineering

Brian has been with Cutting Edge since 2015. He led our custom department for years, building many of the unique items our customers most appreciate. He moved into engineering in 2021, where he is learning to apply his detailed construction knowledge to help improve our engineering process. Brian is married with three boys. He is an avid motor head, and enjoys snowmobiling in the winter and dirt biking in the summer.