In this special series of episodes of the FHB Podcast, Andrew Zoellner, executive director of Keep Craft Alive, shares his conversations with some of the most talented and dedicated people in the world of residential design and construction.

Ian Schwandt found the trades after deciding college wasn’t for him. Trained by the carpenter’s union, he’s worked on all kinds of projects both in the midwest and on the east coast. At the start of the pandemic, he and his wife moved back to his family farmstead in Wisconsin to build their own home. Today, he’s working on being a leader and manager, keeping a tab on costs at TDS Custom Construction and helping folks find their footing in the trades.

See more from Ian on Instagram @ijswoodworking and check out TDS Custom Construction. He also writes regularly about the business side of construction here.

Keep Craft Alive is an initiative powered by Fine Homebuilding to bring awareness to the skills gap in the building industry and the rich professional opportunities that exist in the trades.

The SkillsUSA #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship Fund provides tuition money to students pursuing a career in the trades. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the fund, or buy a #KeepCraftAlive T-shirt to both support the fund and show your support.