Jake joined Vermont Woods Studios in 2018, filling a role in shipping, customer service, and operations. Jake shares a downstairs office with Michelle and Liz and works closely with Dennis and Sean. We're excited to have him on board!
FAQ with Jake Friend
When did you start at Vermont Woods Studios and what brought you here?
October 15th, 2018. I was looking for a good opportunity to grow in my career and life.
What does a typical work day look like for you?
Fielding customer issues, as well as ensuring smooth delivery of everyone's handcrafted furniture. As well as handling any day to day tasks or occurrences that may arise.
What’s your favorite part about working at Vermont Woods Studios?
The environment. Whether you’re talking about the people in the office, the customers, or the location of the showroom, Vermont woods is a nice place to be.
Pizza or Ice Cream? Pizza flavored ice cream?
Why would you ask such an impossible question?
What’s your favorite Vermont brand (other than Vermont Woods Studios)?
There are a lot of options for this, I am a big fan of Bloodroot Mountain Hot Sauce, or Maple Bob’s Smoked Maple Syrup. You can usually find one or the other if not both in my cooking.
Describe your typical commute to work.
I have about a 20-25 minute drive to work from my home in Brattleboro. This drive takes me down VT-142, one of the most beautiful main roads in the area.
You’re furnishing your dream house. What’s in it?
Home theatre. I’m really into classic cinema, and it’s hard to ever find theaters willing to play old films. I would also have a very lavish kitchen with plenty of storage space. Most of all, though, we cant forget the library. Wall to wall book shelves, stocked with the greatest SF and fantasy authors as well as a healthy smattering of historical fiction.
You’re dumping your old dining set. What’s next? Why?
I would go a little over the top, honestly, and have a Bas Relief carved in the top of a locally crafted custom table, covered with a glass top over that. My family had a piece like this when I was growing up, and I would love to have one like it.
Pick one bed to sleep on for the rest of your life.
Our Copeland Astrid Cherry Bedroom SetI would choose an Astrid Bed by Copeland, or one of their other modern pieces, maybe a Sloane because of the padded back it would be convenient for settling in with a good book.
What are you jamming out to?
Aesop Rock is my favorite. Although, I thoroughly enjoy the music of the Rat Pack, as well as Swing and Folk as well, for my favorite genres.
What’s one book you’d recommend everyone should read?
Way Station, by Clifford Simak, or Time Is the Simplest Thing, also by Clifford Simak.
What are you watching on Netflix?
Once Upon a Time
What’s your all-time favorite quote to live by?
"I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate and experiment where wiser men would have left well enough alone." - Edgar Rice Burroughs
"You are here for but an instant, and you mustn't take yourself too seriously." - Edgar Rice Burroughs
Who’s your favorite superhero?
The Flash, any incarnation, whether it’s Wally West, Barry Allen, or the original Jay Garrick.
If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?
Either a Yggdrasil, or a White Birch.
A Yggdrasil, because I like the idea of being connected to all life. The Yggdrasil is what holds the 9 realms in Norse mythology together, as well as being the connection point of all life in the universe. In part, it was one of the ideas that lead to the creation of the force in Star Wars.
The White Birch, because historically its had more impact than most other trees. It's been used in medicine, construction, before we had modern paper we used to write on birch bark. It's quite useful.
What’s your spirit animal?
I hadn’t ever really thought about it before, so i took a quiz online! It said wolf.
If you could have lunch with anyone, who would it be?
Bruce Campbell, the greatest B-movie star of all time, and by many accounts an all around nice guy.
It’s a hot summer Saturday in Vermont. Where are you, and what are you doing?
Driving down a dusty dirt road somewhere in the mountains, listening to music, and finding the best views.
What’s your favorite flavor of Ben & Jerry’s?
Chunky Monkey. Every time I think, “I’ll only have a bit of this pint,” and then it's gone.
