Chris Beatty

Background

About Chris Beatty

I grew up in Southeastern Alaska, and the Alaskan spirit of ingenuity and persistence took root in me early. I was an avid builder from a young age, joining Vocational Industrial Clubs of America in high school where I won the state competition for cabinet-making and went on to compete in nationals. During college, my creative energies found another outlet in music, and I split my time between studying music and woodworking. Again and again, I was surprised by what such seemingly different artforms had in common; lessons often transferred from woodworking to music, and back again. Even in practical ways, these two interests blended: with my vision for design and reputation as a man who gets things done, I won contracts to design and build rehearsal spaces, custom casework, decorative shelving, and other school fixtures. I left college with a Master’s degree in music, but also a solid foundation in carpentry and design. Following my formal studies, in 2005 I created my own internship with Atkinson Custom Cabinetry where I worked under Joe Atkinson. There I immersed myself in the craft but also gained invaluable insight into carpentry as a business and the construction industry more broadly. Building from this experience, I struck out on my own to create a business that carried my own vision and style: a marriage of old-world craftsmanship and modern CNC technology. Today, after more than a decade of self-taught technique and style, I have earned a reputation for innovation, elegance, and function. I now lead a team of professionals to work the best materials into designs that hold an old-world charm while pushing toward a sharp modernity. As the president of Pacific Western Millworks and the CEO of SoCal Design, I have expanded from the local to national level, pushing relentlessly toward perfection in both design and construction, surprising clients from around the world with finished products that often surpass their vision.