Mark Kohlhaas is the owner and lead carpenter for Whidbey Island Carpentry.  He began learning about carpentry when he worked with his father on projects as a child. He built sets for the drama department at his high school and continued that work later as an architecture student at the University of Texas in Austin. After college, Mark honed his carpentry skills as a house builder in Canada. He has worked for himself, as well as other carpentry and construction companies. In addition, he has volunteered more than 2,500 hours with Habitat of Humanity, building homes for low-income families.

One of Mark’s most rewarding experiences has been working as a trainer for Casa Verde Builders (CVB) in Austin, Texas. In this position, Mark mentored students through the construction of energy-efficient homes from start to finish. In addition to carpentry skills, students learned life skills such as the importance of teamwork, determination, and commitment. CVB was awarded a grant that allowed Mark to write curriculum on “green” construction.

Mark completed building his own home in Langley, Washington–almost entirely on his own. He used lumber from trees that were cut and milled on his property, as well as reclaimed materials for doors, cabinets, light fixtures, sinks, and other items. He stained the concrete floor using iron sulfate, a safe lawn additive, which is an inexpensive and more environmentally-friendly alternative to acid stains. It is a dream come true for him and his wife, Vanessa, to move into such a labor of love.

Mark and Vanessa have three young children. They are slowing building on to their home and developing the land around them to make room for their growing family. They are so grateful to live in such a warm and supportive community.