Today we’d like to introduce you to Jon-Paul Ragusa.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have been a woodworker for a very long time. While most kids were riding their bikes for ice cream or skateboarding, I was building their launch ramps and fixing their bikes. My dad is an Italian immigrant who came here in the late 60’s for a better life. He worked hard at the American dream as a cement mason in various construction projects around LA, including the Bonaventure Hotel, Old Colorado Bridge in Pasadena, and a bunch of Metro Stations. I learned a lot from watching him use tools and getting the job done! My mom is also from Italian heritage, she was born in Detroit, Michigan, and traveled to LA with her mom and two sisters in the early 60’s. My mother is also an incredibly hard worker, raising us three kids, taking care of the house, all the while keeping a full-time job as a nurse. I come from a long line of builders, besides my dad, my uncles and cousins, my mom’s dad was also a cement mason and my grandmother went to college in her 50’s and became a licensed architect. She then designed and built her dream home in this area. At 6 years old, my dad built the house that I grew up in. It was a great experience for me, I can still remember pulling wire through conduits on the second story. My dad had a tremendous amount of trust in my skills at an early age. I recently finished building my own small house for my wife and 2 1/2-year daughter, I guess it’s in my blood.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning a business is never a smooth road. If they tell you it is, they are lying. Being your own boss is great and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Some of the struggles I have had along the way are not knowing when the next job would come in to pay the bills. Having to sell things you really enjoy, just to pay rent. I generally can build anything and get the job done right, so I am lucky there. I have built a reputation on that. Thankfully most of those same struggles are behind me now.
Please tell us about Heritage Woodworks.
Heritage Woodworks, Inc. is a full-service woodwork company. We specialize in cabinetry, finish carpentry and custom furniture. We are known for providing some of the finest woodwork in all of LA, with high end jobs in mansions and other historical properties. Heritage Woodworks founders Jon-Paul Ragusa and Kelsey Koppenhaver have been doing fine wood work for a combined 50 years of experience. We met in the year 2001 doing the fine carpentry on David Geffen’s Malibu beach house. Kelsey was the foreman at the time, and was in charge of a crew of 6 guys, I was new and was in charge of installing all the cabinetry. We instantly bonded and became close friends, once we left that company, we went off and did our own things until we decided to form Heritage Woodworks, in 2007. This July will mark our 10th anniversary as a company!!
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t change a whole lot. I would have made better decisions regarding my time and how to use it wisely. I also would have started delegating responsibilities to different people a lot sooner. I used to be the type of guy that would do everything himself, but now I realize, if you want to grow a company, you have to trust in your employees.
Contact Info:
- Address: 820 Thompson Ave. #10
Glendale, CA 91201 - Website: www.heritagewoodinc.com
- Phone: 747-215-6615
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeritageWoodWorksInc/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/heritage-woodworks-glendale
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