About Us - Blog | Wolverine

THE PATHS
WE FORGE

A series to honor those who live and breathe the Wolverine spirit of independence, fearlessness, and grit.

At Wolverine, we exist to support the people who forge their own path; those who stop at nothing to build the future they want. We seek to fulfill this purpose not only through the products we make, but also through the causes we serve and the stories we tell.

From entrepreneurs who risk it all in pursuit of their passion to students who defy societal expectations to learn a skilled trade; from artisans who devote their lives to the mastery of a craft to outdoor explorers who endure unforgiving elements in the name of adventure. Across industries, there are people carving their own way in the world and making tracks as they do. The Paths We Forge is our ode to them.

The Koets Family

20 FEET OF JOY BENEATH AN 8-FOOT CEILING

On the count of three, the Koets family shoves a giant blue spruce through a doorframe half its size. A huge Christmas tree the size of the entire ranch house’s living room is a tradition dating back decades. It’s a ton of work, but for the Koets family, it’s all worth it for the immense joy it brings.

a man wearing a beanie working on a shoe at a machine

Aaron Henry

Another 1000 Miles

Entering the shop, the rich smell of leather and shoe polish permeates the air and morning sunlight pours in through the front windows. The machinery is heavy and old, some of it dating back a century. Standing at the outsole stitching machine, Aaron Henry breathes new life into a pair of well-worn Wolverine 1000 Mile Boots, getting them ready for their next thousand miles.

Angela VanWiemeersch

Working Hard at Great Heights

Hundreds of feet in the air, Angela VanWiemeersch nears the top of the radio tower she’s been climbing. When she reaches the top, though, that’s when the real work begins.

Kristina Hansen

GIN MADE THE OLD WAY

For distillery owner, Kristina Hansen, the process of making top-shelf gin is hands-on and low-tech, letting her create the best product possible, start to finish.

Dazmonique Carr

Deeply rooted

On a one-acre plot of land in a Detroit neighborhood that has seen better days, Dazmonique Carr walks the rows of newly planted crops, inspecting for plants sprouting. This is one of her favorite parts of the job, witnessing plants as they first sprout out of the ground, watching new growth.

Chuck Johnson

Painting the sky with fire

Thunderous booms echo through the night sky before going silent. Immediately following the grand finale, there's a brief moment for Chuck Johnson, owner of Vortex Fireworks Artists. That's his favorite part of the job.

Steve & Brandon Zinninger

Home is Where You Park It

A gorgeous polished aluminum camp trailer sits atop a rugged Utah vista. It’s a family’s dream camp setup but not too long ago was a beat-up old trailer on the verge of being put out to pasture. Father/son team, Steve and Brandon Zinninger and their business, Camper Reparadise, have been making peoples’ camp trailer and Sprinter van dreams come true for a decade now, fueled by strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit.

Trade Industry Panelists

A PANEL OF PATHS

Wolverine and SkillsUSA, an organization dedicated to ensuring America has a skilled workforce, assembled a panel of industry professionals to break down misconceptions about opportunities in the trades and raise awareness for the incredible opportunity that exists in skilled trades professions.

Saray Hernandez

Have torch, will travel

Aboard some of the U.S. Navy’s largest ships, Saray Hernandez puts on her headphones, cranks the tunes, and makes sparks fly. As a contract welder, each day brings with it a new challenge of keeping these vessels seaworthy. She describes her crew as a bunch of little ants hard at work building stuff. But as one of the few women in her field, Saray is one ant that
stands out.

Maria Klemperer-Johnson

BUILDING CONFIDENCE BY
BUILDING A COMMUNITY

Maria Klemperer-Johnson is a Jill of all trades. A computer programmer in a past life, she longed for something more; a deeper connection and a sense of community. She found that community by building it herself.

Jeremy Stokes

HAPPY PEOPLE IN A GREAT WOOD TOWN

In a world where simple, low-cost, mass-produced pieces are what make up the bulk of new construction, Jeremy Stokes and his small crew of artisans veer hard in the other direction. They choose to stay true to the craftsmanship of woodworking, keeping the same techniques and vintage equipment many others have forgotten.

Dave Niewenhuis

THE JOB OF A MENTOR

Dave Niewenhuis has spent the last 7 years working as an instructor at YouthBuild, an organization that teaches young people the skills they need to build successful careers in the trades and also to become leaders in their community. But to Dave, his role as a mentor goes well beyond teaching employable skills.

Jessie Lewis

ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES

With a blowtorch and a crucible Jessie Lewis melts down old silver in order to give it new life. From her studio in Montana's Bitterroot Valley, Jessie and her brand—Ruby and Revolver—have become known around the country and the world for beautifully raw jewelry combining reclaimed precious metals with uniquely gorgeous stones and rugged looks that lets the metal's character shine through.

Blake Corum

WAKE UP EARLY AND PUT IN THE WORK

Blake Corum's journey to becoming a star running back at an elite college football school begins in a one-stoplight town in rural Virginia. Exposed to the hard work of his family, he learned at a young age that achieving success takes dedication, hustle,
and sacrifice.

Jason Robson

THERE'S BEAUTY IN THE BLADE

As Jason Robson polishes each knife that leaves his shop to a gorgeous sheen, he imagines the patina each particular blade will eventually take on. Unlike some artisan bladesmiths, Jason makes his knives to be used and abused.

Mikel Evans

ART THAT RIDES THE WATER

In a long rectangle of foam, Mikel Evans sees beauty and the potential for great happiness. But first, he must carve it to shape. Though the process of building surfboards is anything but clean, each of Mikel's custom boards turns out as a flawless piece of functional art.

Whitney Whitehouse

IN THE MOMENT

For Whitney Whitehouse, the path to becoming a successful traveling photographer has been full of risk and perseverance. The things she most loves about her work are that every day is different, and so are the places she travels.

Chase Winovich

THE TENACITY OF A WOLVERINE

Professional football player Chase Winovich has never been the biggest guy on the team, but grit and an unmatched work ethic have helped him excel to the top of his sport. He credits these traits to his blue-collar roots and the sacrifices his
ancestors made.

Nathan Miller

CRAFTSMANSHIP ON TWO WHEELS

As owner of the bike shop, Ridgway Wrench in Ridgway, Colorado, Nathan Miller's built his life around the bicycle. He loves finding the balance between time spent riding bikes and time spent honing his craft of working on them.

Markus Damwerth

TEACHING WHAT'S BEEN FORGOTTEN

Markus Damwerth finds inspiration in wood. The material itself is what Markus, a lifelong carpenter and current professor of architectural carpentry, loves most about his trade.

Morgen Baldwin

SHE BUILDS BRIDGES

Morgen Baldwin drives her pickup truck down the fresh black pavement of Utah's Bangerter Highway, glancing from time to time out her window at the snow-capped mountains towering along the horizon. She takes great pride in driving this road, because she built it.

Caleb Donhowe

A RENAISSANCE COFFEE MAN

From latte art to woodworking, Caleb Donhowe brings an all-in approach to every pursuit in his life. With that comes trial and error, risk and reward, and sometimes failure.

Matt Jackson

HARNESSING LIGHTNING

A third-generation neon signmaker and glassblower, Matt Jackson's been drawn to the radiance of neon since boyhood. 35 years ago, he began fiddling around with glass blowing and neon in his dad's shop, and it still hasn't lost its allure.

Chase Bardole

FREEDOM CHASER

Bartender-turned-liquor rep, Chase Bardole's life is a perfect cocktail of pavement-pounding ambition, craft, and an endless thirst for freedom.

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