82 PUNCHMAGAZINE.COM that built roofs.” At first, he simply loved using the power tools and nail guns, but as time went on, he learned valuable construction and leadership skills. “The whole experience was just exciting and I had never participated in teamwork in that way,” he notes. “Everyone on the project is in a good mood.” A self-described “maker,” Nolan says he has a hard time sitting still. If something needs to be fixed, he figures out how to do it. If he needs furniture for his home, he makes it. This mindset led to a host of skills early in his career, including a gig as a carpenter for a home remodeling business and as a coffee roaster/cafe owner. “Building a coffee roaster was the nerdiest, most techie thing I have done,” he confesses. “I also wrote software for it. If something sounds fun, I’ll do it.” Currently, in his spare time, he is building an outdoor sectional out of redwood trees and a coffee table that houses a stove. Nolan’s natural inclination to figure out how things work led him to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. It is there that he met fellow student and his future wife Mika, a Los Altos native who would introduce him to the Peninsula. Mika had always wanted to return home after college and soon after their marriage, the couple settled in Mountain View. “I love where I live and work,” Nolan beams, adding that with just a 10-minute drive, he can go mountain biking on trails off of Skyline Boulevard. As Nolan contemplated a job in the Bay Area, he decided to take the road less traveled and pursue a career using his hands rather than take a tech job. “I just happened to find this warehouse in downtown San Mateo where I could open my own woodworking business.” As Nolan built out his warehouse and purchased equipment, commissions for projects started rolling in. The business name Maker and the Moose is a nod to his outdoorsy childhood in Canada and to his favorite animal. “I am excited I can do what I love and make a living at it,” he smiles. “I came to the perfect location, as custom woodworking is in very high demand here. In {home & design} PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF: MAKER AND THE MOOSE
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