My Story

During the COVID lockdowns, I was doing what most people were — scrolling TikTok to pass the time — when I came across a CNC machine carving a design into wood. Something about it grabbed me. I’d always loved woodworking, but after suffering a life-changing electrical injury, I thought those days were behind me. Seeing what that machine could do lit a spark I hadn’t felt in years.

I decided to give it a shot. At first, it was just a way to reconnect with something I’d lost — cutting wood, designing pieces, making sawdust again. But the more I learned, the better I got. Soon I was building small projects for friends and family, figuring things out the hard way and enjoying every step of it.

The real turning point came when I made an inlay deer cutting board as a Christmas gift for my dad. It took time, patience, and a lot of experimenting, but the finished piece turned out better than I imagined. When I showed pictures of it around, everyone told me the same thing: “You should sell these.” That one board changed everything — it turned a hobby into Mendoza Wooden Gifts.

My approach is simple: combine new technology with old values. The CNC gives me precision, but the results still depend on craftsmanship — taking time, choosing the right wood, and finishing it by hand. In a world where everything’s mass-produced, I want my work to stand out for its honesty. Every piece that leaves my shop is something I’d be proud to give as a gift or display in my own home.

What keeps me going isn’t just the craft itself — it’s the reaction. Knowing that, even with my physical limitations, I can still create something that brings people joy means a lot. There’s nothing quite like being at a family gathering, seeing one of my boards on the counter, and hearing someone ask where it came from — then watching my family proudly point me out. That’s priceless.

I was born and raised in South Louisiana, spending my childhood crawfishing with my dad and running catfish traps with my grandfather. The bayou teaches you patience and pride in doing things the right way. These days, when I’m not working, I take my son bass fishing in the same waters I grew up on. That time together reminds me why I do this — to build, to teach, and to keep something real alive.

Before woodworking found its way back into my life, I worked in residential HVAC installation and repair in my local community. After my injury, I was fortunate to move into computer-based HVAC control systems for universities and hospitals. That technical experience gave me the foundation I needed to excel in CNC work — blending precision, programming, and craftsmanship into one process.

Looking ahead, I don’t want Mendoza Wooden Gifts to become a big operation. My goal is to grow it just enough while keeping it personal — where every board, tray, or sign still passes through my hands. I want customers to know that when they order from me, they’re getting something genuine — built slow, built right, and built on the banks of the bayou in South Louisiana.