Haywood Community College

• Videos
• Distance Learning
• Haywired

• Front Page
• News
• HCC Professional Crafts Woo...

HCC Professional Crafts Wood Graduate Wins Sequoyah Fund Business Plan Competition

David Nestler, 2010 Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Wood graduate is the winner of The Sequoyah Fund, Inc. Business Plan Competition. Nestler was selected from seven entries to win $10,000 in start-up capital for his business, Tree of Life Woodworks, LLC. The business is located in Sylva.

The competition was open to students at HCC, Southwestern, and Tri-County Community College. A requirement of the competition was entrants must start and operate a business in the seven western counties of North Carolina within one year of receiving the award.

Nestler crafts furniture from wood harvested and milled locally. He came to HCC to turn his hobby of woodwork into a career and because of the college’s excellent reputation. Nestler also has a Bachelor’s degree in geography from UNC-Chapel Hill.

“At HCC, I liked that the emphasis was not only on woodworking but also on business and how to be able to make a living with your craft,” Nestler explains. “You have a good connection to resources at the college even after you’ve graduated.”

Nestler says winning the competition was a giant step forward in being able to successfully operate a business. He wishes to thank Michelle Choate, Sharron Donnahoe, and the instructors in the professional crafts area.

For more information about Nestler’s work, visit his website at www.tolwoodworks.com.

'Footer Links:'

• Accessibility
• About the Website
• Feedback