Jesse

Metal Shop Foreman, Master Craftsperson

Jesse completed a one-year boatbuilding course at the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design in 2002 and then began his career at Van Dam in 2003. He very quickly developed an aptitude for metal working, honing his skills on the lathe and mill, as well as developing the impressive ability of being able to TIG weld with either hand. Jess was instrumental in making Van Dam’s Custom Metal Shop what it is today. Jesse programs and operates all of the unique, one-off metal work that goes into our CNC machine. He also supervises his small, but extraordinary metal shop team. One Van Dam customer, a surgeon, commented on Jesse’s ability in the machine shop, saying “…there are more people that can remove an appendix than can do the work that he does.”

Jess’s talents are not confined to the metal shop; in his spare time, one of his many interests are vegetable oil powered diesel engines. He also enjoys downhill skiing at local resorts and sailboat racing. Jess gained some of his artistic abilities from his parents, who are both artists in western Michigan.

• Started at Van Dam: 2003
• Born in: Montaque, Michigan
• Graduated: Washtenaw Community College and the Landing School of Boatbuilding and Design
• Favorite projects to work on: Custom gadgetry and mechanisms
• Favorite Fundamental: #29- Find a Way
• Favorite thing about working at Van Dam: Working on unique projects
• Certifications/Licenses:
  • CNC programmer and operator
  • Mastercam Certified
  • ABYC Certified in Marine Systems
  • ABYC Certified in Marine Corrosion