Company builds custom wood pieces, veteran confidence
BELLA VISTA — Warhorse Woodworks isn’t just a business that builds custom counter tops and wood pieces; it’s a locally-owned, veteran-run business with a goal of offering veteran aid and activities in the area.
Co-owners Matthew Miles and Brandon Deck build all pieces within the nine-month-old company, making any custom piece requested by customers. Both are veterans who underwent multiple deployments.
Miles said Warhorse Woodworks’ logo is symbolic for what the two hope to accomplish.
“The logo is a knight, and the reason we wanted it, it’s symbolic,” he said. “It protects the queen, the military, and is handcrafted most of the time. The chess pieces are handcrafted and made out of wood.”
Miles said he and Deck, once they save enough proceeds from the business, hope to offer local activities for community veterans, including biking. Miles, who is from New York, said while living on the East Coast he was involved in rowing competitions and golf tournaments designed to aid veterans — something he hopes to bring to Northwest Arkansas.
“That’s where I got out of the military and there’s an organization that I do a golf tournament yearly for that helps veterans,” he said. “So, this organization I got started about five years ago and we take vets out and do things like row and get them on the water. We had started growing that, then I moved. Eventually, my goal is to get this business running and I want to build a warehouse so that we can, in Bella Vista, do the same type of thing, but with biking.”
Miles said Warhorse Woodworks will be instrumental in starting the veteran biking program. “Once we get enough money where we can save up and actually purchase some land and possibly see what that warehouse will cost, we’ll pay for it,” he said.
Miles said his goal is to build confidence again in veterans. He said joining the military is often initially known as one of the happiest moments of a person’s life, but many veterans return and face the darkest moments of their lives.
“Building something that’s so beautiful from scratch and feeling accomplishment from it is amazing,” Miles said about working with wood. “When you build something from your hands — the feel — and when we deliver it, to see the customers’ expressions about how beautiful it is, it’s a good feeling.”
He added, “That’s really what we’re trying to do — to build confidence, build a trade.”
Miles said his motto is centered around community and aiding local veterans, something he hopes he’s able to continue doing alongside Deck at Warhorse Woodworks.
They are currently working from their homes in Bella Vista. For more information about their custom made products, call 585944-3303.