Our woodworker speaker for April is Mr. John Malecki, also known as “John the Builder”. If the name, John Malecki, sounds familiar it is because the Murrysville native played football for the University of Pittsburgh, and later, for five professional teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers. John played offensive line with the likes of Steeler greats; Willie Colon, Max Starks, Maurice Pouncy, and Doug Legursky.
After his stint with the Steelers in 2013, he focused that same energy, talent, and work ethic into interior design and woodworking. Today, less than five years later, he has a thriving business. Inspired by the surroundings of the Steel City, John’s forte is repurposing old and reclaimed materials, principally wood and steel, into dining tables, benches, coffee tables, wood signs and even murals that are simultaneously modern and historic. Certainly, much of John’s commercial success can be attributed to the appeal of the younger generation’s interest in “up-cycling” and the use of materials with a “story”. He is also a master in the use of social media.
In our April meeting, John will discuss his transition from football to woodworking, his perspective on interior design through an array of photos of his projects, and some of the unique equipment he uses to prepare his repurposed materials.