TL;DR: My lifetime of travel—from Okinawa streets to luxury resorts—shapes the way I design and deliver custom tables.

  • Early years in Okinawa taught me curiosity, cultural respect, and the joy of trying new things.

  • Work at KAYAK exposed me to world-class hotels and personalized service.

  • Grace Bay Resort in Turks and Caicos set my standard for “unscripted hospitality.”

  • I bring those same values—care, connection, and unexpected touches—into every New England Table Company project.

  • In both travel and table making, the destination matters, but the experience matters more.

I’ve been lucky enough to see the world, starting with my childhood years in Okinawa in the 1970s. Even as a kid, I learned to explore beyond the obvious: visiting small shops, trying unfamiliar foods, and making connections with people whose lives were very different from mine. That curiosity has never left me.

Later, my career at KAYAK exposed me to destinations where luxury wasn’t just about the view—it was about how you were treated. I’ve stayed in high-end resorts from Las Vegas to Bora Bora, but my gold standard is still Grace Bay Resort in Turks and Caicos. There, staff like Franklin didn’t just provide service—they built relationships. He checked in daily, offered personalized suggestions, and made us feel at home in a place thousands of miles away.

That idea—unscripted hospitality—is something I’ve carried into the New England Table Company. When I deliver a custom table, I want my clients to feel the same way I did stepping into a well-prepared luxury suite: cared for, understood, and delighted by the unexpected. Whether it’s a thoughtful design touch, a small gift, or simply great communication, I aim to bring that same sense of personal connection to every project.

Because in both travel and table making, the destination matters—but the experience matters even more.