Neal Jeltema is a man who has been designing and building things for as long as he can remember. He discovered his true passion for building furniture in his 30s and decided to pursue it further. At the age of 38, Neal enrolled in the Art Institute of California at Orange Country, where he studied Industrial Design with a focus on furniture design. Unfortunately, after only eight months, the Art Institute closed. Neal and his wife then relocated to their hometown of Grand Rapids, MI, so he could attend Kendall College of Art and Design to pursue a BFA in Furniture Design. During the summer before his final semester, Neal secured an internship at Bold Furniture and stayed on part-time during his final semester. He was eventually offered a full-time position as a Product Designer for Bold Furniture, which he happily accepted. In addition to his passion for woodworking, Neal also enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, bicycling, and snowshoeing when winter permits.