An example of Bridgeway Capital’s longer term impact is the growth of Viking Woodworking, which is owned by expert craftsman, Peter Schoonmaker. From a workshop in the South Side neighborhood of Pittsburgh, the business specializes in the design, building, and installation of custom cabinetry and other specialized wood products.
“We are up from 2 employees to 5, and I have plans to add at least one more employee before the year is out”
– Peter Schoonmaker, owner of Viking Woodworking
Crafting Good Jobs
Before Schoonmaker decided to venture out on his own, he enjoyed a long career in Pittsburgh’s construction sector. Like many of Bridgeway’s clients, he was equipped with the skills, passion, experience, and vision, but lacked the resources to boost his business. “Without the help we received from Bridgeway, I would not have been able to move to a larger facility” stated Schoonmaker. Two years after Bridgeway’s investment, Schoonmaker is creating high quality jobs out of a repurposed industrial building. He stated that, “we are up from 2 employees to 5, and I have plans to add at least one more employee before the year is out.”
Pittsburgh Made
Pittsburgh was built by generations of industrial makers including ironworkers, glassblowers, and millworkers. With the emergence of the healthcare, higher education, and technology sectors, Bridgeway believes that small manufacturing and craft businesses, like Viking Woodworking, diversify the city’s economy. New manufacturing jobs expand Pittsburgh’s ongoing renaissance, and add momentum to its economic growth.
Viking Woodworking
201 East Carson Street | Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.381.5171 | www.vikingwoodworking.com