About Us
Educated
Our wood craftsmen are graduates of the nation’s only certified wood finishing institute. The never-ending quest for more knowledge is what keeps us interested and always learning.
Experienced
Our experience and knowledge, plus the fact that we really enjoy what we do, is the reason our work is always of superior quality.
OUR TEAM
David Smith
President
- Graduate of the National Institute of Wood Finishing – 1994
- Davills Wood Finishing – Business owner until 2008
- Education Director – Hastings Architectural Restoration, Annapolis, MD 2002-06
- Visiting Instructor – National Institute of Wood Finishing 98 – 2013
- Instructor at Marc Adams School of Woodworking
- Fresh Air Finishers – President 2008 – Present
Dave Gunderson
CFO
Graduate of the National Institute of Wood Finishing – 1999
Owned and operated Gunderson Restoration, specializing in Historic woodwork restoration – 2000 – 2008
Featured in American Bungalow Magazine – 2003
Completed woodwork restoration at Floyd B Olson House Minneapolis – 2003
Completed Restoration of all woodwork in Laduc Mansion, Hastings MN – 2004
Featured in the Highland Villager – 2005
Merged business with Davills Wood Finishing to form Fresh Air Finishers – 2008
Mitch Kohanek
Historic Coatings Consultant
Instructor at the National Institute of Wood Finishing, for 35 years, retired 2013
Interned at the Smithsonian Conservation and Analytical Laboratory
American Institute of Conservation, member
Featured in Better Homes and Gardens, Wood and Fine Woodworking magazines
Instructor for Marc Adams School of Woodworking 1993 – Present
Wood Finishing Consultant to the Wood Finishing Industry
Offers Customized Training: White wood finishing, Color Theory, Spot Repair, Restoration, Wood Finishing
Consultant for FAF – 2013 – present
Rick Bean
Touch-up Artist / Wood Finisher/ Estimator
Graduate of the National Institute of Wood Finishing – 2001
Wood Finisher – Davills Wood Finishing, St. Paul, MN
Project Manager – Hastings Architectural Restoration, Annapolis, MD
Touch-up Artist – Finish-it Green, Bowie, MD
Touch-up Artist / Wood Finisher – FAF
Jamie Bahrke
Touch-up Artist / Wood Finisher
Graduate Bemidji State University
Student of Mitch Kohanek, The Wood Finisher
Lisa Fox
Touch-up Artist / Wood Finisher
Graduate of University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Fine Arts
Graduate of the National Institute of Wood Finishing – 2013