Milwaukee Woman Founded Carpentry Firm in 2020

Tonda Thompson created She Slangs Wood to combine custom manufacturing with vocational training for city youth.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Jobs — General

A handcrafted oak table in a sunlit industrial workshop with organized lumber racks in the background. — Tonda Thompson founded the Milwaukee-based carpentry firm She Slangs Wood in 2020 to provide custom furniture manufacturing and vocational training for city youth. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Tonda Thompson founded the Milwaukee-based wood products company She Slangs Wood in 2020. The business offers custom furniture, carpentry, and milling while providing six-month training programs for local youth.

Why it matters

The company aims to develop a vertically integrated supply chain while empowering local young adults through professional skill-building. Thompson started the firm with the goal of establishing it as a top lumber source in the United States.

She Slangs Wood has hired 50 youth between the ages of 14 and 25 for its six-month carpentry training program. The firm utilizes commercial sawmilling to manage its production supply chain.

The players

Tonda Thompson

She is the founder of She Slangs Wood and a former political science student at UW-Milwaukee.

She Slangs Wood

This is a Milwaukee-based wood products company that conducts sawmilling and carpentry training.

UNCOM

This organization partners with local businesses to facilitate youth hiring initiatives.

Wisconsin Community Services

This agency provides support services and partners with companies to create vocational opportunities.

The details

Founded by UW-Milwaukee political science alumna Tonda Thompson, the company operates in Milwaukee with a focus on custom furniture and sawmilling. It collaborates with organizations like UNCOM and Wisconsin Community Services to provide vocational pathways for opportunity youth.

2007: Thompson worked as a freelance runway model.
2020: Thompson founded She Slangs Wood.
2026: Thompson recognized as Wood Industry Market Leader.

Market Landscape

The company operates within the 18th year of the Wood Industry Market Leaders program, which has honored 119 individuals since 2009. This move positions the firm as a growing player in the domestic lumber market by integrating local vocational training with production.

Young adults in Milwaukee gain access to six months of paid training that provides direct experience in carpentry and furniture manufacturing. This provides local residents with marketable vocational skills that can lead to long-term career paths in the wood industry.

The takeaway

Starting a business to address both personal challenges and community needs can create sustainable career pathways. Building a vertically integrated company allows for greater control over production while simultaneously fostering local workforce development.