Getting to know Catherine Helshoj
Catherine Helshoj is the wife of Torben Helshoj who is the founder of Laguna Tools. Catherine, together with her husband, has spear-headed this award-winning company to greatness earning of the company a solid foundation and a trusted name in the woodworking industry. Despite the irony of women and woodwork, Catherine has shown exemplary skills in managing the company which had earned good reputation not just for herself but also for the company.
Due to the unyielding passion and open-mindedness of Catherine Helshoj and her husband, the company continues to innovate and create quality products until now. Woodworkers all over the world greatly appreciate the hi-end products offered by Laguna Tools. This company has been in service with the people for more than 25 years providing only the best woodworking equipments for both professionals and dedicated hobbyists. In addition to the company’s wide array of woodworking products and equipments, they have broadened their line to include Asian-made equipments which are comparable in quality and performance to European machines but are more cost-friendly especially to woodworkers who are just starting up and small shops with a tight budget.
In addition to providing customers with top-of the-line products and a wide array of choices, the company doesn’t fail to give back to the community as part of the company’s mission. They have been sponsoring outreach programs with products and knowledge needed in order for attendees to become skilled woodworkers. Aside from supporting these kinds of activities, the company also reaches out to individual people. One of the lucky people to receive this charity is Nathaneal “Nate” Meadows. Nate was serving as a senior field medic who was severely injured with an improvised explosive device during a combat duty in Iraq in 2003. He was honorably discharged from service after he was diagnosed with bladder and kidney disease just to name some. He wrote a letter to the company which caught the attention of Catherine. He was asking for a 14” Laguna bandsaw which will help him begin his woodworking business. This business was Nate’s resolution to forging a new path for his future after the accident. Catherine then presented Nate’s story to all the company employees and their families which received a positive response. As a result, Nate’s request was not only granted but was also upgraded from a 14” to a 16” heavy-duty bandsaw.
After providing this charity to Nate, Catherine Helshoj expressed how grateful they are to the American Armed Forces, the reason why it wasn’t a very hard decision to help him upon reading his letter. In addition to the help given to Nate, Laguna Tools will also be donating an amount to the Wounded Warrior Project.
