Position: Office Manager & Senior Advisor
Previous Roles: Shop Dog (2019-2023), Resin Hound (2023-2025)
Experience: 6+ years in the woodworking industry
Specialties: Couch supervision, executive assistance, loyalty management
Current Location: Wherever Dawn goes

From Shop Dog to Office Executive

Smudge represents the ultimate success story in career advancement at Sarkanys Rising. In his 6+ years with the company, he’s worked his way up from entry-level shop dog to his current prestigious position as Office Good Boy, with a notable specialization period as our dedicated Resin Hound.

This distinguished gentleman has been with Sarkanys Rising for almost his entire professional life, having started his career as a young shop dog and steadily earning promotions through dedication, loyalty, and an unwavering commitment to following Dawn wherever she goes.

The Resin Hound Years: A Specialized Career Phase

Mastering the Art of Resin Work

During his tenure as our Resin Hound, Smudge developed an exceptional understanding of epoxy resin projects. His keen nose and attention to detail made him invaluable during the curing process, where temperature and timing are critical. Smudge could sense when resin pours were ready for the next step, often before the human team members recognized the subtle changes.

Quality Control Excellence

As a Resin Hound, Smudge’s responsibilities included:

Resin Pour Supervision: Ensuring optimal working conditions during critical resin applications
Curing Process Monitoring: Using his enhanced senses to detect proper curing progression
Color Quality Assessment: Helping evaluate resin color combinations and effects
Safety Protocol Enforcement: Maintaining awareness of ventilation and workspace safety

His expertise in resin work helped establish many of the quality standards that Sarkanys Rising maintains today for all wood and resin combination pieces.

Transition to Office Management

The Promotion to Office Good Boy

After years of hands-on shop and resin work, Smudge earned his promotion to Office Good Boy – a position that recognizes both his experience and his natural leadership qualities. This role allows him to utilize his extensive knowledge while transitioning to more strategic, management-focused responsibilities.

Executive Assistant Duties

In his current role, Smudge serves as Dawn’s right-hand… er, right-paw assistant. His duties include:

Schedule Management: Ensuring Dawn maintains proper break schedules (especially couch time)
Client Relations: Providing a welcoming presence for customers and visitors
Stress Management: Offering emotional support during challenging projects
Quality Oversight: Drawing on his extensive shop and resin experience to advise on current projects

The Dawn Connection: A Professional Partnership

Smudge’s loyalty to Dawn isn’t just personal – it’s professional excellence in action. His “goes where she goes” approach ensures continuity of operations and demonstrates the kind of dedication that sets Sarkanys Rising apart from larger, less personal operations.

This partnership has proven invaluable for business operations. Dawn’s creative vision combined with Smudge’s practical experience and unwavering support creates a management team that understands both the artistic and operational sides of custom woodworking.

Couch Supervision: An Underrated Skill

The Art of Strategic Positioning

Smudge’s love for “the couch” isn’t just about comfort – it’s about strategic positioning. From his couch-based command center, he maintains visual oversight of office operations while remaining available for immediate consultation on any matters requiring his expertise.

Work-Life Balance Advocacy

As someone who has worked his way up from the shop floor, Smudge understands the importance of rest and recovery. His dedication to couch time serves as a reminder to the entire team about maintaining healthy work-life balance – crucial for sustaining creativity and quality in handcrafted work.

Life in Tucson: Desert Adaptation

Having spent almost 6 years in Tucson, Smudge has become our resident expert on desert workshop operations. His experience adapting to Arizona’s unique climate has helped Sarkanys Rising develop better practices for wood storage, resin work in high temperatures, and maintaining optimal workshop conditions year-round.

His desert expertise has been particularly valuable in:

Climate Control Strategies: Understanding how Tucson’s dry heat affects wood and resin
Seasonal Adaptation: Adjusting work practices for extreme summer temperatures
Equipment Care: Protecting tools and materials from desert conditions

Looking Forward: Many More Years

“We look forward to many more years” with Smudge, and his wealth of experience ensures that future projects will benefit from his institutional knowledge. As he continues in his Office Good Boy role, Smudge serves as both a mentor to newer team members (like Fuega) and a living repository of Sarkanys Rising’s evolution and growth.

His career trajectory from shop dog to specialized resin hound to office executive demonstrates the growth opportunities available within our unique, family-oriented business structure.

Interested in meeting our entire team, including our distinguished Office Good Boy? Visit Sarkanys Rising at pet friendly events and experience the personal touch that only a family-and-pet operated business can provide!

Meet Smudge – Our Office Good Boy & Retired Resin Hound