Joe Sutton’s journey from the Marine Corps to the workshop is a testament to the power of resilience and innovation. After serving his country, including multiple deployments to Iraq, Joe channeled his discipline and leadership skills into a passion he’d nurtured for years: woodworking. Today, he’s the proud owner of Living Edge Creations, LLC, a burgeoning laser engraving and CNC machining business, where he crafts everything from intricate 3D-stacked text signs to custom-designed pieces for special events.

“I’ve been working with my hands half my life,” Joe explains. “If someone needed help building something, framing a house, or anything, I’d jump in.” This hands-on experience, coupled with the refined morals and ethics he gained during his military service, forms the foundation of his business.
Joe’s workshop is a marvel of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship. Equipped with a CNC machine and a laser engraver, he transforms digital designs into tangible works of art. “I can draw something up in CAD, and the machine interprets it, carving with incredible precision,” he says. This capability allows him to take on large-scale projects and create unique, customized pieces that set him apart.
One recent success story involves a local Marine group’s annual golf outing. Joe presented them with a custom-designed whiskey cigar flight, a unique alternative to the usual cutting boards. The group was impressed, ordering 160 of these custom pieces to support their event. “I’m trying to get bigger contracts,” Joe explains, “to do like a hundred, two hundred, three hundred, five hundred items at once.”