Bios

Aaron Gogolin
Aaron is a native Clevelander who began his carpentry career as a rough framer of new construction houses. In this field he gained knowledge about how buildings are put together from the foundation to the roof while also getting an insider view of just how much waste is created in the construction trades.

Aaron's attention to detail drew him into fine carpentry and cabinetmaking. After working for several cabinet shops and remodelers, he began his own cabinet and furniture design and fabrication business, Made in Cleveland, in 2005.

Aaron feels that APOC has brought together his passions for beautiful wood, Cleveland history and environmental responsibility.

Chris Kious
Chris Kious is the material recovery partner to APOC. As Housing Services Manager for St. Clair Superior Development Corporation, Chris has worked since 2006 at making deconstruction a successful industry in Cleveland. Chris's passion is to build sustainable/green businesses out of the recycling of buildings. Kious is excited by thoughts of green-collar low-tech jobs, making profits from "waste" and designing our lives to work with the environment. A proud member of Entrepreneurs for Sustainability, Chris engages in the community on many green initiatives such as urban farming, public greenspaces and green building.

Ezra Taxel
Ezra Taxel is a designer specializing in furniture and consumer products.

Ezra grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio surrounded by people who made careers out of their artistic passions. While studying anthropology and sociology at Kenyon College, he worked part time as a set builder in the theater department. Upon completing his BFA, he moved to Chicago where he says that he found his creative calling. "The interest in woodworking that I had begun to develop as a set builder led me to pursue a one year apprenticeship with studio furniture-maker David Orth. While working with him I developed my skills as a fine craftsman and discovered an interest in the elements of design. Combining form, function, creativity, and craft to produce something sculptural that could be used every day satisfied both my artistic and practical sides."

In the fall of 2004, Ezra relocated to Savannah, Georgia to pursue a graduate degree in furniture design from Savannah College of Art and Design. "These advanced studies in design combined with my undergraduate degree, have given me a singular perspective. A grounding in the social sciences aids me in envisioning how my work fits into people's lives as well as how it dovetails with existing social frameworks or even helps to define new ones." Graceful forms and unique interactions began to become hallmarks of Ezra's work.

Upon earning an MFA, Ezra returned to Cleveland in the fall of 2006 to launch his design career. Soon after opening Form 2 Design, a studio focusing on the design of manufactured and custom furniture, Ezra met Chris, P.J. and Aaron. "I was immediately excited by the concept of designing and making things out of reclaimed materials and by the group of people that were already involved in the project. This was an opportunity to combine my passion for my chosen field with my lifelong interest in issues of sustainability. Given my passion for and commitment to the project, it only made sense for me to enter into the core partnership when APOC was incorporated."

P.J. Doran
P.J. Doran began making "things" early in life starting with backyard forts and gradually moving up to tree houses, usually constructed from garbage picks, leftovers and salvaged building materials. Getting his start in the housing construction industry, P.J. was able to learn the trade while refining his craftsmanship. Frustrated by the immense waste involved in new construction, P.J. began designing and building custom furniture from reclaimed materials. The influences for his designs and creations have come from several architects/furniture makers including Charles and Ray Eames and Alvar Aalto.

With much of their reclaimed materials dating back several decades, P.J.'s favorite part of working with APOC is saving and reusing materials over 100 years old. "I like the challenge of taking something that was discarded or bound for the landfill and giving it a new life." P.J. fits right in as a designer/ fabricator with APOC.