Eric Stockinger

Growing up in suburban Detroit, Michigan, Eric Stockinger spent most of his summers at a family cottage on Lake Huron when he got bitten by the water bug and went on to get a degree in freshwater fisheries management from Michigan State University. Eric was introduced to woodworking by his father as teenager. After college he started building cabinetry and furniture on the side, and also several kayaks. He had been aware of The Apprenticeshop in Rockland, Maine, since his freshman year at college, and after working as a manager for the outdoor outfitter REI in Detroit, San Diego, and Dallas, he packed up his truck and headed to Rockland. After completing a two-year apprenticeship at The Apprenticeshop, Eric stayed on as the Shop Director. Several years later, he took over as Executive Director, and held that position for three-and-a-half years. In the winter of 2012, Eric and his wife moved up the coast to Surry, Maine, and he began working at Brooklin Boat Yard. A few years later he started teaching at WoodenBoat School. After eight years at the boatyard, the last few as a project manager, Eric was given the opportunity to take the helm at the school. When he’s not thinking about wooden boats or cheering on his Michigan State Spartans, Eric enjoys hiking with his wife, tinkering in his home workshop or reading a good, non-fiction book.