PSC carpentry student, Ethan Baucher, proudly poses at his workstation at Fisher Cabinet Company.
When Ethan Baucher first began looking toward his future career, he knew one thing for certain; he wanted to be able to build with his hands. A recommendation from a job recruiter pointed him in the direction of the carpentry program at Pensacola State College—a decision that would not only shape his education but open the door to an unexpected career path through a part-time opportunity with Fisher Cabinet Company.
“I said that I wanted to know how to build things,” Ethan shared. “They told me that PSC was a good option because they had a carpentry program, so I looked into it.”
Now a current PSC carpentry student, Ethan has spent the last few months balancing coursework with hands-on industry experience at Fisher Cabinet. While the College’s program introduced him to the fundamentals of residential carpentry, framing, and construction safety, his work at Fisher Cabinet has taken it one step further, immersing him in the fast-paced world of commercial cabinetry manufacturing.
Ethan carefully inspects a board that will become the toe kick of a cabinetry set.
“The main difference I’ve seen is the focus on residential versus commercial carpentry,” Ethan explained. “At PSC, we learn framing for houses and how all the trades work together. Here, we’re producing multiple pieces in bulk and learning a completely different side of the industry.”
That real-world experience has done more than just expanded his technical knowledge—it’s grown his confidence too. “Back in school, I kind of asked for a lot of help,” he admitted. “But here, they’ve taught me how to do things on my own and work within my own space. Now, I know where to go to find the right tools and what I need for the job.”
Surrounded by seasoned craftsmen, Ethan says the mentorship he receives daily from the Fisher Cabinet team has become one of the most valuable parts of this employment opportunity. “They teach me a lot of things and pick up on mistakes I would miss,” he said. “They know all the little details to make sure I’m doing it right.”
Thanks to the guidance of his PSC instructors and Fisher Cabinet colleagues, Ethan confidently knows his way around his workstation and his tools.
Originally, Ethan imagined a future in residential framing, but the flexibility and support offered by Fisher Cabinet helped reshape that vision. “Fisher Cabinet has allowed me to do both my schooling and work at the same time by letting me work part-time,” he shared. “My time here has led me toward cabinetry rather than framing, which I think is good.”
To Fisher Cabinet, investing in students like Ethan is both a business decision and a commitment to the future of the local workforce. After recognizing a growing shortage of skilled trades professionals and programs in the area, the family-owned company began partnering with the College through scholarship support, internships, and participation on PSC’s industry advisory council.
“We realized we needed to invest in the community and in the program at PSC,” Elly Fisher, one of the owner-operators of Fisher Cabinet explained. “We hoped to find students interested in gaining hands-on experience while they’re in school and maybe building a pipeline for students to pursue full-time work in cabinet making.”
Beyond technical skills, Elly hopes that students leave with confidence, independence, professionalism, and a solid understanding of teamwork. “You’re building something that’s going to go to a customer and have our name on it,” she said. “The goal is learning to produce a quality product as soon as possible while developing the soft skills that help students succeed in any career.”
As Ethan continues to build both his education and his experience, he represents exactly what partnerships between education and industry can achieve: a student discovering new passions, gaining valuable mentorship, and building a future with confidence—one project at a time.