A Father and Son Team
I grew up doing stone masonry with my dad (Michael Miller). My earliest memory was working at a block house outside of Leavenworth. I remember taking the cement and rolling it into little balls and placing them in a line on a row of blocks. At the end of the day my dad gave me a couple bucks, and I got a candy bar on the way home. That was the start of my career as a mason. There is something about carrying on the work of a parent that feels special. Not only is it the chance for knowledge and tradition to be passed onto future generations, it establishes some kind of unspoken respect and bond, like a secret that only the two of you know.
If you saw my dad and I work together, the first thing you would notice is that we have a good time. The music is always loud, and we laugh a lot. We laugh at each other, we laugh at our janky tools, and we often laugh at the stone selection the other had chosen. This is one of the most special things about running your own business – you choose what is most valuable. Money is not the most valuable thing in this life. Shared experiences, good relationships, laughter, and a tired body from a hard day’s work - these are all extremely valuable to me.
My dad and I start the morning slow, taking our time at Plain Hardware, Marsons, or Western Materials when we pick up supplies. We talk to everyone who works there, get some coffee, and think through the day’s plan. Once we finally hit the jobsite, we turn up the music and get to work. We work as long as is needed, even if that means finishing a fireplace at midnight. We have a great time doing whatever it takes to accomplish that day’s tasks. Along the way, we retain a full life that isn’t too rushed, enjoying the fact that we are doing something we love together.
We started the business in 2008 and have built some really incredible things with stone in the years since. One of the things I am most proud of with Miller Stoneworks is the relationships we build with our clients. Even in business, people always matter more than product, and I find that the respect of the people you work for is more important than the check you cash at the end of the job.
Although my dad is (mostly) retired at this point, he still makes his way to the job site often. We still laugh and enjoy what we do together immensely. It has been a privilege to work with my dad, building beautiful stone creations for so many wonderful people in the Pacific Northwest for most of my life.
~ Zachary Miller
