Ashlen Craftsmen


Rick McClendon
Owner and Founder

Upon graduating with a Business Degree from the University of Alabama, I began my career as a banker. Wood carving as a business happened almost by chance. I carved a wooden duck decoy and as friends requested my work, a business grew. Soon I was making more money in this line of work than as a banker and found it possible to support my family as an artist. Eventually I purchased a machine that enabled me to carve twelve ducks at a time, leading to the official formation of the company Wooden Wildlife. When less expensive imports began jeopardizing my business, I began contract carving for a furniture manufacturer. I was producing seats for Windsor chairs which led to full assembly. I have always said that the chairs chose me.

In 1983, Ashlen Manufacturing Company was incorporated. The name came from my two children, Ashlee and Allen. My start was small employing only one other individual who worked with me for the first 18 years. Together and with the help of my family, a quality product, and impeccable customer service Ashlen grew from Bow-Back Chairs and Chair Kits to an entire line of American and English Style Windsor Chairs, Rockers, Settees, Stools, and Tables.

 

Ashlee McClendon Potter
President

I began spending afternoons and summers at my fathers business as a young child. My dad would find small jobs for me as he could but for the most part I would lay low with my brother. Once dad saw my full potential, I began working as the Executive Dust Coordinator solely responsible for sweeping the workshop floors. As I perfected this role, my daddy promoted me to Chief in Charge of Boxes allowing me to assist in the shipping of finished product. Once I entered junior high school, I began helping in the office. My first duties included opening mail, paying bills, and answering the phone. When needed, I would assist on the production floor or in the finishing room. I continued working at Ashlen until my high school graduation at which point I entered the University of Alabama. In 2000, I left college with a Communication Degree in Photo-Journalism and an Arts and Science Minor in Photography. After working in the Layout and Design Department of a regional magazine, I returned to Tuscaloosa to enter my current role with Ashlen as President. Today, with the help and sometimes resistance of my 3 year old daughter Rylee, I receive and respond to all email correspondences, label and mail color samples and catalogs, perform any and all office responsibilities, design and maintain Ashlen’s website, catalogs, and product database, and act as the company photographer. And although my life is hectic, I would not trade operating my family's business for anything. I feel great pride in building quality, traditional furniture for other families and I thank my father for this opportunity.   

 


Ed Potter
Director of Operations

 


Judi McClendon
Secretary/Treasurer

 


Forbin
Chief in Charge of Security

 


Rylee Potter
3rd Generation in Training

I love going to work with my mom and dad each day. The first thing I do is say hello to Daniel and Tracy who help my daddy make chairs look pretty. I also help my mommy in the office. If she is working with customers, I draw on the dry erase board or play Elmo games on my daddy’s computer. Sometimes my dad lets me help in the shop. I’m a big fan of the saw dust.

 

I like to run town errands with my mommy. Once she has the outgoing mail and bank deposits ready, we check with my daddy to see if he needs any materials picked up and then we head out. Making deposits at the bank is fun because they give suckers.

 

Mommy and daddy tell me that when I get bigger, I’ll be able to make chairs look pretty too.   

 


DanielMorris
Master Craftsman

 


Tracy Prince
Finishing Expert

 

 



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