This award was developed in 2017 by Merrohawke Nature School’s board of directors to recognize a member of the community who acts with the earth-minded integrity that Merrohawke hopes all children will express as adults. This individual, or couple, exemplifies Merrohawke’s core values--safety, hope, education, nature connection, community, family, leadership, and respect--and demonstrates a moral compass that values and actively advances environmental and social justice in his or her community.
Past awardees are Jacalyn Bennett (2018) and Elizabeth Marcus (2017).
This year, we are pleased to honor Mark & Teresa Richey.
Mark Richey began his career as an apprentice to master harpsichord builder, William Dowd. Trained under these exacting standards, in 1979 he began building fine cabinetry and furniture. In 1981, Mark Richey Woodworking officially opened its doors, offering high-quality architectural woodworking. The company has expanded steadily ever since.
In 2005, after a major renovation to transform a derelict manufacturing building into 130,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, the company moved to historic Newburyport, MA.
As MRW grew, they have made a commitment to reducing their carbon footprint and in 2007 installed the industry’s first clean-burning Biomass furnace using the company’s wood waste to heat the facility. In 2009, they erected a 300-foot-tall, 600KW wind turbine and then added a 500-kW rooftop solar array in 2016, resulting in 100% renewable power for the factory. MRW is one of the greenest manufacturing companies in the US and continues to receive numerous awards for its commitment to environmental stewardship in addition to awards of excellence in woodworking.
As founder, Mark guides the Company’s growth and nurtures its reputation for quality. He is a frequent consultant to architects, company owners, and general contractors worldwide on matters of engineering, construction detailing, wood and finish selection, and cost analysis. He is past President of both the Architectural Woodworking Institute (AWI) and the American Alpine Club and is an avid mountain climber for over 40 years. His lifelong passion for climbing and exploring wild places is at the root of his commitment to preserving the environment.
Teresa is a co-founder of Mark Richey Woodworking and has done everything from finish to building the company’s accounting systems. As Treasurer, she directs the company’s financial management, oversees office administration and takes special interest in the company’s family culture and employee well-being. Teresa is a native of Peru and speaks many languages. She grew up in the mountains, has a love of nature and has hiked all over the world. In 1985 she became the second Peruvian woman to climb Huascaran, Peru’s highest mountain. Teresa’s compassion for others has inspired MRW’s humanitarian efforts to help people rebuild in Haiti, Nepal and Peru after devastating earthquakes. She continues to be integral part in Mark Richey Woodworking’s success.
