By Heather Cass, Publications Manager, Penn State Behrend
Bob and Jacqueline Masek DiPlacido ’18 M.B.A.
While a lot of professionals pursue an advanced degree as the next step in their career trajectory, they sometimes spark personal projects as well.
By day, Jacqueline Masek DiPlacido ’18 M.B.A., works at Parker LORD as a program manager/production planner for the company’s aerospace new products team. But, on evenings and weekends, she puts her Penn State Behrend Master of Business Administration degree to work helping to build DA Woodworking, a small business she owns with her husband, Bob.
“The business began with my husband’s love of woodworking,” DiPlacido said. “We started out making small pieces, signs and simple furniture, but it’s now expanded into high-end quality pieces, including custom-made hutches, cabinets and built-ins, china cabinets, fireplaces, dog crates, and even family room sets.”
DiPlacido, who earned a degree in Supply Chain Management at Penn State’s University Park campus, said what started as a hobby for her husband, who works as a mechanical engineer, has grown into a serious business. DA Woodworking currently has pieces on sale at Traditions Unlimited, an Erie home décor store.
DiPlacido helps design the pieces and market the business, something she learned a lot about in her MBA classes.
“We have worked hard to advertise the business without an advertising budget, using social media and leveraging word-of-mouth as we complete pieces for customers in the area,” she said. “We were planning to host a Gallery Night for the Erie arts community in the spring of 2020, but COVID-19 forced that event to be canceled.”
DiPlacido said she and her husband also hit on another winning formula – giveaways, which are even more popular when paired with a charity.
“I am an avid dog lover and volunteer for the Erie Humane Society,” she said. “I knew how many of their fundraisers were canceled last year, and Bob and I wanted to help. So, we combined our love for woodworking with our love for animals and built a custom coffee table that we donated to the humane society to raffle off.”
DiPlacido has plans to help Behrend’s alumni organization as well, once events can be resumed. “We always enjoy giving back, and every time our pieces are showcased at an event, it gets our name out there.”
The new year brings yet another new challenge for the DiPlacidos. “We are expecting our first baby this year, so we’re in the middle of some great projects around the house!”
Check out DA Woodworking on facebook.com/DA.Woodworking and on Instagram.com/da.woodworking.
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