Our Story
Larry McIntyre, Owner
Growing up I spent a lot of time outdoors. I hunted and fished with my father and uncle and generally enjoyed being outside. Fishing for Smallmouth in Maine and hunting in West Virginia are among my favorite childhood memories. I also learned countless outdoor and general life skills during my time in Scouting and am very proud to say that I earned my Eagle Scout in 1992. College brought me to West Virginia University where I graduated with degrees in biology and public health. Following my time in the Mountain State I moved south to Charlotte, NC. In Charlotte I started a career, met the girl of my dreams, and got married. We have 2 beautiful children who keep us busier than we ever imagined possible. At some point I decided I had time to go back to school and in 2016 I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with another degree, this time in history. Despite the chaos, I wouldn't change a minute!
While my personal life could not be better, I felt the "daily grind" of a corporate job never quite fit my personality. In 2015 I started experimenting with woodworking, specifically hand carving canoe paddles. I found that making paddles not only provided me a creative outlet, but allowed me to further connect to a region that I have come to love. Being born in Maine, I'm not sure I'll ever be considered a true southerner, but I definitely consider the South my home.
Among my many goals with SouthernWood Paddle is to help connect other people to the South, its natural resources, and its history. Along the way maybe I can help a few folks find happiness, create new memories, and inspire someone else to take the risk to do what they love.
