Lucas Almeida ’24

Ben Faraci, a 2023 Nonnewaug graduate, poses in his outdoor work area where he crafts his pieces of wood-based art.

WOODBURY — Ben Faraci, a 2023 Nonnewaug graduate and Woodbury business owner, started his business in early 2023, naming it Faraci Woodworks, where he crafts handmade sculptures and wood-based art pieces.

“Faraci is a unique case and he spent many hours becoming an expert in his craft,” said Declan Curtin, Nonnewaug’s dean of students and athletic director.

Taught by his grandfather at a young age, Faraci learned the intricacies of woodworking, later inspiring Faraci to start a business around his unique skill set. 

Starting off small only selling to school staff and family friends, Faraci’s business picked up more after graduating high school. Faraci is still educating himself, but he went from starting his business in early 2023 to having a multi-state customer base, ranging from Vermont to Massachusetts. This rapid growth in the past two years shows Faraci’s hard work and dedication to a craft passed down to him from his grandfather.

“He focused on it,” said Curtin. “He honed in on it, and he put the hours in.”