Gene Barsanti, a lifelong Chicagoan, began his career with a four-year apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker for Woodwork Corporation in Chicago. He then entered the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, for two years, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). During this time he developed an interest in high-tech equipment, specializing in communications in the artillery, repairing radios and crypto decoding equipment, which required a secret security clearance.

Gene then returned to Woodwork Corporation for a short time, following which he accepted a position as a draftsman for J.R. Froehlich, a manufacturer of store fixtures. Gene held this position for three years before deciding to go off on his own and do some freelance drafting and cabinetmaking. He then became an estimator for Landquist & Son, a manufacturer of wood doors and millwork, where he advanced into sales and remained for nine years.

In 1975, the owner of Poster Products / Universal Equipment Company asked Gene to launch an architectural woodwork division for them. During his three-year tenure, he sold one of the largest jobs in their history - the trading floor of the original Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Gene's entrepreneurial spirit took hold once again, and in 1979 he formed Barsanti Woodwork Corporation.

Gene served as president (1999-2000 term) of the Chicago Chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Institute, in which the corporation has maintained membership on the national and local level since 1985. In addition, Gene sits on the board of directors of the Woodworkers Association of Chicago.

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