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Gene C. 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, during which time he developed an interest in high-tech equipment. He specialized in communications in the artillery, repairing radios and crypto decoding equipment, which required a secret security clearance.

Emerging from the Army a sergeant (E5), he returned to Woodwork Corporation for a short time, then 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 he bought Du-Rite Woodworking on Blue Island Avenue, changing the name to Barsanti Woodwork Corporation. This was in January 1979 during one of the worst blizzards in Chicago history, but nothing could keep him from success!

By this time, Gene had met and married Connie, a biochemist from Montana. Gene and Connie started with one carpenter and managed the business themselves. After only two years, this 3,500 sq. ft. facility was "bursting at the seams," so the Barsanti's moved their business down the street to a 12,500 sq. ft. space at 2414 West Cullerton Avenue. The next two decades saw the company expand to 46,000 sq. ft. and 60 employees and complete major projects for such companies as McDonald's, Hyatt Hotels, and Lucent Technology.

Connie, who had spent several years as a teacher and researcher in her field and taken time out to raise the couple's two sons, Tom and Pat, returned to the business full-time in 1992. Tom had joined the company in 1987.

Respected among his peers in the Chicago design community, Gene served as president (1999-2000 term) of the Chicago Chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Institute (awinet.org), 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.

In the fall of 2001, Gene and Connie completed work on a 54,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters at 3838 West 51st Street, near Pulaski and Archer on Chicago's southwest side. Here Barsanti Woodwork Corporation continues to serve its clients by "bringing designs to life" in high-quality wood veneers.

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