TEAM
Led by husband-and-wife founders Ashok and Jessie Childs, Prospect is an independent workshop devoted to exceptional craftsmanship. Every piece is thoughtfully designed and carefully built by hand, honoring the natural beauty of the materials and the traditions of fine woodworking. This hands-on approach allows each project to receive the care, precision, and attention it deserves. Their team is predominantly woman and non-binary craftspeople, which is still unusual in this trade. It shapes how they work. Close, communicative, attentive to the experience of building something together and not just delivering it.
PRINCIPALS
ASHOK CHILDS, Principal & Master Craftsman
Ashok Childs is the Co-Founder and Master Craftsman of Prospect Woodworks, where he leads the studio’s architectural millwork and fabrication practice. For more than three decades, he has dedicated his career to the pursuit of exceptional craftsmanship, building a body of work informed by apprenticeships with master millworkers, historic restoration, fine furniture making, and architectural woodworking. His work includes custom commissions featured in Architectural Digest.
His introduction to woodworking began alongside his father, learning the fundamentals of building before designing and constructing his first guitar in high school. He spent formative summers leading canoe trips in Penobscot Bay while learning the art of canoe building at Flying Moose Lodge. He started a liberal arts degree at Hamilton College but left to focus exclusively on fine arts, taking classes at the Museum School, Massachusetts College of Art and Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute.
He went on to refine his craft through decades of work in distinguished workshops across the United States, including the historic Greene & Greene–designed Thorsen House in Berkeley where he built furniture that was added to their permenant collection, Boston’s Boger Woodworks, South Mountain Company on Martha’s Vineyard, and leading millwork studios throughout northern California, Philadelphia, and New York.
Ashok approaches every commission with the belief that craftsmanship is earned through patience, discipline, and a deep respect for materials. He oversees every stage of fabrication, working closely with architects, designers, and homeowners to ensure each piece is executed with precision, honesty, and an enduring commitment to quality.
JESSIE VOGELSON CHILDS, Principal & Studio Director
Jessie Childs leads the studio’s bespoke architectural millwork practice, directing design development, client relationships, and studio operations. With a particular sensitivity to proportion and architectural detail, she specializes in bridging the original character of historic homes with bespoke millwork and contemporary furnishings, balancing architectural authenticity with the way we live today. Her work includes custom commissions featured in Architectural Digest.
Prior to joining Prospect, Jessie studied Cultural Studies at Connecticut College before earning a master’s in Film and Television Production from the University of Bristol, UK. Her early career was spent in documentary filmmaking, where she coordinated global productions for National Geographic on location around the world before producing projects for major studios and international broadcasters.
The two decades she spent in production continue to inform her approach today. She approaches every commission as both a creative and operational endeavor, balancing design intent, technical execution, and clear communication from initial concept through final installation. Known for her editorial precision and meticulous organization, Jessie works closely with architects, interior designers, and homeowners to ensure every project reflects the craftsmanship, character, and enduring quality that define Prospect Woodworks.
TEAM
MOLLY ZUCCHET, Shop Manager & Fabricator
Molly Zucchet has worked across a range of fabrication and millwork studios, refining a practice that brings together design-forward detailing with meticulously executed, highly functional work. In addition to woodworking, Molly studied Jazz Guitar at Oberlin Conservatory, where improvisation shaped a creative approach rooted in careful observation, collaboration, and responsiveness. They carry that mindset into their work at Prospect Woodworks, approaching each project with precision and intention.
VERONICA MICHAELS, Fabricator
Veronica first joined Prospect Woodworks as a summer intern while studying Industrial Design at Carnegie Mellon University, where she developed a passion for furniture design and woodworking. She quickly became known for her thoughtful approach to design and her instinct for contemporary trends, pairing creative vision with a maker’s mindset. Following graduation, Veronica joined the Prospect team, where she continues to refine her craft.
MICHAELA WHITE, Project Manager & Designer
Michaela’s appreciation for design and woodworking began early, building custom furniture for her dolls in her grandfather’s woodshop. She earned a B.F.A. in Furniture Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design before refining her eye for composition, color, and detail through careers in floral design and commercial prop styling. For her, returning to the woodshop feels like coming full circle.
