Mackenzie’s journey into the trades began in high school, studying Industrial Mechanics and Welding at the Hartford Area Career & Technology Center. She later earned a BS in Mathematics and Dramatic Arts from Centre College and an MFA in Technical Theater Production from UNC Chapel Hill.

For a decade, she worked in theater, building sets and serving as a stagehand for productions across the country and on Broadway. During and after the pandemic, Mackenzie transitioned into residential carpentry, gaining experience in renovations, cabinetmaking, and timber framing.

She now teaches Design Lab at Barre City Elementary & Middle School in Barre, VT, where she introduces middle school students to woodworking and design in a hands-on shop environment. When she’s not teaching or in the woodshop, Mackenzie can often be found baking, gardening or plein air painting.