Craftsmanship is in the blood of Joel Slanker, owner and fabricator of Iron Faith Metalworks. He grew up watching his father, a machinist who spent his life working in manufacturing as well as being inspired by his grandfather a talented carpenter. Joel began his creative career as the head carpenter of a professional theatre company where he got his first taste of welding. As his skills grew so did his opportunities and the following fifteen years led him to traveling the world building theatrical scenery for cruise ships. During these years, a dream began to grow of one day owning his own business. Taking a break from traveling, he continue to hone his skills, working for an ornamental iron shop and eventually supervising the weld shop for another scenery company.

In 2020, in the midst of the shut down, he felt a call to step out on faith and fulfill that growing dream to have his own business. He is thankful for the opportunities that God has provided to grow the business through a wide variety of ever changing products.

Joel resides outside Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife of 25 years and his four children.