PAUL BENZING
I grew up in Northern Wisconsin, and have always enjoyed the natural wonders of the world. I went through a 3-year apprenticeship under Master Goldsmith Ulf Masters on the island of St. Thomas U.S.V.I. During this apprenticeship, I was educated in old-world hand fabrication techniques that I use to this day in creation and repair of custom jewelry. I moved back to Wisconsin, and worked in the jewelry industry for five years before my employment with Wickersham Jewelry in 2002. I have worked in every Wickersham Jewelry location before becoming manager of our newest location in Rhinelander. In my free time, I enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time outdoors.
SHANNON DALTON
I have always had a passion for creating and building things. From homemade rockets, slingshots, and blue ribbon science fair projects in grade school, to bronze castings and steel sculptures in college, I knew metals, science, and art was where it was at for me. I attended U.W. Oshkosh for graphic design, and having the Dean of Arts as a teacher and advisor, I was taught art-metals as well. I fell in love with sawing and soldering…and gemstones. In 1993, I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a Metals and Sculpture emphasis.
At Wickersham Jewelry, we have built a custom and repair business that has thrived and grown. We have improved with technology, and we now have the capability to design and make just about any piece of jewelry in all three of our goldsmith shops.
My passions are my beautiful wife and two boys, kayaking, bicycling, photography, and of course, working with beautiful gemstones and creating works of art using noble metals.
JEFF HILDEBRAND
I graduated from Ripon Sr. High School in Ripon, Wisconsin in 1975. I have diplomas in jewelry making, hand-engraving, watchmaking, and clock making from John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois. I graduated with honors from Gem City College, also in Quincy, Illinois, with an Associate Degree in Technology, and a major in Complete Horology in June 1983. In 1998, I passed the required testing by Jewelers of America and became a Certified Master Bench Jeweler. I have been working in the jewelry industry for 30 years, and have been at Wickersham Jewelry since 2006.
What drives me is my love for design, creating original jewelry, and restoring pieces of heirloom jewelry. I find great pleasure in taking a broken bit of “this,” and a broken bit of “that,” and fabricating a new piece of jewelry. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and my dogs. I also enjoy water-sports, hunting, and snowmobiling.
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