Founder + Owner
Corry Blanc

Very first crew member as of 2012

Corry has been making a name for himself since he founded Blanc Creatives in 2012. He was born and raised in north Georgia, moved to Charlottesville in 2007 and as of September 2020, a first time dad. Some of his favorite musicians include Nathaniel Rateliff, Damon Alburn, Bahamas and The Rolling Stones. Corry has a true aptitude for macgyvering just about anything and everything we’d need in the shop. He’s passionate about photography and has slowly been adding to his vintage camera collection in recent years.

Founder and Owner Corry Blanc
Founder and Owner Corry Blanc
General Manager Vu Nguyen
General Manager Vu Nguyen
General Manager
Vu Nguyen

Crew member since 2016

Vu, possibly the most elusive member of our crew, is like a cat with 9 lives. He’s dabbled in a little bit of everything from graphic design, to chef and has been honing his knife making skills in the most recent years. He has a passionate interest in his 2 motorcycles, a Royal Enfield Interceptor and BMW R90/6, which serve as a “memento mori” for him. He collects letterpress cards and matchbooks. If you see him on the street he probably won’t remember your name but he’ll definitely try. Vu enjoys sampling varieties of rosé or a nice glass of whiskey. He collects chore coats and enjoys taking his pup, Jupiter, out for walks and to the dog park.

Head of woodshop
Sarah Grace

Crew member since 2018

SG received her Craft + Material Studies BFA with a focus in Furniture Design and Textiles/Weaving from Virginia Commonwealth University back in 2016. Her listening heavy rotation includes podcasts such as Radiolab and Throughline and music from Fruit Bats or classical in the morning on local WTJU radio station. She likes to collect bones and tiny clamps. When she’s not making wood things here, she’s working in her own woodshop at home. Sarah Grace has a soft spot for any pastries from Cou Cou Rachou in Charlottesville.

Head of Woodshop Sarah Grace Cheek
Head of Woodshop Sarah Grace Cheek
Head of peripherals Sarah Schleer
Head of peripherals Sarah Schleer
Head of Peripherals
Sarah Schleer

Crew member since 2019

Sarah, AKA Slayer, Pantha, Mini, Badgirl, SAS, was born in WV and grew up in Jersey. She studied visual and liberal arts at Raritan Valley Community College before receiving her BFA in Sculpture from VCU. The restaurant industry is Sarah’s true second home, though. Shout out to Belmont Food Shop in Richmond, VA and the Frenchtown Inn in Frenchtown, NJ. She has a pure wild energy puppy boi at home whose name is Major. She crushes a mean tuna noodle casserole when it’s offered, wishes her super power could be invisibility and the cocktail spoon is her favorite Blanc product.

Bookkeeper
Trey Corrin

Crew member since 2019

From the mountains of WV, Trey is one of the truest Phish Heads we’ve ever encountered. Phish is pretty much his full time job after being our bookkeeper and salesman/enthusiast for his Bloody Mary company, Back Pocket Provisions. His most prized possessions are his Les Paul or maybe his meteorite from space. If he isn’t listening to Phish then most likely he’s listening to his spirit animal, Neil Young. He’ll be the first to admit he’s a nerd and loves collecting old Batman comics and Magic the Gathering. Trey has always been head over heels for our copper skillets.

Bookkeeper Trey Corrin
Bookkeeper Trey Corrin
Head of Cookware Production Jacob Nesmith
Head of Cookware Production Jacob Nesmith
head of cookware production
Jacob Nesmith

Crew member since 2021

Our pan man. Jacob is also originally from Rockford, Illinois and in fact, he and Brady are cousins. He went to college in Chicago and has been cooking professionally most of his life. In his time spent away from the shop, he hangs out with his son Avon, works on his house and sharpens cutting shears and knives. If Jacob had a warning label, it would read “I’m not mad, it’s just my voice.” If he had to choose just one Blanc product, it would be the Bronze Handle Rondeau or as we’ve nicknamed it, the Brondeau.

cookware production
Matthew Groves

Crew member since 2021

We’ve yet to determine if Matthew is a viking that has time traveled to the present day. From Charleston, SC, he relocated to attend The Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing. Previously he’s worked as a professional actor, in commercial construction and in restaurants over the years. Matthew can’t get enough of The White Album by The Beatles and it’s guaranteed he’s singing along to whatever else is playing in his headphones. If he’s not working in our shop or in school, he’s either sleeping or hyped up on black coffee with honey. He’s partial to our sauciers and wishes he was psychic.

Cookware Production Christopher Knox
Cookware Production Christopher Knox
cookware production
Christopher Knox

Crew member since 2021

Christopher hails from New York City. He’s our in-house expert on Japanese pro wrestling and old samurai, kung fu and horror flix. He has amassed an extensive collection of old records and movies. Hands down, the best meal he’s ever had is the meatball wedge from Lioni’s in BK. You’ll most definitely catch him rocking some cool vintage. We are hoping he’ll start an official Blanc Creatives radio station for us someday.

woodshop assisstant
Laura Farina

Crew member since 2021

Laura, originally from Norfolk, VA, drinks her french press with oat milk and also strictly mint tea. She collects vinyl and cherishes her garden. She dreams of being a morning person. Shortly after joining our woodshop, she adopted chatoyance as her new favorite word. Which, in our opinion, Laura’s energy matches the definition of her fave word. She’s big into using food scraps and flowers for naturally dyeing fabric and in her words “it’s very witchy”.

Woodshop Assistant Laura Farina
Woodshop Assistant Laura Farina
Shipping and Logistics Brady Olson
Shipping and Logistics Brady Olson
Shipping + logistics
Brady Olson

Crew member since 2021

Originally from Rockford, IL, Brady relocated to Virginia to join our crew in 2021. He’s worked in special events and shipping/logistic roles for the past 15+ years. His most prized possession is the watch his wife gifted him for their wedding. When not at the shop he is probably hiking with his dog, Benny, enjoying scenic drives or riding bikes. Brady loves tinkering with anything that moves and maybe it comes as no surprise that he collects Volkswagen Hotwheels. He answered “gotta be that cute little 9” skillet” to what’s your fave Blanc product.

cookware production
Hannah MCCANDLESS

Crew member since 2021

Hannah joins us from Havertown, Pennsylvania. She is currently training at the Virginia Institute of Blacksmithing and has been seriously crushing making pans ever since becoming part of our crew. She collects vinyl records, takes her tea with honey and tries not to give unsolicited advice. Hannah’s favorite album is Maggot by Dazey and the Scouts but she can probably be found listening to Pink Shift at work. She recommends the 11’ skillet and a good bucket of Maryland crabs.

Cookware Production Hannah Mccandless