Jason G
IT & Technology support
CAD Modeler, Gold and Platinum Smith, Gem Setter
I’m a tenured jeweler at Green Lake, having honed my craft here for over a decade. I originally started out studying architecture at Penn State but soon discovered a passion for metal arts and design, which became my focus and eventual degree. While I’m proud of my skills as a metalsmith and jeweler, my role at Green Lake has evolved, and I now focus solely on managing the shop’s IT needs and technical systems.
My jewelry journey began in high school when I took a job as a ring cutter at a local amusement park, etching names into silver rings with a hand saw. Though that work was simple, it sparked an interest in jewelry that fit well with the CAD and architectural drafting classes I was taking at the time.
At Penn State, I took metal arts and sculpture electives alongside my architecture studies, which led me to change my major to metal arts and design - a hands-on studio program within the School of Visual Arts. I apprenticed with a local artisan goldsmith for three years, eventually becoming the head goldsmith, designing and fabricating jewelry during the week and showcasing pieces at art and trade events on the weekends.
After relocating to the West Coast in 2001, I continued as a bench jeweler at Green Lake for many years. I gained experience working with platinum, gold, silver, titanium, and stainless steel, setting all kinds of stones, creating jewelry from wax models through final setting, maintaining machinery, and consulting with designers on technical feasibility.
While I no longer work at the bench full-time, my background gives me a deep understanding of the craft, which I bring to my current role supporting Green Lake’s technology and IT infrastructure, including industry-specific CAD programs and general systems management.