Faces of Boyd: Paul Phillips

CNC Fabricator

A Boyd Family Member Since 2022

Paul brings decades of experience, craftsmanship and problem-solving to the shop floor. While he’s been with Boyd for four consecutive years, his history with the company actually goes back much further, about 12 years total, including time spent here in the 1990s. That long-term perspective shows in everything he does.

Paul is often the first one in the building, opening the shop, warming up the machines and getting CNC routers ready for the day. Once everything is up and running, he jumps straight into processing jobs and keeping production moving efficiently.

Paul thrives on the challenge of processing as much work as possible while maintaining a high level of quality, especially when custom projects allow him to stretch his skills and learn something new. One project that stands out is Hotel Edelweiss, which featured highly custom wood signage and required unique methods and tools to achieve the desired result — a perfect fit for Paul’s creativity and woodworking background.

Paul’s journey into signage started back in 1981, when a friend he met through church needed help at a sign company called Colorado Woodsmiths. That opportunity opened the door to a career blending woodworking, fabrication and problem-solving — skills he continues to refine today.

His favorite tools are the CNC routers and lasers, which allow him to be more creative as a woodworker. One skill he never expected to master? Hand-carving reliefs in wood - now one of his specialties.

For those just starting out in the field, Paul offers practical advice: “Take advantage of resources that are available to learn CNC machines, like community college or trade school.”

Paul says his favorite part of working at Boyd is the friendships and the strong sense of family and teamwork. He believes Boyd’s team stands out because of its skill level, craftsmanship, and shared team spirit.

Seeing his work installed in the world is deeply rewarding. “It’s a great feeling of accomplishment,” he says, especially when reflecting on technically challenging projects, like a large aluminum column-mounted lighted sign he engineered earlier in his career.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys smoking cigars with friends and working on creative 3D routed wood projects, like custom cigar ashtrays. Coffee and “Good Day” by Forrest Frank could get him energized for work. If he could travel anywhere tomorrow, he’d head to Amsterdam to visit his brother and family. His favorite reads and watches include the Bible, Forrest Gump and The Chosen. He also has a few stories that surprise people, including getting the chance to sail on David Crosby’s sailboat in the Bahamas.

Paul’s dedication, experience and quiet leadership make him an invaluable part of the Boyd team, and a perfect example of the skill and pride that go into every sign we create.