Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Kamenik.
Hi Peter, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
In 2001, I told my wife I was retiring. I was a Safety Engineer at the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command (TECOM) at Aberdeen Proving Ground. She told me, “You’re not going to sit around and do nothing.” So I asked her, “What should I do?” I got a blank stare. Some time later, we were headed on vacation to the beach. She asked me if we could stop at a scrapbooking store on the way. She went her way, and I walked around looking at all the different things in the store. I saw these scrapbooking templates hanging on hooks, but they were in what looked like sandwich bags. I went and asked the store owner about them. She told me she did them on her laser cutter at home. The “aha” light went on. I started researching lasers and found a man who sold Universal Laser Systems in Fredericksburg, VA. Since we were heading to Florida for a vacation, it was on the way. I put his address in my GPS, and off we went to find him. We entered an industrial area. I thought maybe he had a store in one of the buildings. However, the GPS took us past the industrial area and into a residential area. I could not find his house, so I stopped and called him. His wife answered the phone and said that that was the only weekend he would be home. She directed us to the garage at the back of the house. Since my wife wasn’t able to visualize what the laser could do as I could, she got the opportunity to see what a laser could do. We decided to get the laser, but we needed financing. The man hooked us up with the finance person that he used. She said she would send us the paperwork via email. I told her that we were headed on vacation and I would only be able to get access to email at locations that had dial-up internet. We arrived at the first location that had dial-up internet. I checked my email. No paperwork. We continued to our friends in Coco Beach. We arrived there a day later. He had a dial-up connection in his home. I accessed my email. The paperwork had arrived. He allowed me to print it out. I was sitting across from my wife at the dining room table, filling out the paperwork, when she said to me, “We’ve always been of the mind that if it’s meant to be, it’s as easy as falling off a log. It’s getting too hard.” We walked away from the deal at that time. When we got home, I went back to work as a contractor at TECOM, doing similar engineering work I had done before retiring. I worked as a contractor for five years. In September 2006, they did not renew my contract. In October, my wife got very sick and went to the hospital. She passed away in December 2006. In May 2007, I woke up from a deep sleep. It was like my wife’s spirit had taken a 2X4 and hit me square between the eyes and said for me to go get that laser. The next day, I called the guy to see if he was still selling lasers. He was, so I bought the laser. It arrived in June. I spent July learning how to use it and officially opened my business on August first 2007. About five years ago, I added a Digital Wood Carve (DWC – a digitally controlled router) to my business. I use the DWC to carve intricate plaques and then laser-engrave the plaques.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Since I had never been in business for myself, I had to learn how to run a business. I went to business seminars and got as much training as I could. I joined the Cecil County Chamber of Commerce to build a network of business associates and potential clients. I had to register my business name with the state and set up a state and federal tax account. I had to establish my niche. I was told that engraving everything wouldn’t work, so I established my niche as custom laser cutting and engraving. I have since added custom digital weed carving to the mix.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
After graduating from college, I worked for the Navy as a Nuclear Engineer. When the Navy had a reduction in force, I was picked up as a Chemical Engineer at the General Equipment Division of the Material Test Directorate at Aberdeen Proving Ground. I was promoted to Mechanical Engineer. My boss told me I should get qualified as a General Engineer, which I did. TECOM Headquarters was looking for a General Engineer to do safety engineering work. I lateraled into that position in the TECOM Safety Office. I retired as a Safety Engineer. I have always loved to sketch since I was about 10. That love developed into graphic design using computers. This works well in my laser cutting and engraving business. I create the design in graphic software and send it to the laser as a print job.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck. I am a very spiritual person, and opportunities have presented themselves along the way. I recognize the opportunities when they come along and incorporate what augments my life and business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://petethelaserguy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petethelaserguy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kamenikenterprises/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamenikenterprises
- Twitter: https://x.com/petethelaserguy
