THE OWNERS

RODNEY TASSISTRO~DRENNEN

President, Rodney Tassistro~Drennen is the entrepreneur and craftsman behind rTe Millworks.

“This is a visionary company, one that was built on core values. I feel strongly that we’re one of the best in the industry and, considering we’re much younger than most shops offering the services and products we offer, we’re worth getting to know and building a relationship with.”

“…to make a short story long” is what Rodney’s dad, Mark Drennen, used to say as Rodney got fired up and ready to tell a story. That attention to detail has proved beneficial in such a detail-oriented industry where clear communication is critical to a successful project.

In the summer of 1998, Rodney found his passion for woodworking shortly after his mother, Marion, hired him to restore some antique doors and windows for the new home she and Mark were building. After months of disassembling and repairing old doors, windows, newel posts, handrails and countless other found objects, Rodney found his passion.

Working with his hands to restore 100 year old millwork was more than fascinating to him. He began to study time honored construction methods, classical scale and proportion from none other than his mother who grew up in a family of historical restorers and antique collectors and is an avid student of art and architecture.

After finishing this project, Rodney apprenticed under a master craftsman for the next 4 years, learning production cabinets and the art of door building. While apprenticing, Rodney worked out of the basement of his mother’s home to open rTe Custom Manufacturing in 2001. With an entrepreneurial fire in the belly, he decided to move out of the basement and on his own to pursue production cabinets and millwork. His mother, supportive of his dream and inspired by the creative possibilities, joined him in his business.

Today, Rodney does more than manage the day to day operations of rTe.

  • Currently acting as a board member for:
    • The Greater St. Francisville Chamber of Commerce
    • The Remodeling Council of Greater Baton Rouge
  • He is also an active member with the St. Francisville Chamber, Zachary Chamber and the Greater Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce.
  • A 5 year relationship with the Architectural Woodworking Institute has built a strong network of industry professionals that Rodney calls “the big boys”, through which he keeps up with industry changes, new and passing trends, and a source of technical information.

MARION DRENNEN

Vice President, Marion Drennen is a professional artist who experiences the world visually. To her, the design is what matters.

“Good cabinet design is no more expensive to create than bad cabinet design. Not to be confused with features such as wood species, paint color, door style or specialty items, good design is determined by Plan, Scale and Proportion.”

Marion established the backbone of rTe’s quality standards with her diverse background in art, restoration and her eye for proper scale and proportion. Having set these boundaries, rTe has established a reputation as a custom manufacturer that pays close attention to detail. Which is evident in every project that rTe has designed and built.

Ten years ago, Mark and Marion Drennen never would have guessed that their decision to build a new home in St. Francisville would be the seed that rTe Millworks would grow from.

Marion self contracted a 3 dimensional work of art she now calls home. Collecting and restoring objects from all over the country, she built a house that is unique, classic and eclectic and which she says may never truly be complete.

She is actively pursuing her career as a professional artist and working with rTe as needed for her design capabilities. You can find out more about her art at www.quantumconnectionsart.blogspot.com