South County Profile: Mike McGunagle

Mike McGunagle moved to Shasta County 10 years ago with his family to start his own furniture business called Natural Choice Furniture. He and his two employees manufacture beds, dressers and other specialty furniture items. McGunagle is a craftsman by trade. He started his career working in an unfinished furniture store in Southern California when he was 15 years old. He then started working with his father who built custom furniture. McGunagle finally ventured out on his own building furniture in the mid 1980's working out in his garage, he has been building custom furniture now, for approximately 29 years.

McGunagle enjoys building beds and dressers that is challenging and complex, because it makes him think out side the box. Many products are standard or are slightly modified and others are totally custom. McGunagle does three to four big custom jobs a year and the rest are just smaller jobs.

The most common jobs are Captains Beds and Murphy Beds that pull out of the wall.

McGunagle bought the store 10 years ago after the previous owner retired. The shop has been its same location for the past 27 years.

When McGunagle and his family moved to Shasta County, it was in the middle of the Jones Valley Fire from Glen Ellen which is a small town that sits above Sonoma. He enjoys the outdoor activities that the area has.

In the future for McGunagle and Natural Choice Furniture, McGunagle plans to keep moving forward building new, innovative furniture that will become heirlooms for many families.

McGunagle is a 1978 graduate of Petaluma High School. He has been married to his wife Linda for 25 years. Together they have two children.

Name: Mike McGunagle

Born where and when: Boulder, Colo., 1960.

Occupation: Furniture maker.

Marital Status: Married to wife Linda for 25 years.

Family: My wife, Linda, daughter Desire, 23, and son Skyler, 20.

Pets: Two horses, two dogs and six cats.

My worst job: Shoveling chicken manure.

My first job: Building homes with my father.

In my spare time I: Work around the house, bike and motorcycle ride.

My favorite books: All the Dan Brown novels.

My favorite movies: The Green Mile

My favorite recording artist: Elton John

My dream car: 1964 Chevy Supersport

My friends like me because: I am honest.

If stranded on a deserted island, I would want: My family.

The one thing in life I've learned is: To expect the unexpected.

The best advice my parents gave me: Make a plan first.

My most irrational act: The Wendy's Incident.

My most valued material possession: My old Chevy pick-up.

What I like best about the North State: The recreation that is available.

My hero is: Sam Maloof.

My pet peeve is: Poor drivers and tailgaters.

My fantasy is: To retire comfortably.

If I could change one thing about myself, I would: Not work as much.

The one thing Shasta County needs most is: Better restaurants.

The most enjoyable thing about life is: Living it.