Our Story

During the early days of the 2020 COVID-19 restrictions, Dave Haughs, a woodworker and engineer, wanted to do something for the families in our community. Each week, for eight weeks, he designed, manufactured and released a new project. For each of these projects, he posted reveal videos and “how-to” instructions for assembly. The only thing he asked for in return was photos exhibiting the creative talents in our community.

It did not take long for the projects to reach beyond township borders, across city limits and even the Atlantic Ocean. While the focus is and always has been on the Indianapolis community, Dave has sent projects across the U.S. and all the way to the UK. Today people from all over central Indiana travel to our distribution locations when a new project is released.

Through these initial eight weeks, Dave developed relationships with the recipients and learned their stories. It did not take long to recognize the continued need for these projects and additional programming beyond the restrictive days of COVID-19. With these stories in mind, Deeply Ingrained, Inc was founded with the mission…Providing youth and underserved individuals woodworking opportunities that develop creativity, learning, and skill-building.

You can listen to founder, Dave Haughs, talk about the joy that Deeply Ingrained, Inc. has given him on Baise Communications’ “Our Joy Project” with Kelly Young.

Meet Our Board

Chip Wood, Vice President

Chip is a lifelong central Indiana resident who joined the Deeply Ingrained board after being introduced to the organization through a colleague at PNC Bank. Inspired by the organization’s mission to serve underserved youth through woodworking, mentorship, and relationship-building, Chip became actively involved as a volunteer and board member.

With more than 35 years at PNC Bank, Chip currently serves as Director of Client & Community Relations for central and southern Indiana. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Purdue University and is a graduate of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy (Class of 2020). Additionally, Chip serves on the Indy Partnership Council and the board of New Hope of Indiana.

Chip and his wife, Angi, have two adult children who attend Purdue University and a labradoodle named Jersey. He is an active volunteer supporting early childhood education through PNC’s Grow Up Great initiative and enjoys fishing, live music, and sports.

Jennifer Swank, Secretary

A lifelong Indianapolis native, Jennifer has volunteered and supported Deeply Ingrained from the beginning. Initially she helped with monthly distribution of projects and then started helping in the shop with preparing pieces for the projects and packaging them together. She enjoys assisting at workshops, working in the wood shop, and delivering projects when needed. She has really enjoyed watching Deeply Ingrained grow and evolve in the community and can not wait to see where it is headed. Jennifer lives on the south side in Franklin Township with her husband, Ken. She lives near all of her family and has always enjoyed having them close. She has a 24 year old daughter, Sam, and she is a full time nurse practitioner and clinic director at Fast Pace Health in Greenfield, Indiana. In her spare time, she loves to run, hike, bike, read books, and go camping.

Trey Wright

Trey’s early experience included completing a high school construction program where he helped build and sell a home, gaining hands-on skills in framing, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical work. That foundation sparked a lasting passion for real estate, leading him into rehabbing, flipping, and property management.

Alongside his entrepreneurial pursuits, Trey spent over a decade as an engineer specializing in electronics and telecommunications, earning an associate degree from ITT Tech. His technical background brings strong problem-solving and operational expertise to every role he takes on.

Today, Trey serves as Chief Operating Officer of VOICES Corp., a nonprofit he has helped grow for over 15 years alongside his wife and founder, Kia Wright. Together, they lead innovative, healing-centered programs supporting youth, families, and communities across Indianapolis and beyond. In his role, Trey oversees operations, strategy, and organizational development.

As a member-at-large of Deeply Ingrained’s Board of Directors, Trey brings a practical, solutions-driven mindset shaped by entrepreneurship, engineering, and community impact — always focused on building systems that create lasting change, which is why Deeply

Ingrained was joined.

Bethany Thomas

Bethany learned about Deeply Ingrained through a mutual friend who recognized that she shared a passion to provide hands-on learning and making experience to youth. One of Bethany's favorite classes in middle school was woodworking and her Dad still has a paper towel holder she made to this day. Bethany is new to the board and is excited to lend a hand in any way needed but especially working with youth directly. She has 30 years of museum education experience including makerspace education and current works as the Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. She is the proud mother of two children and loves to hike, travel and explore the outdoors in her free time.