Tessie Doty Wallace is a native of West Virginia and a 1999 graduate of American University, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Italian. She then went on to pursue a career in jewelry design and graduated from the New Approach School for Jewelers in Virginia Beach, VA in 2004. In the summer of 2005, Tessie decided to join Matt at Wallace Metal Works as the shop welder and fabricator. She also manages the office, the website and assists with designs and installations. In 2008, Tessie was juried into Tamarack as a metal artist.