In a world where manufacturers often seem to be focused on how cheap they can make something and not what quality they can deliver, Urban Ashes stands apart. Paul Hickman created a company that . . .

Paul is a gifted and uniquely talented artist. His professional expertise in green design extends throughout all his efforts - furniture design/fabrication, frames, built environments, entrepreneurship, etc. He has been foundational to my development in sustainable design and continues to serve as a mentor and leader in the field for myself and many others. His Urban Ashes endeavor is truly inspiring and a model for social enterprise.

Paul not only possesses artistic talent but has a visionary approach to corporate social justice topics. His work with his employees has left a lasting legacy and foundation for so many.

We worked with Paul for the better part of a decade. Being a client of Paul's was no different than having him one as a teammate. Similar to a holistic approach to medicine, Paul tackles challenges by looking at the bigger picture, rather than just focusing on the symptom. His work lifting those returning from prison by offering them a second chance is inspiring. So grateful that we crossed paths and have had the opportunity to work together.
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Paul's got a wonderful sensibility for color, material choice and environmental sensitivity. Combined with his own design skills, he produces outstanding projects that both please the eye and warm the heart.

I am a collector of fine modern art glass and have always wanted to take a very ordinary and outdated display space and transform it into something worthy of the glass art pieces I have collected. I was lucky enough to find and sign on Paul Hickman to come up with a design and then execute it. What I now have can only be described as a masterpiece of its own, a true work of art. Paul has also designed and managed the production of a second piece, a combination buffet and display piece, for my dining room. Like the display cabinets/shelves in my living room, the final piece is stunning and has become a focal point of an already very nice home. Considering working with Paul? The only answer should be, "Yes." He is creative, conscientious, dilligent, and to back up his own considerable skills, he has a network of artists and artisans second to none.

Paul Hickman has the eye of artist, a heart filled with goodness, and business skills and experience that must be shared. I teach social entrepreneurship at University of Michigan, and my students have worked with Paul over the years. In that context, as well as over many conversations, I've gotten to know that Paul's experience in blending social outcomes + financial outcomes was the real deal. Urban Ashes was "mission first" -- always. What other organizations could learn from Paul could fill volumes. He walks the talk, and with loud footsteps.