Hartmann & Forbes is a maker of fine handwoven roman shades, handwoven draperies and bamboo cornices made from rich organic materials. The company is the passion of its founder, Michael Jones, who started Hartmann & Forbes in 1998 after a trip to Asia that would forever change his life.

As a former global resource professional, Jones frequently traveled abroad. On a chance trip to Japan, he saw the ancient art of shade making that captured his imagination. He watched as craftspeople harvested raw, organic materials and delicately hand-tied them into strands. Using traditional hand-weaving techniques, the artisans transformed the materials into magnificently crafted window shades. Jones not only realized his own ardor for the ancient art form, he recognized that this small, cottage industry was underrepresented in the design marketplace.

Jones' background in both finance and global trade has helped Hartmann & Forbes establish harvesting-weaving facilities overseas and a growing distribution network of wholesale showrooms around the globe. Through his own international sourcing firm, GlobalSource USA, Jones gained expertise in international business and sourcing. A former money manager with a major Wall Street firm, Jones brings a business approach to this design-driven industry.

Jones says Hartmann & Forbes remains focused on its employees, showroom partners, designer clients and vendors who work together to deliver superb window coverings that are a symbol of quality and luxury. He is personally committed to growing, harvesting and managing natural materials in a manner consistent with protecting the environment - a nod to his Portland roots. And he believes in maintaining a strong connection to the past by carrying on the age-old tradition of Japanese shademaking.

Innovation and creativity have driven Hartmann & Forbes from a vision to a major supplier to the interior design market in just a few short years. In the spirit of true entrepreneurship, Jones has fostered a corporate culture that encourages product experimentation, design innovation and a go-forward atmosphere that quickly takes products from concept to market.

While providing the vision and leadership, Jones gives credit to his management team - a group of seasoned industry professionals assembled to implement his strategic plan.

Jones says Hartmann & Forbes plans to be a steward of quality in the window coverings industry. While most companies today have moved to reduce costs and sell products at lower price points, Hartmann & Forbes remains steadfast to the high-end designer market and delivering unique products. To be a leader in a luxury product niche, the company adheres to using only the finest materials, handcrafting the highest quality product and promising a level of customer service that is enviable in the industry.

Jones, a finance major from the University of Portland, holds an MBA in International Business and Marketing from the University of Oregon. A native of Portland, he says that while his love of the business defines his career, his true life's passion is his wife, Nancy, and two small children.