Michael Burcham, the entrepreneurial CEO of Narus Health and patron of the arts, holds the distinction of commissioning the first custom piece of furniture from Rail Yard Studios.

We designed Michael’s executive style desk to complement the architecture of his office, a renovated industrial space complete with bow truss ceilings and exposed brick walls. With an emphasis on historic preservation and sustainability of the structure, the décor brought modern style to the urban renewal project.

As Founding President of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center at the time, he needed a desk befitting his executive role, and we needed a little push to encourage us along.

DETAIL SHOWING THE TENNESSEE BRANDING ON VINTAGE RAIL ROLLED IN 1920.

For Michael, we crafted an oversized desk with ebony stain timber legs topped with sections of vintage steel rail in a larger version of our signature Knuckle Desk to serve as the focal point in his corner office overlooking the city skyline. We topped it with a section of vintage steel rail manufactured by the Tennessee Coal & Iron Company in April of 1920 complete with the joint bars still in place. Having the full TENNESSEE brand spelled out underscored Michael's connection to his home state.

Seated at that desk, Michael received prominent venture capitalists, angel investors, entrepreneurs and business people of all types including seasoned veterans like Susan Siegal of GE Ventures and Mary Grove of Google for Entrepreneurs. Other household names like Steve Case and maverick Mark Cuban came as well, all to take part in or provide support to the countless startups Michael helped foster in industries like healthcare, technology, music, and entertainment.

Robert Hendrick had only recently founded Rail Yard Studios in 2011 when their paths crossed. By that time, Burcham already had already piloted two successful ventures - Paradigm Health and Theraphysics - and stood primed to do more.

Michael’s drive to accomplish the incredible – like summiting Telluride in Colorado – goes hand in hand with the strong sense of style, natural leadership qualities and a connection to the railroad shared by so many of our clients.

EXECUTIVE STYLE OVERSIZED KNUCKLE DESK FROM RAIL YARD STUDIOS CUSTOM BUILT AND HAND-CRAFTED FOR MICHAEL BURCHAM, NARUS HEALTH CEO & FOUNDING PRESIDENT OF THE NASHVILLE ENTREPRENEUR CENTER.

Michael chose our furniture to make a bold statement that set the tone for the mentoring program at the Entrepreneur Center. Powerful, like our clients tend to be, he established a tough, yet refined signature look and feel that would appeal to fresh new companies.

Michael’s exudes genuine enthusiasm making him a natural and authentic leader. The strength of the solid wood timbers complemented by vintage American-made steel in his desk reinforce that theme.

And while our connection to the railroad is plain to see, in Michael’s case, it is Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged that provides his link. As his favorite novel, it has been a constant guide in his learning and teaching along the way to his personal and professional success.

Since leaving the Entrepreneur Center to begin his own venture once again, Michael’s desk has followed him to his home office and then again to his new corner office. Today, it overlooks the city skyline from yet a different vantage point.

And while Michael has been leading his own successful efforts, he still has found time to mentor other entrepreneurs as a Professor at the Owen School of Business at Vanderbilt University, and sitting on the advisory board of a venture capital firm. All in addition to what he did in his role as Founding President of The Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

So we’ll leave you with these images of the legend that is Michael Burcham as he mans the helm his latest venture, Narus Health.

And yes, we’re along for the ride with him because he’s seated behind his custom-made desk from Rail Yard Studios, yet another venture he had a hand in getting started.