About Us

Built on Experience. Rooted in Family. Focused on the Land.

Rough Cut Land & Timber is a family-owned business bringing together decades of hands-on experience in construction, timber, site development and real estate.

At the heart of Rough Cut are husband-and-wife team Mark and Shannon Atkins, whose different—but highly complementary—backgrounds give them a unique understanding of land, property and the people who own it.

Together, we bring experience from both sides of a property: understanding the physical land, trees and construction as well as recognizing its real estate, investment and future potential.

MARK ATKINS

A Lifetime Built Around the Land

Mark brings more than 30 years of construction experience, owning and operating his own construction company and developing an extensive understanding of building from the ground up.

His connection to timber goes back even further.

Mark grew up around the sawmill and timber industry. His father owned a sawmill and built log cabins, giving Mark early exposure to trees, lumber, milling and the relationship between the woods, the land and the structures eventually built upon it.

During the 2006–2008 housing downturn, when new construction slowed dramatically, Mark returned to those roots. He expanded his involvement in sawmilling and timber and developed relationships throughout the industry that continue today.

Over the years, that experience has grown to encompass construction, timber, sawmilling, site preparation, excavation and the practical work required to turn raw ground into usable property.

But for Mark, the woods have never simply been a place to work.

A Genuine Love of the Land

His love of the land is deeply personal.

An outdoorsman at heart, Mark’s passion for the woods extends from hunting and understanding wildlife to fly fishing and simply spending time outdoors.

That lifelong connection has given him an appreciation not only for what can be done with a property, but also for what should be protected.

He enjoys helping landowners think beyond simply clearing ground—to consider how their property can be improved while preserving the character that made them love it in the first place.

Ask Mark about a piece of woods and the conversation might range from which trees should remain, selective harvesting and creating trails, to identifying maples that could be tapped for syrup, improving wildlife habitat or understanding the natural travel patterns deer are likely to follow.

That perspective is an important part of the way we approach land at Rough Cut.

Development and conservation don’t always have to be opposing ideas. With thoughtful planning, a property can become more useful while retaining the woods, wildlife, water and natural features that make it special.

We believe good land stewardship begins with understanding the land before changing it.

From the Tree to Something Worth Keeping

Mark is also an artist at heart.

Where some people see a log, Mark often sees what that wood could become.

His years of building and sawmilling have given him an appreciation for the character of individual trees—the grain, knots, color, shape and imperfections that can make a piece of wood truly one of a kind.

There is something special about creating something from a tree that grew on your own land.

Maybe it’s a mantel for the home you’re building on the property.

A live-edge table where your family will gather.

Beams. Shelving. Benches. Outdoor structures. A special piece of furniture.

Or perhaps it’s simply an idea you’ve carried around in your head and aren’t quite sure how to create.

Bring Mark the idea.

He loves the challenge of looking at the trees on a property, milling the wood and imagining what they could become.

Instead of watching every tree leave the property on a log truck, you may choose to preserve part of its story by turning that wood into something your family can use and enjoy for generations.

If there’s something you’ve imagined making from the trees on your land, talk to Mark.

Bring him your idea, and watch him find a way to bring it to life.

SHANNON ATKINS

The People Side of the Property

If Mark’s instinct is to look at a piece of land and see what can be created from it, Shannon’s instinct is to look at the people standing on that land and ask where they want to go.

A mother of five, real estate professional, investor and humanitarian at heart, Shannon genuinely loves people.

Her real estate work extends beyond land. Shannon helps people navigate homes, land, investment properties and the many transitions that cause real estate needs to change throughout life.

Whether someone is buying their first home, selling a longtime property, searching for acreage, considering an investment or trying to determine their next move, her approach remains the same:

Start with the person, understand the goal, and then figure out how to get there.

She believes where someone is starting matters far less than where they want to go—and she’s often the person saying:

“Okay, let’s figure out how to get you there.”

Her approach is part advisor, part problem-solver and, admittedly, a little bit mother hen.

She wants people to understand the whole picture before making a decision.

That often means asking questions they hadn’t thought to ask, identifying potential problems before they become expensive ones, connecting them with the right professionals and helping them see opportunities they may not have recognized on their own.

Within Rough Cut, Shannon brings that broader real estate perspective together with her experience in property investment, land development and managing her family’s own investments and rental properties.

That experience has taught her to look beyond what a property is today and consider what it could become.

Could the acreage be divided?

Could part of the property generate income?

Where is the best place to build?

Could the timber have value?

What improvements would make the property more useful?

What should be preserved?

What will this decision mean five or ten years from now?

Shannon thrives on questions like these.

Her strength is creative, outside-the-box thinking combined with the determination to keep working a problem until a practical path forward begins to emerge.

A Personal Connection to the Outdoors

Shannon’s connection to land is personal, too.

She has always been happiest outside—whether farming while raising her children, hiking, kayaking, whitewater rafting, traveling, riding motorcycles or simply enjoying the peace and quiet of nature.

Her background also includes certifications in nutrition and bodybuilding and a longtime interest in preparing food from scratch.

Those experiences have given her an appreciation for something that goes beyond real estate:

Land can be an investment, but it can also be part of how a family chooses to live.

Not every customer starts with the perfect property, unlimited resources or a clear plan.

That’s okay.

Whether you’re buying your first home, selling one you’ve loved for decades, standing on property your family has owned for generations, considering an investment, searching for acreage, planning a future homesite or simply trying to figure out what comes next, Shannon wants you to leave the conversation understanding more than you did when it began.

Because for her, real estate isn’t simply about houses or land.

It’s about helping people succeed with what they have, wherever they’re starting.

And if that means asking a few extra questions, making another phone call, finding another resource or pointing out something you hadn’t considered yet—well, that’s where the mother hen tends to come out.

TWO PERSPECTIVES. ONE TEAM.

Together, Mark and Shannon bring two very different ways of looking at the same property.

Mark sees the woods, the ground, the construction and what can physically be created.

Shannon sees the possibilities, the investment, the real estate—and most importantly, the people behind the property.

Together, we understand the trees.

We understand the ground.

We understand the construction process.

We understand real estate and investment.

And we understand that ultimately, it’s your land and your vision that matter.

As we enter the next chapter of our lives, we’ve chosen to bring our experience, relationships and talents together through Rough Cut Land & Timber.

Our goal is simple:

Make Working With Land Easier.

We proudly work directly with property owners, but we also welcome relationships with real estate agents, builders, developers and other professionals who need a dependable land, timber or site-work resource for their clients and projects.

We respect the professional relationships our customers already have.

When we’re brought into a project by an agent, builder or another professional, our role is to support that relationship—not replace it.

We’re there to provide the land, timber, construction and site expertise needed to help move the project forward.

Sometimes that means evaluating timber.

Sometimes it’s clearing or creating access.

Sometimes it’s preparing a building site.

Sometimes it’s helping preserve and improve a beautiful piece of woods.

And sometimes it’s simply helping answer the practical question:

“What could we do with this land?”

We don’t believe you should have to figure everything out alone.

Our job is to bring the right experience, equipment, relationships and resources to the table—and work alongside the other professionals already involved.

From the woods to the building site, we’re here to help.

One family. Decades of experience. One dependable team for your land.