Board + Staff

Supporting Member.  Master Welder, Jeweler, and Instructor. 30-year career building race cars with a specialty of aerodynamics and air management. Instructor at Haywood Community College in jewelry fabrication. Teaches micro tig welding as well as workshop on various jewelry techniques. Served on the Membership and Education Committees of Southern Highland Craft Guild. Married to Ruthie Cohen, an Exhibiting Member in Jewelry.

Supporting  Member. Farms flowers & bees, practices law (intellectual property, not-for profit, and alcohol law) and focuses on glass art. Her consulting spans various industries, including arts and entertainment.  Former  Executive  Director, NC Biotechnology Center.  Other Boards – NC Zoo Council, NC Motorsports Association, NC School of Science and Math, Cabarrus Visual Arts, Paul Harris +5. BS in Zoology and  MS in Public  Health, UNC Chapel Hill JD  and  MBA, Wake  Forest, Army War College.

Supporting Member.  Principal, GraMar Advisors and Elder Care Choices Program Coordinator, Senior Services Inc.; previously CMO, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union; Masters Candidate – Gerontology, University of North Carolina Greensboro. Serving on the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership Board of Directors, and Forsyth Aging Services Planning Committee. BS, Marketing, Goldey Beacom College. MS, Business Administration, Shippensburg University.

Supporting Member.  Accounts Receivable Specialist, NeoGov.  Associate of Arts, Lone Star College. International Exchange Program, 2017 – 2019.  Bilingual in English and Brazilian Portuguese.

Exhibiting Member in Glass since 2022. Owner/Artist Screaming Squirrel Glass. Mark spent the majority of his life as a photographer, but in 2005 discovered the art of fused glass. After starting with a small table-top kiln he quickly realized that he was meant to create larger and more complex works.

Supporting Member. Advancement Associate – Special Events, SECCA. Freelance Photographer. Has worked with many non-profits in the arts. BFA, UNC-Greensboro, Photography and recent graduate of Leadership Winston-Salem.

Supporting Member. Owner; Designer and Developer, Alcove Studio, 2021 – present. Specializing in e-commerce strategy, brand messaging, social media strategy and design. Retail owner, Alcove, NY, NY 2018 – 2021; a home goods boutique specializing in artisan-crafted accessories.

Supporting Member.  Artist and Marketing, Public Relations and Communications Executive; Former Chief Marketing Officer, United Way of Forsyth County; Marketing, Story and Communications Strategist, Piedmont Advantage Credit Union ; Director of Marketing, Greensboro College, Marketing Manager, Wake Forest University, Owner- FRESH Productions and Marketing, BA, UNC Chapel Hill; MLA, UNC Greensboro; additional studies: Masters Studies, UNC-G; Fine Arts Studies, St. Andrews University; British Standards Institutions Certified Auditor, Southern Polytechnic University.

Exhibiting Member in Wood since 1996. Owner, Furniture by Design since 1996. Previously served on Piedmont Craftsmen’s Board of Directors in late 90s and early 2000s. Served as Chair and Co-Chair of the Standards Committee. Exhibiting Member of Southern Highlands Craft Guild. Manager, Great Outdoor Provision Company for twenty-two years. BS in Business Management/Administration, BS in Industrial Engineering and a Masters in Industrial Design all from NC State University.

Gallery Director since 2010.  BS in Journalism, Emerson College, Boston MA; Apria Healthcare Customer Service Specialist 2008-2010; United Healthcare Customer Care Professional 2006-2008; Barnes and Noble, Department Manager 2002-2006.  Long time Piedmont Craftsmen Volunteer assisting with audience development, Young Collectors, Fair, and Shop before joining our staff.

President and CEO since 2005.  Exhibiting Member in Fiber since 1992.  BCA UNC-Charlotte, working fiber artist since 1980 specializing in handwoven garments; Fiber Program Coordinator for Sawtooth School 1982 – 2004; and co-owner of Fiber Co. since 1987.  Has served on a variety of non-profit and community service boards and committees.  Currently serving on the Public Art Commission.  Winston-Salem’s 2006 Artist of the Year.

Elese join the Gallery staff in April 2023.  She worked at the University of Georgia before moving to Winston-Salem.

Jasmine is an artist with deep ties to the local creative community. She grew up exhibiting art with her parents, James and Earnestine Huff, in their art business Huff Art Studio. She holds an MFA in Documentary Media from Northwestern University and believes in the power of art and storytelling to transform our communities. She recently managed programs and events for the National Guild for Community Arts Education and is thrilled to bring her experience to our organization.

David Wiinikka-Lydon joined the Gallery and Ecommerce staff in 2021.  He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Maryland Institute College of Art.  His background includes extensive customer service experience, graphic design and Freelance Digital services.