PIEDMONT CRAFTSMEN - Key Persons
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.
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.
Exhibiting Member in Jewelry since 2020. Owner Artist, Cindy Miller Design Studio. Creates collections of jewelry that are marketed and sold internationally. Formerly Program Manager / Graphic Contracts for NASA; Graphic Designer & Multi-media Specialist. Commercial Art & Marketing degrees, University of Alabama, BA University of Colorado.
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.
Job Titles:
- Gallery & Ecommerce Assistant
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.
Supporting Member. Art Educator at the Arts Based School, middle grades 5-8; previous work includes interior designer, co-owner of the Pink Mink Boutique, scenic artist and fabricator at Lexington Design (Los Angeles, California), as well as freelance scenic work in film and commercial production. BFA UNC School of the Arts School of Design and Production, MAT-Art Education Salem College.
Supporting Member. Sales Manager, Phoenix Packaging, Inc. Lover and supporter of the arts. Erika has been a Craftsmen's Fair sponsor for many years and assisted with special events.
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.
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Board Chair
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Donor Relations
Exhibiting Member in Wood since 2012. Professional custom furniture and cabinetry maker since 1979. BA, NC State University. Has work experience and specialized in architectural millwork, cabinetry, and custom home building since 1972. Served as President, Vice President and general Board Member of Carolina Designer Craftsmen.
E-Commerce Specialist since 2021. Practicing artist in all media with specialty in metalsmithing and jewelry. Owner and artist behind Ravena Metalworks. Metals Instructor for Sawtooth School for Visual Art. BFA in Metalsmithing, RU, Radford, VA; MFA in Metal Design, ECU, Greenville, NC. Originally from Floyd, Virginia and currently resides in Winston-Salem, NC. Love for all things art, nature, books, and birds.
Job Titles:
- Membership & Events Manager / Membership and Events
Sonja Broome has been with Piedmont Craftsmen since 2015. She worked professionally in another field until she retired when her love of shopping and jewelry started her on a path to working in the Gallery.
Exhibiting Member in Clay since 2013. Owner, Creekside Pottery. Has exhibited at over 200 festivals/craft shows since returning to ceramics in 2001. Formerly worked with IT service companies including: Senior Vice-President, enherent Corporation; Offering Executive, IBM Corporation/TTS and was President and General Manager of Datarray ComputerLand. MFA, Ceramics, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, BFA, Ceramics & Painting, Carnegie Mellon University.
President, Phoenix Packaging and owner of Skinner Warehousing and Storage in Winston-Salem. BS, High Point College. Long time Fair Sponsor. For more than 20 years Tom has created decorations for the Fair, provided Piedmont Craftsmen with storage space, and assistance for special events.
Exhibiting Member in Fiber since 2012. Specializing in wet felt Merino wool accessories, including hats, scarves, mittens. BCA in Theatre, UNC-Charlotte; also studied at Penland and in San Francisco, which included an apprenticeship in fashion patterning skills and business planning classes at the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. Self-taught in felting employing basic millinery techniques acquired in through costume design studies in college.