Research Library › Belden Woodshop

Guest Instructor Program

Current Research · 2026 Belden Woodshop

38 instructors profiled, 5 specialty clusters. 60/40 revenue share recommended. Year 1: $12K gross.

Key Data Points

38 instructors profiled
5 specialty clusters
60/40 revenue split recommended
Year 1: $12K gross (6-8 workshops)
Professional shop is competitive advantage

Guest Instructor Research — Belden Woodshop (JLF)

February 16, 2026

20 mid-tier traveling woodworking instructors researched as potential guest instructors for weekend workshops at

Belden Woodshop. Model: instructor teaches at JLF's fully-equipped shop, JLF handles

space/marketing/registration, revenue split.

Priority Recommendations For First Outreach

TIER A — Highest likelihood + geographic proximity

James Wright (Rockford, IL — 90 min away, 201K YouTube, teaches hand tools)
Megan Fitzpatrick (Cincinnati — Lost Art Press editor, teaches beginners)
Rex Krueger (Cleveland — 400K YouTube, beginner hand tools, Midwest)
Strother Purdy (Chicago local — already teaches at Chicago School of Woodworking)

TIER B — Strong candidates who travel nationally

Brendan Gaffney (vernacular chairs, Lost Art Press connected)
Larissa Huff (self-described "on the road" teacher, 57K Instagram)
Caleb James (Danish Modern chairs, 52K Instagram, Lost Art Press book coming)
Tom Fidgen (Toronto — hand tools only, 78K YouTube, travels globally)

TIER C — Premium workshops that establish the venue

Peter Galbert (prestige chairmaker, teaches everywhere nationally)
Ashley Harwood (woodturning, 184K Instagram, travels internationally)
Garrett Hack (hand planes, books are classics, international reputation)
Wilbur Pan (Japanese tools niche — unique programming no one else offers)

Summary Table

James Wright | Rockford, IL | Hand tools | 201K | 44K | Yes

Brendan Gaffney | Otego, NY | Chairs, green wood | — | 32K | Yes

Eric Cannizzaro | Charlotte, VT | Windsor chairs | — | 5.5K | Yes

Caleb James | Greenville, SC | Danish Modern chairs | — | 52K | Yes

Owain Harris | Gonic, NH | Furniture design | — | — | Yes

Wilbur Pan | New Jersey | Japanese tools | — | — | Yes

Andy Glenn | Waldoboro, ME | Green wood chairs | — | — | Yes

Detailed Profiles

JAMES WRIGHT (Wood By Wright)

Location: Rockford, Illinois (90 min from Chicago!)

Specialty: Hand tool woodworking, traditional joinery, beginner-friendly techniques

YouTube: ~201K subscribers, 857+ videos

Instagram: @woodbywright ~44K followers

Website: woodbywright.com

Teaching: In-person workshops from his Rockford shop (class size ~5), Zoom classes, podcast

host (Crafted Podcast)

Why good fit: Geographically closest candidate. Active daily content creator. Audience skews

beginner-to-intermediate — exactly the Belden Woodshop target demographic.

Already teaches small in-person classes. Built-in audience awareness for a Chicago

workshop.

BRENDAN BERNHARDT GAFFNEY (burnHeart)

Location: Otego, New York

Specialty: Chairmaking (vernacular chairs from around the world), cabinetmaking, green

woodworking, toolmaking

Instagram: @burnheartmade ~32K followers

Website: burn-heart.com

Published: "Leave Fingerprints" (James Krenov biography, Lost Art Press)

Teaching: Marc Adams School, Port Townsend School, Lost Art Press storefront, Pine Croft

Why good fit: Deeply credible in hand tool/craft community. Distinctive focus on vernacular chair

designs. Connected to Lost Art Press network. Already travels extensively for

teaching.

ALEXIS DOLESE (Dolese Woodworks)

Location: Bozeman, Montana

Specialty: Fine furniture, traditional joinery, Japanese and Scandinavian-influenced design

Instagram: @dolese_woodworks

Website: dolesewoodworks.com

Published in Fine Woodworking

Teaching: Own Bozeman shop, Montana State University, Port Townsend School, [Austin

School of Furniture](https://austinschooloffurniture.com/). Speaker at WIA 2024 (Des Moines).

Why good fit: Second-generation furniture maker. Teaches at multiple schools nationally.

Japanese/Scandinavian aesthetic aligns with Jason's modern design approach.

Spoke at WIA in Des Moines (familiar with Midwest).

ERIC CANNIZZARO

Location: Charlotte, Vermont

Specialty: Windsor chairmaking, ladderback chairs, green woodworking, spoon carving

Instagram: @eric.cannizzaro ~5,485 followers

Website: ericcannizzaro.com

Published in Fine Woodworking

Teaching: Own shop (4-6 students, 5-8 day workshops). Residencies at Arbutus Folk School

and Arrowmont. Apprenticed under Curtis Buchanan. Collaborates with Elia Bizzarri.

Why good fit: Serious chairmaker with loyal following. Small class sizes = quality instruction.

Approachable price point and scale. Green woodworking and chairmaking draw

travel-willing students.

CALEB JAMES (Caleb James Maker)

Location: Greenville, South Carolina

Specialty: Danish Modern chairmaking, hand tool design (spokeshaves), furniture making

Instagram: @calebjamesmaker ~52K followers

Website: calebjamesmaker.com

Etsy shop for tools/plans. Shaper Tools Masterclass instructor. Writing first book for Lost Art Press on Danish

Modern Chairmaking.

Teaching: Florida School of Woodwork, Wood Whisperer Guild

Why good fit: Strong visual brand around Danish Modern chairs — photogenic, markets well on

Instagram. Toolmaking side business adds workshop draw. Lost Art Press book deal

signals rising profile. 52K followers = real audience.

OWAIN HARRIS

Location: Gonic, New Hampshire

Specialty: Custom furniture, cabinetmaking, furniture design

Website: owainharris.com

Fine Woodworking contributor

Teaching: Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (since 2015), Marc Adams School, Florida School

of Woodwork, University of New Hampshire. Available for guild demos.

Why good fit: Self-taught maker turned nationally recognized instructor. Design-focused teaching

differentiates programming. Juried member of League of NH Craftsmen. Already

travels nationally.

TOM FIDGEN (The Unplugged Woodshop)

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Specialty: Hand tool only woodworking, furniture, handsaw techniques

YouTube: ~77.7K subscribers

Instagram: ~34.2K followers

Website: theunpluggedwoodshop.com

Author: "The Unplugged Woodshop" and "Made by Hand"

Teaching: Founded Canada's first hand-tool-only school (Toronto, 2016). Has taught

worldwide (Australia, Germany, Israel). Speaker at WIA. Sold out classes since

opening.

Why good fit: "Hand tools only" brand is compelling. Toronto to Chicago is easy. Published books

+ large YouTube guarantee student interest. "Unplugged" concept = excellent

marketing.

ELIA BIZZARRI

Location: Hillsborough, North Carolina

Specialty: Windsor chairmaking, green woodworking, tool making (reamers, spokeshaves)

Instagram: @eliabizzarri ~8K followers

Website: handtoolwoodworking.com

Online classes (donation-based). Featured in Christopher Schwarz's Substack.

Teaching: Own shop (2026: Loop Back Chair, Traditional Wheelbarrow with Peter Ross).

Collaborates with Eric Cannizzaro on Greenwood Week.

Why good fit: Deeply respected in hand tool community. Donation-based model shows

accessibility values. Tool-making adds workshop appeal. Connected to Curtis

Buchanan/Peter Galbert network. Note: does not use a cellphone.

REX KRUEGER (Woodwork for Humans)

Location: Cleveland, Ohio (MIDWEST)

Specialty: Beginner-friendly hand tool woodworking, pre-industrial furniture, accessible

woodworking

YouTube: ~400K+ subscribers, 100M+ views

Website: rexkrueger.com / woodworkforhumans.com

Author: "Everyday Woodworking" and "One Week to Woodturning"

Teaching: In person and online. Former university writing/media instructor (strong pedagogy).

Why good fit: Cleveland to Chicago is short trip. "Woodworking for everyone" philosophy matches

Belden Woodshop target audience. Massive audience but NOT celebrity-tier —

accessible, community-minded. Published author. Hand tool/low-cost approach is

compelling.

MIKE FARRINGTON

Location: Aurora/Denver, Colorado

Specialty: Furniture making, cabinetmaking, Japanese-style lamps, turned bowls

YouTube: ~230K subscribers

Instagram: @mike__farrington ~17K followers

Website: mikefarrington.com

Fine Woodworking contributor. Podcast guest.

Teaching: Occasional classes from Denver shop. Small group workshops.

Why good fit: One-man shop operator like Jason — understands solo maker model. Large

YouTube following but approachable. Furniture and cabinetmaking aligns directly

with JLF. Would bring strong audience awareness.

PETER GALBERT

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Specialty: Chairmaking (Windsor and beyond), tool design, green woodworking, spoon carving

Website: petergalbert.com

Vimeo: "Foundation in Chair Making" series

Blog: Chairnotes (widely read)

Author: "Chairmaker's Notebook" (Lost Art Press, 406 pages)

Tool line: Galbert Caliper

Teaching: Penland, North Bennet Street School, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Kelly

Mehler's, Highland Woodworking, Arrowmont, Port Townsend, Pine Croft.

Why good fit: One of the most respected chairmakers today. Teaches at virtually every major craft

school — familiar with guest instructor model. A Peter Galbert weekend chairmaking

intensive would sell out.

ASHLEY HARWOOD

Location: Charleston, South Carolina

Specialty: Woodturning (bowl turning, spindle turning), Push Cut technique

Instagram: ~184K followers

YouTube: active

Website: ashleyharwood.com

Wood Whisperer Guild instructor

Teaching: Private studio (max 7 students). Demonstrated/taught in US and 8+ countries. AAW

symposium demonstrator.

Why good fit: One of most recognized young woodturners. Limits class size for quality. Travels

extensively. Woodturning complements furniture program. Large Instagram drives

enrollment.

MARK GARDNER

Location: Saluda, North Carolina

Specialty: Woodturning (decorative bowls, vessels, hollow forms, shrink boxes)

Instagram: @markgardnerstudio

Website: markgardnerstudio.com

Published in Fine Woodworking, Woodwork Magazine

Collections: Museum of Art and Design (NYC), Yale Art Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art

Teaching: Since 2000. Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Marc Adams, [North House Folk

School](https://www.northhouse.org/), woodturning clubs nationally.

Why good fit: Museum collection credibility. 25+ years teaching. Hollow form and shrink box work

is distinctive and compelling. BFA background = woodturning as art.

MEGAN FITZPATRICK

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio (MIDWEST)

Specialty: Hand tool woodworking, tool chests (Dutch and Anarchist), furniture, finishing

Instagram: @1snugthejoiner

Blog: rudemechanicalspress.com

Editor at Lost Art Press. Former editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine.

Teaching: Lost Art Press storefront, Florida School of Woodwork, Pine Croft (Oct 2026).

Teaches hand tool beginners. Dutch/Anarchist Tool Chest workshops.

Why good fit: Cincinnati to Chicago is short. Lost Art Press role = enormous credibility. Teaches

beginners (Belden Phase 1 target). "Build a Dutch Tool Chest" weekend would be

highly marketable. Editorial connections = potential press coverage.

GARRETT HACK

Location: Central Vermont

Specialty: Hand planes, fine furniture, design, precision handwork

Website: garretthack.com

Author: "The Handplane Book" and "Classic Hand Tools" (Taunton Press)

Fine Woodworking contributor

Teaching: International (Germany, England, Austria, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, Israel,

Japan) and throughout US. Center for Furniture Craftsmanship instructor. 50+ years

furniture making.

Why good fit: Elder statesman of hand tool furniture. His books are classics. Travels globally for

teaching. A Garrett Hack workshop would be a prestige event establishing Belden as

a serious venue. Famous but not so large he only teaches at own venue.

LARISSA HUFF

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Specialty: Furniture making, math-inspired design, woodturning, pattern-based work

Instagram: @larissa.huff ~57K followers

Published in Fine Woodworking, Woodcraft Magazine

Furniture Society member

Teaching: Former co-owner of Lohr Woodworking (classes 2012-2021). Artist-in-residence at

Arrowmont (2021). Fellowship at Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (2022).

Currently teaching at Philadelphia Furniture Workshop, Peters Valley, Pine Croft, and

schools nationally.

Why good fit: Explicitly describes herself as "on the road teaching." Math-inspired designs are

visually striking and Instagrammable. 57K followers = strong audience. Former math

teacher = pedagogically skilled. Rising profile.

WILBUR PAN

Location: New Jersey

Specialty: Japanese woodworking tools (chisels, saws, planes, marking tools) in Western workshops

Blog: giantcypress.net (definitive English-language Japanese tool resource)

Published in Popular Woodworking Magazine (since 2011)

Online course: "How to Use Japanese Woodworking Tools" (PWM)

Teaching: Speaker at WIA (multiple years). NYC Woodworkers Guild presenter.

Why good fit: Japanese tools are a trending topic. A "Japanese Tools in the Western Workshop"

class would be unique programming no one else in Chicago offers. Deep, specific

expertise = ideal for focused weekend workshop. Would draw students from

broader Midwest.

ANDY GLENN

Location: Waldoboro, Maine

Specialty: Green woodworking, ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, Welsh stick chairs

Website: andydglenn.com

Author: "Backwoods Chairmakers" (Lost Art Press, 2024)

Fine Woodworking feature (March 2025)

Teaching: NBSS graduate (2008). Teaches 6-7 day classes (rocking chairs, Welsh stick chairs).

Taught at Peter Galbert's workshop, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Pine Croft.

Classes involve green wood shaping, steam bending, seat weaving.

Why good fit: 2024 book generated significant buzz. Green wood chairmaking = immersive events

students travel for at premium prices. NBSS training = strong credibility. Week-long

intensive would be a marquee event.

KIMBERLY WINKLE

Location: Cookeville, Tennessee

Specialty: Painted furniture, woodturning, color and surface pattern on wood

Instagram: @kimberly_winkle

Website: kimberlywinkle.com

Collections: Tennessee Arts Commission

Teaching: Professor and Director, School of Art at Tennessee Tech. Has taught at: Haystack,

Penland, Arrowmont, Anderson Ranch, Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Port

Townsend, John C. Campbell, Peters Valley, Appalachian Center for Craft. Marc

Adams 2026 instructor.

Why good fit: Painted furniture and color work is highly distinctive — diversifies offerings beyond

traditional joinery. Teaches at virtually every major craft school. Academic position =

experienced with curriculum design. Would appeal to design-minded students and

interior designers in Jason's network.

STROTHER PURDY

Location: Chicago, Illinois (LOCAL)

Specialty: Custom furniture, box making, door making, traditional techniques

Fine Woodworking contributor. Author: "Traditional Box Projects" and "Doormaking"

Teaching: Currently teaches at Chicago School of Woodworking. 40 years experience. Former

FWW editor. Former high school English teacher (strong pedagogy). Also runs

"Beloved Old Tree" consulting.

Why good fit: Already in Chicago — zero travel logistics. FWW editorial background + 40 years =

credible. Box-making and door-making are specific, marketable workshops. Note:

navigate any relationship sensitivity with Chicago School of Woodworking.

Sources Consulted

Marc Adams School of Woodworking 2026 Instructors
Center for Furniture Craftsmanship Workshops
Lie-Nielsen Hand Tool Events
Pine Croft Woodworking School Instructors
Florida School of Woodwork Instructors
Sam Beauford Woodworking Institute
Woodworking in America 2024
GreenWood Wrights'Fest
North House Folk School Wood Week 2025
Feedspot 100 Woodworking YouTubers
Lost Art Press Blog
Fine Woodworking Great Places to Learn

Research conducted February 16, 2026

Claude